VOTER GUIDE: Deserves local legislative support

We need a voter guide.

The Idaho Senate recently approved Senate Bill 1273 and it’s now in the House. This bill, proposed by Secretary of State McGrane, would simply add candidate information to the voter pamphlet already produced at no additional cost. It would allow candidates to submit an up to a 200-word statement and a photo for the guide that would be printed and distributed to every household in the state and available online. Seems pretty reasonable and helpful information for voters, doesn’t it?

As stated in the recent Boise State University statewide Idaho Public Policy Survey, “... 78% of Idahoans say they favor a state-issued voter guide (48% strongly favor), while 10% are opposed (5% strongly opposed). Support is strong (over 80%) across all political parties.”

Sen. Treg Bernt, R-Meridian who supported the bill, noted: “Those who are against it are those who are biased and those who provide misinformation to voters. If you’re honest, and if you provide honest information about candidates then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

So, why then did all five of our North Idaho Senators Herndon, Hart, Bjerke, Okuniewicz and Toews vote against it? Maybe ask them.

Let’s hope our North Idaho representatives in the House have the courage to go against the Idaho Freedom Foundation, that wants to limit voter participation and knowledge, and will support a bill that is good for voters and good for Idaho.

LUKE RUSSELL

Hayden