VOTE: Yes on Prop 1

It’s all about choice. The Open Primaries Initiative comes down to this simple idea. Would you like to have input on who is elected to represent you in government, even if you are an Independent voter not recognized by one of the major parties? There are over 260,000 Independents in Idaho who are locked out of the primary system. Don’t they deserve a choice in who is elected to represent us? Are you worried that the non-controlling party will hijack the election to install Liberals in our county and state? You don’t need to worry, only 12.5% of the state are registered Democrats. There is no way they are going to garner 50% of the vote to win an election.

How about Ranked Choice Voting? Does this scare you? It’s really pretty simple and something I’m sure you’ve used in your life. Maybe you were at a restaurant where your first choice for dinner wasn’t available so you made an alternate choice. But the beauty of rank choice voting is that in order to be elected you must have the votes of at least 50% of the voters. This might not happen with the first choice of voters, so if your candidate is eliminated, your second vote gets to count.

Wouldn’t you rather have input into who is elected, then let an elite group of voters (KCRCC) choose your candidates for you? Of course, they “Vet” the candidates. Judging by some of their candidates (NIC board Waggoner, Banducci, and McKenzie or timber thief, tax dodger, and brankrupty king Phil Hart). This system is not working out well for our county. Like I said, it’s all about choice. I’m voting Yes on Prop 1 so I get voice in our elected officials. 

DANA STIEGEMEIER

Rathdrum