Bill O'Reilly here Friday, January 31st, 2020.

You are listening to the O'Reilly update.

Here's what's happening today in America.

Well, we'll finally hear, after months of campaigning, millions of dollars spent, hundreds

of campaign events, voters in Iowa will cast their ballots in Monday's caucus.

The first contest in the 2020 race for the White House.

The Iowa caucus has a strange history dating back more than 100 years.

Since 1917, political parties there picked their presidential candidates by what is called

a quote, gathering of neighbors.

Instead of traveling to the polls, Iowa residents meet in schools, churches, and libraries.

Rather than casting a vote, Iowa stands in a designated spot like a classroom to indicate

their support for a specific candidate.

For roughly 30 minutes, participants try to convince their neighbors to switch their ballots.

After multiple rounds, a final headcount decides the winner.

In 2016, more than 175,000 Iowa Democrats took part, about 5.5% of the total state population.

Critics of the caucus say the state's demographics give Iowans a disproportionate amount of power

in the primary nominating process.

The state is 90% white, nearly 20% over the age of 65.

The biggest city demoined as a population of just 200,000 people.

While the Iowa caucus has a poor record for picking presidents, it still plays a major

role in the Democratic Party.

Since the year 2000, every winner has gone on to claim the nomination.

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