The Iowa GOP will hold the 2015 Straw Poll in Boone instead of Ames.

The Straw Poll will be held at the Central Iowa Expo in Boone, Iowa on Aug. 8. 

Since 1979, the Straw Poll was held in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, but the State Central Committee voted unanimously to move the poll to Boone Thursday morning. Jeff Kaufmann, chair of the Iowa GOP, said moving the poll to the Central Iowa Expo will keep the event affordable and attendance high. 

“This venue allows us to keep ticket prices affordable, ensuring families across Iowa can participate in this one-of-a-kind event,” Kaufmann said according to a press release. 

In the 2011 Straw Poll, Iowa State charged the GOP $300,000 for hosting the poll in Ames, the Des Moines Register reported. 

Kaufmann said all four bids to host the event were below that price mark for this year, and the Central Iowa Expo was “in the low tier” of that price range, the Register reported.

“As a former resident of Boone, I couldn’t be happier with the Central Committee’s selection. Making this event more accessible to every Iowan is an important step in keeping the Straw Poll a must-attend date on the presidential election calendar,” Gov. Terry Branstad said in a press release.