BOISE, Idaho — On March 2, Idaho's Republican party will hold its first presidential caucus in more than a decade. However, media, including KTVB, will not be allowed inside this time.
The state majority party is holding a caucus this year because the legislature's last session inadvertently eliminated the March primary elections and party leadership wanted to be an early player in picking a president.
Only registered Republicans and their young kids will be allowed inside the 210 locations around the state. Kiira Turnbow, Idaho Republican Party executive director, did not respond to KTVB's request for an interview but did send a statement.
"The intention of this rule is to protect election integrity and ensure that only registered Republicans who are admitted inside can cast a ballot once inside the caucus. The press is more than welcome to be outside of the caucus doing exit polling and interviewing caucus participants about their experience," she wrote.
Journalists and political scientists are raising the alarm about the decision. Political scientist David Adler called the decision undemocratic and abnormal.
"By denying the press access to the caucuses, it means that the process is going to be open to suspicion," he said. "We'll wonder about the GOP's penchant for secrecy rather than transparency."
He does not believe the party gave a credible reason for excluding media. Adler also pushed back on the idea that having media inside interferes with any votes cast.
"It's hardly the case that reporters are going to interfere with the process," Adler said. "They'll stand many feet away and simply observe, and that's what the press does."
Besty Russell, Idahoans for Openness in Government president, wants the party to rethink its decision. She called it "mind-boggling that a major party would want to undermine public trust by conducting such an important process in secret."
Melissa Davlin, Idaho Press Club president, does not support the decision either.
"For years, Republican candidates have raised questions about election integrity. But now, the Idaho Republican Party has chosen to shut out journalists for this high-interest event," she wrote in a statement. "It's disappointing the Idaho GOP is making it more difficult to get information to the public."
Turnbow said media will be allowed inside downtown Boise's party headquarters when they announce results. However, they are still figuring out the logistics.
Adler encouraged Idahoans concerned about the decision to contact their state representatives and "flood GOP headquarters" with phone calls, emails and text messages.
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