Idaho GOP to prohibit journalists from going inside caucus sites during March contest

Members of the press will not be allowed into caucus sites for the upcoming GOP caucuses in Idaho, a top official for the state Republican Party confirmed Wednesday.

Only registered Republicans and their children under the age of 18 will be allowed inside locations for the March 2 contest.

“The intention of this rule is to protect election integrity and ensure that nobody can cast a ballot inside the caucus that is not credentialed to vote at that caucus,” said Kiira Turnbow, executive director for the Idaho Republican Party, in a statement.

“The press is more than welcome to be outside of the caucus doing exit polling and interviewing caucus participants about their experience,” she added.

The media restrictions were first reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Turnbow said the new caucus rules were approved by the the Idaho Republican State Central Committee in June, a year after Dorothy Moon became state party chair.

Moon at the time called the new rules “a full on rejection of election gimmicks and a full 100% endorsement of a fair, transparent and open process.”

The prohibition on reporters, which raises transparency concerns, applies to all 210 caucus sites across the state, including publicly funded spaces like public schools.

Nevada Republicans imposed similar restrictions on the media during their recent caucuses, though one county’s school district said the local GOP could not block reporters or the general public from attending caucuses at public schools.

Next month’s contest in Idaho will be the first time the state GOP has held caucuses since 2012. Four years ago, Idaho Republicans held a primary that was won by then-President Donald Trump, who later carried the state in the general election.

Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are the only two major GOP candidates on the ballot in Idaho, where 32 delegates are up for grabs.