UPDATE: Bachmann, Gingrich, Perry and Thousands of Voters Expected at UNI-Dome for Cedar Falls Caucus

Presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry will attend the Black Hawk County Republican Caucus at the UNI-Dome tonight, event orgainzer Judd Saul said. Bob Vander Plaats, leader of conservative Christian group The Family Leader, will speak as a surrogate for candidate Rick Santorum.

Organizers invited all the candidates, who will be given speaking time from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Doors to the UNI-Dome will open at 5:30 p.m., and the caucus will start at 7 p.m.

Between 4000 and 6000 are expected to attend, organizers said. Four years ago, 3000 people caucused at Central Middle School in Waterloo, and at least 1000 more were turned away, Black Hawk County Republican outreach chair Greg Tagtow said. The Republican Party of Iowa has projected a 25 percent increase in turnout this year.

In 2008, the frustration of voters unable to enter building was high. Cars were trapped in the overfull, snow-filled parking lot, and long lines of people trying to register to vote kept people out in the cold. This year, local Republican leaders said they are working hard to prevent a similar debacle.

"We are trying to go above and beyond to show people we can have a very organized caucus," Judd Saul, one of the organizers, said.

Almost 200 volunteers have signed up to help. They will set up, be ushers helping people find their precint location within the dome and be precint chairs and secretaries. There will also be paramedics on sight, and the UNI-Dome is providing handicap assistance for any who need it.

About 25 people have been working on the plans since April, McDonald said.

"Is it going to be perfect? I don’t know, but boy, we’ve tried to make it perfect," he said.

Security

In compliance with normal UNI-Dome security measures, caucus-goers are asked to leave backpacks and other large bags at home or in their cars. Any bags brought in will be searched. No signs will be allowed into the UNI-Dome.

Security at the event will be high, with involvement by Homeland Security, Iowa State police, University of Northern Iowa campus police, the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office and the Waterloo and Cedar Falls police forces. McDonald said the Homeland Security involvement included a risk assement anaylsis of the UNI-Dome.

"We’re having the largest caucus in the state," he said. "With the occupiers and protestors we would rather be safe than sorry. You almost have to plan for the worst and hope for the best. It’s kind of out of our hands. We’re just following the lead of law enforcement and doing what they suggest."

He said they didn't anticipate any problems, however. Occupy Cedar Valley and other Occupy groups in the state have said they don't plan to disrupt the caucus. Some are planning to register and attend the event with the intention of voting "uncommitted."

"We’ll count those votes just like we would a candidate," McDonald said.

He said the local caucus leaders would follow the instructions of the Republican Party of Iowa in dealing with uncommitted or no preference votes and with any protestors.

"Our main focus is we don’t want anyone disrupting that process. It’s our event, and it’s not a place to protest," he said.

He said there will be a designated protest area outside the UNI-Dome.

Voter Registration, Handicapped Parking and Directions

Anyone wishing to register as a Republican at the event or who needs to change their registration information can do so once inside the dome. They should bring two documents: a photo i.d., which can include a driver's license, passport, military i.d. or other government-issued i.d., an employer-issued i.d. or a student i.d. as well as a proof of residence, which is anything with both their name and address such as a utility bill or lease.

Once inside, caucus-goers will be divided into their individual precints, which will be situated throughout the dome. Each precinct will hold its own speeches and voting, and all precint results will be sent to Republican Party headquarters in Des Moines.

A map of the how the precincts will be divided in the dome is available here. Handicapped parking will be available by the Wellness Center and the McLeod Center. Directions to the UNI-Dome can be found here.

An Expensive Affair

The affair's price tag is coming in at almost $15,000, McDonald said. The UNI-Dome rental is free under state code, which says any state building can be used without charge for a caucus. But the local Republican party still has to pay for clean up, parking, security, chair rental and other set-up costs.

The money comes from fundraisers throughout the year and from the, "Lincoln Bag," which will be passed around for donations at the caucus.

Asked the reason for the giant caucus, organizers said the motivation was partly logistical and partly an attempt to drum up excitement and motivate people to get involved in politics.

“It's trying to instill a lot of people with the feeling they’re not alone, to try to get the excitement up," Tagtow said.

McDonald said the hope of bringing candidates to speak was also part of the decision.

"That’s what Iowa is about. It’s about coming and meeting these candidates face to face," he said.

Patch will have live coverage, both from the UNI-Dome and around the state, throughout the night.