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In 2012, roughly 120,000 people participated in the caucuses -– about 38 percent of whom were first-time caucus-goers.

Kayli Nuce, 22, who was caucusing for the first time with her husband at an elementary school in Dubuque, IA, said she and her husband got on line at 6:15 p.m., thinking they were early. They ended up in the overflow room.

Nuce said the speakers giving speeches about the candidates had to give them twice, first in the school auditorium and then run to the gym, which had been set up as the overflow room.

Nuce also said there were so many people at her caucus location that they ran out of ballots. She had to write her choice on a piece of paper.

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