DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – The U.S. Democratic governmental nominating race got off to a disorderly start in Iowa on Monday, as the results of the state’s caucuses were delayed for hours while party officials double-checked “inconsistencies” in the preliminary count.
Voters put into more than 1,600 schools, recreation center and other public locations for the caucuses in Iowa, the very first state to choose a November election challenger to Republican politician U.S. President Donald Trump.
However the Iowa state celebration postponed the results as it carried out “quality checks” after finding “disparities” in the reporting of the information from the caucus sites, stimulating frustration in Democratic campaigns and criticism from Republicans.
GRAPHIC: Inside the Iowa caucuses – here
It was unclear when any results would be launched.
” In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are likewise using images of outcomes and a proof to verify that all outcomes match and make sure that we have self-confidence and precision in the numbers we report,” state party spokeswoman Mandy McClure stated.
She stated the underlying data and paper trail were sound.
Iowa citizens were satisfying to render judgment on a field of 11 Democratic competitors led by front-runners Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and previous Vice President Joe Biden, who have actually battled for the top in current Iowa viewpoint polls.
Long lines and heavy crowds were reported in some places, however doors to the caucus websites closed and the procedure began at 7 p.m. (0100 GMT on Tuesday).
” It’s certainly going to delegitimize whoever wins,” a source in previous South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s project said of the delay in results, including it would dampen the instant advantages of a strong night.
Biden’s general counsel, Dana Remus, informed Iowa state celebration authorities