Members of the press will not be admitted to the upcoming caucus sites GOP caucuses in Idahoa top state Republican Party official confirmed Wednesday.
Only registered Republicans and their children under 18 may enter March 2 contest.
“The purpose of this rule is to protect the integrity of the election and ensure that no one who is not eligible to vote in this caucus can vote,” Idaho Republican Party Executive Director Kiira Turnbow said in a statement.
“The press is more than happy to be outside the caucus, doing exit polls and interviewing caucus participants about their experiences,” he said.
He was the first to report on the restrictions imposed on the media Idaho Capital Sun.
The new caucus rules were approved by the Idaho Republican State Central Committee in June, a year after Dorothy Moon became state party chair, Turnbow said.
Moon on time called the new rules “a rejection of electoral fraud and a 100% endorsement of a fair, transparent and open process.”
The reporter ban, which raises transparency concerns, applies to all 210 caucus sites across the state, including publicly funded venues such as public schools.
Nevada Republicans imposed similar restrictions on the media during their last election school district of a county said the local GOP cannot prevent reporters or the general public from going to public school caucuses.
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. 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 contesting.