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‘Coding issue’ in Iowa app to blame for results delay

The app was apparently recording information correctly, but only reporting partial data.

 

Andrew Wyrich

Tech

Posted on Feb 4, 2020   Updated on May 19, 2021, 4:20 pm CDT

The Iowa Democratic Party on Tuesday said a “coding issue” within its ill-fated caucus app led to a delay in counting the results from Monday night.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price released a statement on Tuesday morning that said they have determined that information collected via the app was correct, but the app was only reporting out “partial data.”

“As part of our investigation, we determined with certainty that the underlying data collected via the app was sound,” Price said in the statement. “While the app was recording data accurately, it was reporting out only partial data. We have determined that this was due to a coding issue in the reporting system. This issue was identified and fixed. The application’s reporting issue did not impact the ability of precinct chairs to report data accurately.”

Price added that the party has “every indication that our systems were secure and there was not a cybersecurity intrusion.”

As for results of Monday night’s caucuses, Price said that they hope to release them today, but “our ultimate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy of the process continues to be upheld.”

The app has been at the center of controversy in the wake of Monday night’s delay in reporting. The ultimate goal of the app was to make reporting the results of the complicated caucus process easier and faster—however, as the process began, there were reports of issues cropping up with it.

In the end, it led to the results being delayed for at least 12 hours. It is still not clear when official tallies will be released.

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*First Published: Feb 4, 2020, 10:53 am CST