ans ▁as ▁of ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁Turn out ▁was ▁ 1 9 . 9 % ▁of ▁the ▁voting - el ig ible ▁population ▁( register ed ▁Iowa ▁Republic ans ). ▁ ▁Selection ▁of ▁deleg ates ▁The ▁Iowa ▁Republican ▁prec inct ▁c au cus ▁is ▁the ▁first ▁part ▁in ▁a ▁multi - step ▁process ▁to ▁elect ▁the ▁state ' s ▁ 2 5 ▁p led ged ▁deleg ates ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Republican ▁National ▁Convention . ▁The ▁January ▁ 3 ▁c auc uses ▁( prec inct ▁c auc uses ) ▁elect ▁deleg ates ▁to ▁county ▁convent ions . ▁These ▁county ▁convent ions , ▁in ▁turn , ▁elect ▁deleg ates ▁to ▁the ▁four ▁con gression al - d istrict ▁convent ions ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 0 , ▁who ▁elect ▁three ▁national ▁deleg ates ▁each . ▁Each ▁con gression al - d istrict ▁convention ▁also ▁appoint s ▁two ▁members ▁to ▁a ▁" sl ate ▁committee " ▁which ▁cho oses ▁ 1 3 ▁additional ▁deleg ates . ▁These ▁ 1 3 ▁deleg ates ▁are ▁voted ▁on ▁at ▁the ▁Republican ▁Party ▁of ▁Iowa ▁state ▁convention ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 8 . ▁Not ably , ▁even ▁the ▁ 2 5 ▁p led ged ▁deleg ates ▁are ▁not ▁bound ▁to ▁support ▁any ▁candidate ▁at ▁the ▁national ▁convention . ▁Un like ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁states , ▁Iowa ▁R NC ▁deleg ates ▁are ▁free ▁to ▁vote ▁for ▁any ▁candidate ▁for ▁president ▁or ▁vice ▁president . ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁ 2