Issues with the new smartphone app for reporting the results of the crucial Iowa Democratic caucus could delay the count of the votes tonight in the bellwether contest.
Precinct chairs across the Hawkeye State experienced problems downloading or logging into the app, one of the ways they’re able to send the results from their smaller, individual caucuses to the Iowa Democratic Party, according to Bloomberg News.
“We are experiencing some issues in terms of people being able to load and connect with the app for their precinct reporting,” Bret Nilles, the chairman of the Linn County Democratic Party, told the outlet.
The chairs can still relay their results to the state party via a call-in phone number, but the app was intended to expedite the tallying.
A potential logjam created by party chairs calling the hotline could delay the results by a few hours, according to Bloomberg, but a spokeswoman for the IDP said that they aren’t concerned by the snafu.
“The IDP is working with any precinct chairs who want to use the optional tabulation application to make sure they are comfortable with it,” said Mandy McClure in a statement. “We’ve always been aware that many precinct chairs prefer to call in results via a secure hotline, and have systems in place so they can do so.”
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders heads into the nominating contest with a slim lead in the state poll over former Vice President Joe Biden.