Idaho Proposition 1 Debate
We asked groups on both sides of Idaho’s Proposition 1 to write their best arguments for, or against, the Proposition. We have printed their responses below to help readers make an informed choice on November 5th. A sample ballot for Proposition 1 can be found on the facing page.
NO to Prop 1
Keith Markley, Adams County Republican Central Committee Chairman
1. Auditing our elections is and always will be of utmost importance . If we are going to maintain free and fair elections WE MUST be able to simply check the ballot totals to the computer totals. Prop 1 would make true and simple auditing a thing of the past. Whenever a candidate doesn’t win an outright 50 percent on the first round, computer algorithms will take over, reshuffle votes and whammo, the ability to check the accuracy will go up in smoke! A computer geek may be able to figure it out, but the average Joe, and average clerk and the average election observer will be lost. Giving algorithms influence in elections will squelch auditing and open the door to nefarious actors and election manipulation. This aspect alone should make Idahoans VOTE NO on PROP 1.
2. Prop 1 actually undermines our freedoms! Its really like saying, “Republicans, you don’t get to pick your own candidates”, and “Democrats, you can no longer pick your candidates” (although the Democrats don’t seem to mind not picking their candidates since Kamala was SELECTED not elected at the DNC) . Its like saying, “since I don’t like your team, we are not going to allow teams at all! Nobody gets a team! Taking away a teams ability to pick its own players is as taking away the freedom to have teams. What they are calling “open primaries” really means NO MORE TEAMS! How about we say, all the teams in the Mountain West conference get to pick the players on the Boise State football team ! If you like that idea, then this proposition is for you. If not, VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
3. With Prop 1 the winners don’t win! I know it sounds crazy, because it is, but the reality is that most of the time when Ranked Choice Voting systems (AKA Prop 1) are used, the highest vote getters in the first round end up not being elected! Like I mentioned previously, unless a candidate wins 50% of the vote in the first round (which almost never happens when there are 4 candidates splitting the vote), the algorithms take over, the smoke fills the air, and nobody will understand how that person got elected!!
4. Prop 1 IS NOT a grassroots movement. This well funded scheme has received 50 percent of its pile of money from outside of Idaho! The proponents known as “Reclaim Idaho” (anyone wondering what they are trying to “RECLAIM” Idaho from ? Perhaps from being conservative ??) is connected to the Democrat organization called Act Blue. Act Blue wants Idaho Blue. VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
5. Idaho Lawmakers already made Ranked Choice Voting illegal in Idaho. (House Bill 179, 2023). They observed from Alaska and other states that tried it, that it is a disaster! And by the way, it will be an expensive disaster. After spending some time analyzing costs, our secretary of state has suggested that this proposition would end up costing Idahoans between 20 and 40 million dollars! Yikes!! VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
6. Prop 1 will exacerbate a very big problem that we already have. Not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings here, but the reality is that too many voters know too little about the issues and candidates we already have! If we are forcing people to choose 4 candidates for each office instead of one, then we have to spend 4 times as much time investigating. It is true that you are not required to pick 4 candidates for each office, but if you don’t your little vote will get tossed (if you didn’t RANK CHOOSE) and it will be like you didn’t vote at all.
7. Prop 1 is 15 pages of legalese. This is a very complicated bill. It has been very well funded and marketed and misleads people into thinking it does one thing when in fact it does something altogether different. If you haven’t read this 15 page proposition written by slick lawyers and if you do not fully understand it PLEASE DO NOTE VOTE FOR IT!
In Conclusion, the proponents of this proposition are often accusing those of us against this proposition as using lies and misinformation. Beware of those catch phrases. They are commonly used by the current Democrat party. Making our election system MORE complicated is not the way to go. Making us more reliant upon computers and algorithms is not the way to go. Increasing costs and decreasing accountability is not the way to go. Letting out of state funding change Idaho election law is not the way to go. Voting for a law that you haven’t read is not the way to go. VOTE NO ON PROP 1.
YES to Prop 1
Jeff Canfield, Veterans For Idaho Voters
Veterans for Idaho Voters supports Proposition 1. This initiative is not about partisan politics. It is about giving voters more choices and electing candidates supported by a majority of voters. Partisan primaries disenfranchise voters and disincentivize our leaders from working together to solve problems. Proposition 1 will empower voters and encourage elected officials to work together.
Veterans for Idaho Voters is a cross-partisan and independent group of Idaho military veterans. Butch Otter, a three term Idaho Republican governor is our Honorary Chair. We want voters to understand how elections would work with Proposition 1, and how this initiative would make elections better for all voters.
Under Idaho’s primary system, 270,000 independent voters, many of them veterans, do not get to vote in primary elections unless they choose the ballot of a particular party. This system limits the choices of independents and all other voters. They can’t pick a Republican for one office and a Democrat for another office, even if those are the best candidates. They just get a choice of the candidates from one party’s ballot.
Proposition 1 would replace party primaries with a single primary in which all voters can participate and vote for a candidate from any party, or an independent candidate. Independent candidates are currently excluded from primary elections. The top four candidates from the primary election would then move to the general election. Most voters in Idaho are Republicans, which means it is likely that most of the top four candidates would be Republicans. But they would be Republicans that appeal to a broader range of people. Democrats and independents would need to appeal to this broader group as well.
Ranked choice voting in the general election gives voters choices after the primary. Rather than choosing between just two candidates where they might be picking the lesser of two bad options, they can rank four candidates based on their qualifications and views.
Primary elections are important, but only about 20% of Idahoans vote in primary elections. Over 60 % of people vote in the general election, but over 90% of general elections are won by the person who won the primary. The primary really does matter. Idaho officials are now being selected by 20% or less of Idaho voters -in the primaries. And most Idaho legislative districts do not have competitive general elections. The primary is where the elections are currently won.
Our state has become so polarized that some people are afraid to talk to each other about political issues or put up a yard sign expressing a view that could set off an argument with a neighbor. Proposition 1 would allow everyone to vote for any candidate who wants to run. With this system elected officials would be accountable to the voters instead of the party elites. And they would need the support of a wide range of voters. That would result in less polarization, less extremism and better government.
Proposition 1 is not a partisan initiative. Over 120 prominent Idaho Republicans support this initiative. Search: “Republicans for Open Primaries” on your computer to see the list. The Idaho Chapter of Mormon Women for Ethical Government supports this initiative as well. Former Governor Butch Otter said,” The right to vote is one of the most precious rights that Americans have. Every registered voter should have the right to weigh in on choosing our leaders.”
The party elites who are opposing this initiative do not have good arguments to use against it. That is why they use false statements in their advertisements like “Proposition 1 would eliminate paper ballots.” The real reason the party leaders oppose Proposition 1 is that it would take control of our elections away from them and the special interests that they serve and give voters choices that are beyond the party’s control. Party leaders in states controlled by Democrats are fighting just as hard to maintain their control by opposing open primaries and ranked choice voting. This is not a red versus blue issue. This is a party elites and special interests versus the people issue.
Proposition 1 won’t change Idaho from red to blue. What it will do is give all voters the ability to vote in all taxpayer funded elections. It will make our elected officials accountable to voters, not special interests. It will make it possible for more candidates to compete in our elections. And it will end the control of party elites who now obstruct the democratic process in Idaho.
We encourage everyone with questions about Proposition 1 to do their own research. Don’t rely on party leaders to give you the whole story. The websites below offer the information needed to make an informed decision on this important initiative: Veterans For Idaho Voters: v4iv.org and Idahoans For Open Primaries: yesforopenprimaries.com.
