Prop 1
Approximately 30% of the 600,000 registered Republican voters participate in the closed Idaho Republican primary. This means that a Republican seeking statewide office in Idaho needs approximately 100,000 primary votes to win the primary.
Said another way, under the current system, a Republican office seeker needs to get the support of approximately 10% of the 1 million registered voters to win statewide office. For example, approximately 100 members of the current legislature faced no opposition, or only token opposition in the last election.
The reality of a small minority of Idahoans being the drivers of the political process of the state is bad for the state and bad for citizens. Government of the people should reflect the general will of the people. A process that thwarts that purpose is faulty at its core.
The Open Primaries Initiative, on the ballot this fall, is a means of restoring the general will of the people as the driver of Idaho’s political process. It is a fair, honest, easy to understand, and easy to use process for getting every registered voter his or her fully counting vote. Please vote yes on Proposition 1 — for a better Idaho future.
Scott Burlingame, Boise
Government for all
I am proud to live in Idaho and can’t believe the Republican leadership think I will be “confused” if the Proposition 1 Initiative is passed. Right now the Republican closed primary means that only 20% of eligible voters can cast a ballot in the primary election that chooses the winner; every single state level office is held by a Republican. If you win the primary (which only Republicans can vote in) then you win the office.
Proposition 1 would change that by allowing every eligible voter to vote in the primary for their top candidate. The top four vote-getters would be on the November ballot. They might all be Republicans or a mix of party candidates. The November election would use ranked choice voting to elect the officeholder from those four candidates. This means the candidates need to support positions that appeal to all Idahoans.
The Republican Party is afraid of Proposition 1. Idahoans support Proposition 1, including Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Veterans for Idaho Voters and Republicans for Open Primaries. Proposition 1 is about making our elections our government more responsive to the needs of all Idahoans. Please vote yes on Proposition 1.
Brenton Kidder, Boise
California?
I’m confused by all of the anti Prop 1 banners along State Street that say “ Don’t Californicate Idaho’s Elections.” California does not have statewide ranked choice voting. Where ranked choice voting is statewide, it has proven to be fair and equitable.
Just like all elections these days, the only people complaining about it are those that lose or are worried about losing an election.
Don’t blame California or any other state for perceived problems. Look at who you have been electing in Idaho for the past 30 years. They make the laws and regulations for the state’s growth and future. Not the people who move here.
Perhaps, ranked choice voting in Idaho will help elect better Republicans, and others who will listen to us and not their rich donors.
Barry Roth, Eagle
Unaffiliated
Recently, former state schools superintendent and state GOP chair Tom Luna was quoted saying, “This is probably the most important thing you will see on the (November 2024) ballot.” He was referring to “Proposition 1,” the Open Primaries Initiative brought up for your vote by 90,000 of your fellow Idahoans. Luna knows Proposition 1 will give 260,600 Idaho unaffiliated voters the right to vote in future primary elections. Today, they have no vote; that is, they have no voice in our selection of GOP legislative candidates.
Like you, Luna understands that all Idaho voters should have the right to vote in Idaho’s elections. He realizes that if you vote in the upcoming November general election, you can be one among the majority who will help ensure the right of all of us to vote in our primary elections. You can do that by voting yes for Proposition 1.
Borg Hendrickson, Moscow
Vote yes
I urge my fellow Idahoans to vote yes on Proposition 1, the Open Primaries Initiative. As a lifelong Republican, the radical takeover of the Idaho GOP by Dorothy Moon and her band of conflict entrepreneurs has been embarrassing and shameful.
The big tent party has morphed into a clique of purity testing and censures. Ronald Reagan said, “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” Yet, the Dorothy Moon GOP has hauled our elected representatives before party tribunals to bully, harass, and oust them from the party for a handful of votes these party elites disagree with. They have furthered their minority-support by pushing a burdensome caucus that drew a measly 6.8% of registered Republicans.
Caucuses and a party-boss mentality are relics of a far-gone era. We’re past due to update our election systems. Open primaries will enfranchise normal Idahoans and ranked choice voting will require candidates to appeal to a broad swath of the electorate. These tools are tested, secure, able to be audited, and simple for voters.
Restore sanity and representation. Vote yes on Proposition 1 this election.
Jake Melder, Boise
Banners
“Mommy, what does Californicate mean?”
I saw a large political banner on a public thoroughfare, declaring that we should not “Californicate” Idaho by voting in favor of Proposition 1, known as ranked choice voting. Also displayed is the Idaho state seal. The state seal should not be used to imply that a product or service is state-authorized, sponsored or endorsed. The seal should not be used to imply state approval of campaign propaganda. For example, a billboard that combines the seal with a sexualized wordplay is considered a misuse of the seal.
The sponsor of these banners, the Idaho GOP, have this particular banner posted in front of a public middle school. How many children have read this sign and wondered what “Californicate” means? How many parents have tried to explain this word? I think the GOP needs to remove them all and be held legally accountable. Utter hypocrisy from the party claiming sole ownership of “family values,” who claim displaying rainbow flags in classrooms makes their child uncomfortable or that certain “obscene” books be banned.
Becky Hanson, Caldwell
Local News
