Republicans to vote in crucial Iowa caucus

Republicans in the US will begin voting this week to choose their presidential candidate for November’s election.

The vast majority of the country will pick contenders in primaries, by means of a secret ballot.

But in 14 states voters will meet in noisy, raucous political assemblies, where they will argue for their candidates and then gather for a speedy vote.

The elections are called caucuses. And the first and biggest of these – to take place in Iowa on Tuesday – might just determine who runs for the White House.

But critics of the process have argued that caucuses are flawed and outdated.

Al Jazeera’s John Hendren reports from Washington DC.