Proposition 1 is the right route for Idaho

Over the past year, I’ve spoken with hundreds of voters in my community to inform them about the Open Primaries Initiative (Proposition 1).

My husband, Rob, and I recently attended a local public meeting whose speakers are totally against Proposition 1. 

In the front of the church sanctuary next to the audiovisual screen was a life-sized cardboard cutout of Donald Trump. Elaina Quinn, president of Panhandle Republican Women, opened the meeting by saying she hoped attendants would learn everything they needed to tell people to vote against Proposition 1 and to bid in a silent auction for a Trump flag. 

Each of the speakers claimed that Open Primaries whether in Maine, Alaska or many jurisdictions of Utah is unpopular with voters.  

My Maine cousin said the only problem is Maine voters won’t vote for more than one in the general election. Under Open Primaries, within each voter’s one vote rests the ability for the voter’s second choice to receive their vote if their first choice is eliminated for getting the fewest votes. 

As an audience member, I was not in a position to counter each of the speakers’ lies. So after an hour and a half, I asked everyone to hear one truth. “Contrary to what the main speaker said, if you choose to vote for just one candidate, your ballot will not be tossed in the garbage any more than ballots are tossed when voters choose losing candidates in today’s elections.”  

CLARICE McKENNEY

Bonners Ferry