Idaho open primary initiative in final stretch
Spirit Lake resident Loree Peery gathered signatures for the open primary initiative outside the Coeur d’Alene Library in December 2023.
KAYE THORNBRUGH/Press file
COEUR d’ALENE — Supporters of a ballot initiative that would open Idaho’s primary elections to all voters are making a final push to gather signatures before the May 1 deadline to submit signatures for verification.
Members of the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition say the initiative tackles what they believe is the “problem” of closed primary elections. In a state where many elections are won in the primary, proponents of the initiative say closed primaries shut more than 275,000 unaffiliated Idaho voters out of the process.
“If you’re an independent voter and you don’t belong to a political party, you get blocked from voting in the most important elections,” said Luke Mayville, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, which is part of the open primaries coalition. “The open primary initiative would change that by giving all voters, including independents, the right to vote in all primary elections.”
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
