PROP 1: Vote no on ranked-choice voting

I am voting NO on Proposition 1, and I would invite my fellow Idahoans to join me. Prop 1 would implement ranked choice voting in Idaho, an election system that is confusing and nearly impossible to audit. Ranked choice voting is error prone. For example, an Oakland school election used RC a few years ago. Officials tabulated the vote incorrectly, and declared the wrong candidate the winner. Only after a lengthy, costly court battle did the actual winner end up in office.

Speaking of costly. Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane says Prop 1 implementation would cost Idahoans up to $40 million. When Alaska implemented ranked choice voting, the state had to spend millions educating voters on the new voting process. 

Finally, Prop 1 encourages candidates to lie to votes. Prop 1 would allow candidates to list any party affiliation on the ballot, regardless of their actual affiliation. We need more honesty in politics, not less. 

For all of these reasons and more, I am voting against Proposition 1. Our election system works fine. Let’s not fix what isn’t broken. 

JENNY ROGERS 

Hayden