OPINION: Caucus Numbers are an Embarrassment and a Demand for Change

Less than 7% of Idaho’s registered Republican voters participated in the Idaho GOP Presidential Caucus.

Did you vote in the recent Idaho Republican presidential caucus? Chances are that you missed it since 93% of Idaho voters weren’t able, weren’t informed, or chose not to participate. The polarized feelings about the event didn’t focus on the candidates at all, but rather highlighted  glaring challenges facing our party. It’s clear with the distressing lack of participation and representation that something is severely amiss within our party's electoral process.

I’ve spent my life as a proud member of the Republican party–sharing values and working to invest in Idaho’s future through the GOP. That’s why it pains me to see the erosion of principles within Idaho’s Republican party. The decision to proceed with the caucus, despite widespread concerns and obstacles preventing many dedicated Republicans from participating, reveals a troubling disregard for the voices and values of our party members.

For months, constituents across Idaho have expressed their frustration and disappointment at being excluded from the democratic process. Busy families, students, service employees, caregivers, military members, travelers, all were disenfranchised by the process–and shouted those challenges from every newspaper, news outlet, blog, and social media outlet. But, despite this overwhelming feedback, Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, party leadership and legislators have failed to take meaningful action to address these concerns. Instead each points fingers at the other.

What is even more disconcerting is the apparent indifference of party leadership to the fundamental principles of inclusivity and accountability. In Moon’s message to GOP voters before the caucus she said, “They say that the Caucus disenfranchises those who cannot attend on Saturday. Not true! The Legislature disenfranchised everyone by removing the presidential primary, and the Caucus re-enfranchised as many Republican voters as possible.” 

Unfortunately, Moon is missing the point. Party leaders forged ahead with the caucus, even though they knew the barriers to participation, and simply didn’t care. It seems that a small cadre of individuals within the party hierarchy are more concerned with consolidating power and controlling the party than with honoring the voices and values of our citizens. Perhaps these party elites would rather our voter numbers continue to dwindle to make dictating direction even easier. 

If we do want civic engagement, participation and to enhance voter voices, we need to make some changes. Caucus day power outages and extreme weather conditions in eastern Idaho underscore the urgent need for alternative voting options such as absentee ballots, mail-in voting, and early voting. Dedicated citizens who cannot physically attend should not be deprived of their right to participate simply because they cannot be present during a narrow sliver of time. 

GOP leaders and lawmakers should look at these caucus participation numbers with embarrassment and as a marker demanding change. It’s time to truly hear from the people they serve–including the other 93% of Republicans–and take immediate action to rectify the caucus’ failures. Anything less is a betrayal of the principles upon which our party was founded and a disservice to the citizens of our great state.

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John C. is a second-generation Idahoan and long-time Republican party member.