C1 My Turn: Of primary concern this election season

Idahoans and Americans are blessed with the opportunity and privilege of selecting representatives through the voting process to administer our republic form of government. But we often abdicate that opportunity and privilege through apathy and complacency. How unfortunate.

Perhaps there is more interest in enjoying our inalienable rights or our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness than voting the future of our state and nation. Are we oblivious to the storm clouds that are looming on the horizon?

In Idaho, we commonly have two state elections: a primary, often in May, and the general election in November. The primary is actually the more important of the two. It allows voters to examine candidates and separate the wheat from the chaff, the wannabes from the legitimates, true conservatives from cinos (conservatives in name only) and statesmen and women from politicians.

In case you are not aware, it has been said that statesmen and stateswomen are concerned with the future and welfare of our nation, while politicians are more concerned with getting elected, keeping their office or position and addressing control and power. When citizens carefully and conscientiously participate in primaries, the results are likely to produce the best candidates for the general election. But historically Idahoans haven’t participated well in the primaries.

For example, for the 2020 Idaho primary the voting age population was 1,338,864, registered voters were 901,182, and ballots cast 232,160. That translates to 25.76% of the registered voters voting in the primary, but only 17.34% of the voting age population actually voting. Not a lot of participation when so much is at stake.

And statistics are not any better for primaries in previous years. How politicians relish the opportunity to take advantage of that. Check out the statistics yourself — IDAHO ELECTION REGISTRATION AND TURNOUT 1980-2020. Historical Idaho Election Registration and Turnout.

So what’s the bottom line? It’s important to vote in both the primary and general elections. The real opportunity, however, to select the best person for an office or position lies in the primary. For Kootenai County and North Idaho, winners of the Republican primary win the office.

This year’s Republican primary is May 17. Exercise your duty and responsibility to vet candidates and then vote. There are plenty of resources to get the facts and truths about each candidate. Don’t just peruse literature received in the mail or placed on your doorknob. Rather, I encourage you to compare and contrast all candidates for offices in your county, district, state and the U.S.

Vote your conscience! Vote your values! Vote for the future of Idaho. Vote!

Bob Whitehead is a Post Falls resident.