ELECTIONS: Don’t fix what isn’t broken

“The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.” When you first hear ‘open primary,’ it sounds fair. However, Proposition 1 isn’t just about changing to an open primary, it will also usher in a new way of counting votes. The two issues, an open primary and ranked-choice voting, are married. You can’t have one without the other.

Yes, the paid signature gatherers collected enough names for the ballot. Proponents with clipboards always make their issue sound good. But did you know the initiative is 18 pages long? Did you know there was a movement to help people remove their name, if after closer examination, they changed their mind?

Idaho’s election system is just fine. No need to fix what isn’t broken. Anyone can vote for who they want; they need only to declare or not declare a party. They do have a choice.

I don’t want to rank candidates. I want to vote for the person I believe is the best. One person one vote. I would never vote for Biden or Harris as my 2nd, 3rd or 4th choice. With this new way, if no candidate receives a 50 + 1% majority, a run-off begins. And if my 1st and only choice candidate has the lowest percentage of votes, my ballot is exhausted and thrown out. The pool of voters shrinks and recalculation begins.

Proposition 1 is about political power not fairness. Those backing this change have been losing. They want to manipulate elections to their advantage. Ranked-choice voting favors moderate candidates. If Proposition 1 survives Attorney General Labrador’s challenge and ends up on the ballot, I am voting no.

JENNY HOLMES

Post Falls