Idaho caucuses are coming up – Do you know when your party meets?

A change is in the air for Idaho politics. For the first time since 2012 Idahoans will hold a caucus instead of a primary election. The change comes after the 2023 Idaho legislature failed to set a new date for a presidential primary election before the deadline set by the Republican National Committee. However, many Idahoans seem to be unaware of the change. Out of the dozens of people Local News 8 spoke with, none could tell us when their party would meet to caucus.

The question was the same for every community member interviewed by Local News 8: “Do you know when the Idaho caucuses are?”

Responses were consistently “I really don’t know.”

State GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon found the confusion concerning.

"We want them to mark their calendars," Chairwoman Moon said.

The Republican caucus will be held Mar. 2. On the other side of the isle, Democrats are set to caucus on May 23.

Moon said it's an opportunity for Idahoans' voices to be heard. "This was the route we had to go," Moon said. "It was either this or a convention. A convention is where 700 Idahoans would meet at the Taco Bell Arena, and those 700 would be the only ones to decide. "So a caucus really enfranchise many more voters in Idaho and so this was the only route in the best route for us."

In order to participate in the Republican caucus, Idahoans must be registered as a member of the party by Dec. 31 of last year. The Democratic Party has confirmed that people can register for the caucus and as a member of the party all the way up until May 22.

For more information on the Republican Caucus and locations in your area, click HERE. For additional information on the Democratic Caucus, click HERE.