Des Moines, Iowa — The state law Governor Reynolds signed June 1st would let Republicans set new voter registration rules for the Iowa Caucuses — but Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann says requiring Caucus-goers to have registered as a Republican voter weeks in advance is unlikely.
Kaufmann’s son, State Representative Bobby Kaufmann, is a senior advisor on Trump’s campaign and was lead sponsor of the bill that originally suggested Caucus-goers would have to be registered as a Republican — or a Democrat — at least 70 days before Caucus Night. That provision was removed before the bill became law. The Iowa GOP chairman says the party’s state central committee is discussing other ways to ensure the integrity of the Caucuses.
On Caucus Night in 2016, 21,000 Democrats and independent voters switched their voter registrations to Republican that evening. Entrance polls suggested Trump won nearly a third of Caucus-goers who registered as Republicans that night. Kaufmann says there would be push back from caucus-goers if same-day registration wasn’t allowed — and some campaigns have already begun planning for it.
Kaufmann made his comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS.
