Every four years, Montana voters go through the motions of casting a ballot in the presidential primary election, hoping that our next president hears the concerns of Montana and other western states.

Unfortunately, that voice often falls upon deaf ears.

In reality, Montana's primary comes so late in the process that each political party has already selected its presidential nominee long before Montanans have a voice. Typically by that time, several candidates have dropped out of the race, and our vote ends up being a simple affirmation of a pre-determined outcome. If Montanans want a voice in the process, we can't allow that to continue any longer, and Montana Republicans are trying to do something about it.

Under a new proposal, the Montana Republican Party would hold a Presidential Caucus in each county on February 5, 2008. Each county caucus would include folks from around the county who come and cast their ballot for the Republican nominee for President, all in one evening. The votes would be tallied from around the state and a winner of the Republican Presidential Caucus would be announced that very night.

The need for such a change is just plain common sense for most Montanans. Ultimately, we want to elect a President who understands and will address issues we care about, but right now we give them a pass on Montana issues until the general election in November. Currently we are the second-to-last state to hold it's presidential primary, ahead of only South Dakota. Moving to a caucus in February will give Montana a voice in the presidential nominating process at a time that is relevant in the presidential campaign -- when candidates are debating the issues and discussing the various policy positions that will impact our everyday lives. Montana Republicans happen to think that Denton is just as important as Des Moines, Iowa, and that Conrad shouldn't have to take a backseat to Concord, N.H.

This new approach also gives more Montanans input on the presidential selection process as a whole. Remember, the presidential nominee is selected by delegates at the National Convention. Right now, Montana's 25 delegates to the Republican National Convention aren't obligated to vote for the candidate who wins Montana's primary -- they simply vote for the presidential candidate they personally want to support. That's right, under the current policy only 25 people get to decide which candidate gets the support of all Montana Republicans. The new proposal would require Montana's 25 delegates to support the winner of Montana's Republican Presidential Caucus, an honor that could only be won by garnering broad support from 2,262 party officials representing every county across the state. Under the new, reform plan, those who cast a vote on behalf of Montana Republicans at the National Convention would better represent the will of Republicans from throughout the entire state, instead of their own personal preference.

Implementing this change opens the nominating process to Republicans from every walk of life, with every county in Montana being allowed to provide its input. I don't know a single Montanan who doesn't think we deserve to have a voice in the presidential primary election, and ultimately, that's what a Republican Presidential Caucus will do for this state: give us a voice.

Montana Republicans are taking the lead to ensure that Montana issues are addressed at the national level -- not just with hollow rhetoric late in the campaign, but with honest, thoughtful discussion right from the start, early in the primary process. This is the kind of presidential election Montanans deserve, and Republicans will work to make it a reality.

Erik Iverson is State Chairman of the Montana Republican Party.