EDITORIAL: Separate voter fact from fiction on Feb. 18

Nobody should be surprised by the scare tactics and misinformation meant to undermine the Idaho Open Primaries Initiative.

After all, the handful of people with a stranglehold on political power would be seriously threatened if voters had more say in who advances to general elections and who ultimately wins.

While the statewide initiative drive continues — the goal is to put the issue on the Nov. 5 ballot and let voters decide — a prime opportunity to learn more about the movement is headed your way.

The League of Women Voters of Kootenai County will present a panel discussion on what open primaries and ranked-choice voting would mean for Idaho. The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Coeur d’Alene Library. It will also be live-streamed on Facebook: https://shorturl.at/ckAH7

The League of Women Voters has organized the event to inform, not to persuade. It’s not a debate; it’s an attempt for the public to be able to hear from knowledgeable people about how open primaries and ranked-choice voting actually work, and what that would mean specifically for Idaho. There will also be time for questions and answers.

Retired judge and local attorney Pat Costello will facilitate the event. 

For those who don’t know, the League of Women Voters was founded in 1922 and remains one of our nation’s stalwart defenders of voter rights and democracy. According to its website:

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.

The Press appreciates the LWV of Kootenai County and other individuals who have come together to ensure accurate information is available to conscientious voters. 

Count on some myth busters Feb. 18.