Voters who want to participate in the Idaho Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominating caucus have until Dec. 31 to register to vote and affiliate with the GOP.

Democrats, on the other hand, don’t have a deadline this month and will be allowed to register to vote and affiliate on the day of the Democrats’ May 23 presidential nominating caucus.

The deadline to register and affiliate for the primary elections for state and congressional elections is not until March 15 – the same day as the deadline for candidates to file for office.

In order to check their voter registration and party affiliation status, update their voter registration or begin registering to vote, Idahoans can use the Idaho Secretary of State’s election information website voteIdaho.gov. Idahoans with current voter registrations who already affiliated with the Republican Party do not have to make any changes in order to vote in the Republican presidential caucus.

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New in 2024, Idaho voters will participate both in state-run primary elections and presidential nominating caucuses run by the political parties. 

This change is happening because the Idaho Legislature seemingly unintentionally eliminated the presidential primary election during the 2023 legislative session. The Idaho Legislature then rejected a late-session trailer bill aimed at moving the presidential primary back to May. Finally, the Idaho Legislature did not call itself back into session this fall to reinstate a presidential primary even after officials from both major political parties called on legislators to do so.

The Idaho Republican Party also tried to set a Dec. 31 deadline to affiliate with the Republican Party in order to vote in the Republican primary election, but Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said in November he cannot enforce that deadline because it is a party rule, not a state law. 

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus in Idaho? 

There are a couple of important differences between a caucus and a primary election. 

  • The caucuses are run by the political parties. They are used to select the party’s nominee for U.S. president in 2024 and to select delegates to attend the party conventions. 
  • The primary elections are run by the state. They will feature primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislators, county commissioners and other county offices like sheriff or prosecutor.

Unlike the primary elections and the Democratic caucus, Republicans will have to attend the Idaho Republican Party’s presidential caucus in-person if they wish to participate. Under Republican Party Rules, there will be at least one caucus location per county. There will be no exception for active-duty U.S. military members, missionaries serving outside of Idaho, people who are physically unable to attend, people who are ill, people who cannot travel to a caucus site, people who have to work or people who are unable to obtain childcare. 

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“The caucus is an in-person event only,” Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon wrote in an emailed statement to the Idaho Capital Sun on Tuesday.

Efforts to reach Moon for an interview were unsuccessful. 

Moon has publicly encouraged families with children to attend the Republican caucus, saying it represents an opportunity to introduce young people to American government, elections and voting rights.

More information about the Idaho Republican Party’s caucus is available online. 

The Idaho Democratic Party will allow voters to request an absentee ballot beginning in February if they are serving in the military or on a mission, disabled, have work requirements or are unable to obtain child care, Idaho Democratic Party Executive Director Jared DeLoof and Rep. Lauren Necochea, D-Boise, said.

“Voter access is a value of ours,” Nechochea said in an interview Tuesday. 

More information about the Idaho Democratic Party’s website and the process for requesting an absentee ballot is available online. 

When are the caucuses and primary elections taking place?

The caucus and primary election will be spread out on different dates. This is new for 2024.

  • The Idaho Republican Party’s presidential caucus is March 2.
  • The Idaho primary election for all political parties is May 21.
  • The Idaho Democratic Party’s presidential caucus is May 23. 

There are many reasons why the dates are different. Some are strategic. The Idaho Republican Party has publicly pushed for an earlier date on the calendar, hoping if there is a competitive race it will generate influence for Idaho or attract a visit by a presidential candidate if voters caucus before the party’s nomination is secured. 

The Idaho Democratic Party, on the other hand, could receive additional delegates for the state by running its caucus later in the year in a primary election cycle that is not expected to be as competitive, with incumbent President Joe Biden running for re-election. 

Even though the caucus dates are different, voters will only be allowed to participate in one party’s presidential caucus. 

Who is running in Idaho’s presidential caucuses?

As of Wednesday, there are six candidates running in the Idaho Republican Party’s presidential caucus and two in the Idaho Democratic Party’s presidential caucus. 

There are six Republican candidates.

  • Former President Donald Trump.
  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
  • Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
  • Businessman and author Vivek Ramaswamy.
  • Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
  • Businessman and pastor Ryan L. Binkley. 

There are two Democrats.

  • President Joe Biden. 
  • U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.

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