Boundary County kicks off open primary initiative

Luke Mayville, leader of the Idaho Coalition for Open Primaries, explained the basics of a new citizens’ ballot initiative to a dozen volunteers from Boundary County Friday night. It was the first official kickoff in the state, followed by three more over the weekend in North Idaho.

If volunteers around Idaho obtain enough registered voter signatures before May 1, 2024, the initiative will be placed on the November 2024 ballot. Everyone, Mayville said, whether they sign the initiative or not, will then be able to vote yes or no.

Idaho’s closed Primary blocks over a quarter of a million Independent voters from participating in the most important elections. This initiative would correct that by having one primary in which independents and members of all the parties would vote.

Volunteers at Friday’s meeting expressed enthusiasm that by signing this petition each individual will help get the initiative on the ballot for every registered voter in Idaho. Assuming it makes it to the November 2024 ballot and passes, it will give all voters the freedom to vote in all elections. One volunteer pointed out that this measure, if voted in, will allow each person to pick leaders who are more accountable to voters and who are focused on solving real problems for Idaho.

Boundary County lead for the initiative, Clarice McKenney, told the group after Mayville spoke, that although Mayville is modest, she valued what she had learned about his education, experience and dedication to Idaho. “After graduating from Sandpoint High School in 2003, Luke attended North Idaho College, Lane Community College and the University of Oregon and majored in political science,” she explained. “Then he earned a Ph.D. from Yale in political science.”

McKenney told the group, “Luke didn’t just stay in the East but returned to Sandpoint to help pass the local school levy in 2017. When he co-founded Reclaim Idaho, he moved his beautiful wife and adorable son to Idaho,” she said. “His mother lives in Sagle where he grew up.”

“We’re all so lucky that he’s here doing this work, and I’m so grateful to him for helping us in this county,” McKenney said. She and Mayville knocked on doors in her neighborhood when Reclaim Idaho, one of the organizations in the coalition, began its first ballot initiative.

That initiative was the Medicaid Expansion ballot measure, which passed overwhelmingly. It provided low-income Idaho workers with affordable medical coverage.

“At first, asking people to sign a petition was difficult,” she told the volunteers, “but each time it became easier and actually was a lot of fun.” After the meeting, Mayville and McKenney’s husband, Rob, knocked on doors in the neighborhood. Mayville said voters in all but one of the houses they visited signed the petition.

“What you did here tonight will encourage volunteers in Bonner and Kootenai County,” Mayville told the McKenneys. Mayville and his assistant, Abi Sanford, brought clipboards, petitions and resource materials to help Boundary Team volunteers as they obtain local signatures for the ballot initiative.

McKenney urges anyone interested in helping to gather signatures, whether from friends, family and neighbors, or going door to door, to sign up by calling her at 208-610-2301.