IDAHO FALLS — The Gem State is expected to play a larger role in this year’s presidential nomination thanks to changes made in the Idaho legislature last year.
In 2015, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter passed legislation allowing for an early presidential primary election in March rather than in May, when partisan state and local primary elections are held. When it passed, state legislators asserted the change would increase Idaho’s influence in presidential politics and improve voter turnout.
The move primarily affected Idaho Republicans and members of The Constitution Party who are taking advantage of the time change and are holding a tax-payer funded election on March 8. For Republicans the primary will decide the fate of 32 delegates who will be sent to the Republican National Convention. During the last presidential election in 2012, the delegates were decided at a Republican caucus.
“(The caucus) was logistically challenging,” Idaho Republican Party Executive Director Dave Johnston recently told KTBV. “It was a burden on our voters who were able to participate, (and) it excluded a lot of people from being able to participate.”
This year’s presidential primary election will be held in each Idaho county. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
TO FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE CLICK HERE
Only registered Republicans can vote in the election, but locals can register as a Republican and then vote right up until polls close on Tuesday.
Bonneville County election officials tell EastIdahoNews.com residents only need to have lived in Idaho for 30 days to register in a party. Registration requires an Idaho drivers license or a photo identification and separate legal documentations with a name and current Idaho address, such as a utility bill.
Idaho Democrats will get the chance to decide the face of their 27 delegates at various caucuses on Tuesday, March 22. The caucuses will be held at the following locations across the state between 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Bannock County: Idaho State University Pond Student Union Building Ballroom, 921 South 8th Ave, Pocatello
- Bingham County: Sa-Sys Event Center, 214 South University, Blackfoot
- Bonneville County: Skyline High School Gymnasium, 1767 Blue Sky Drive, Idaho Falls
- Butte County: Butte County High School, 120 S Water Street, Arco
- Jefferson, Clark counties: Jefferson County Courthouse: 210 Courthouse Way Rigby
- Lemhi County: Salmon City Center, 200 Main Street, Salmon
- Madison, Fremont counties: Madison Middle School, 575 West 7th South, Rexburg
- Minidoka County: Burley Inn, 800 Overland Ave., Burley
- Power County: American Falls Housing Authority, 290 Tyhee Ave., American Falls
- Teton County: Teton Middle School, 935 North 5th East, Driggs
FOR MORE ON CAUCUS LOCATIONS CLICK HERE
The Idaho Democratic Party says anyone can participate in Idaho caucuses, regardless of party affiliation, provided they did not cast a vote in the March 8 primary.
For anyone interested in changing their party affiliation prior to the May 17 primary election, the deadline is March 11 at 5 p.m.
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