Yes on Proposition 1

Dear Editor:

 Proposition 1: Open Primaries will correct Idaho’s current Closed Primary “problem”. Under our current closed primaries over 275,000 tax-paying Idahoans are blocked from voting in taxpayer-funded primary elections because they don’t belong to a political party! 

 Open primaries are non-partisan and open to all voters regardless of party affiliation. That is how it used to be in Idaho. Idahoans voted in open primaries for 40 years until party insiders established closed primaries in 2011 to solidify their power. The result is that a very small percentage of Idaho voters choose the candidate(s) that move to the general election, often at the expense of elevating candidates to the general election who represent the broader community.

 Open primaries ensures and protects voter access and participation by removing the arbitrary closed primary restriction and thereby promoting free and fair elections ... bedrock, inclusive and essential to our form of government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Creed A. Noah

Cambridge, Idaho