SOS preparing arguments for open primary ballot initiative

In preparation for the general election, officials with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office are compiling arguments for and against Proposition 1, the proposed ballot initiative that seeks to create open primary elections and ranked-choice voting in Idaho.

The arguments for and against the initiative will be included in an Idaho voters’ pamphlet that the Secretary of State’s Office will mail to all households in Idaho by Sept. 25, said Chelsea Carattini, a spokeswoman for the office. 

The voters’ pamphlets will be sent to about 850,000 households. 

Under Idaho law, any voter or group of voters had until July 20 to file arguments of up to 500 words for or against the ballot initiative. 

Idaho law requires the voters’ pamphlet to include a complete copy of the title and text of the ballot initiative, a copy of the fiscal impact statement summary, a copy of the sponsors’ proposed funding source information, and a copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against the ballot initiative. 

For publication in the pamphlet, the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office selected the argument in favor of the initiative that was submitted by Idahoans for Open Primaries. The office also selected the Idaho House Republican Caucus’ argument against the initiative, Carattini said.

Meanwhile, as the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office prepares the arguments for and against the initiative, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the initiative, the Sun previously reported. Labrador alleged the ballot initiative was deceptively pitched and violates the Idaho Constitution’s single-subject requirement. Reclaim Idaho co-founder Luke Mayville, who is a member of the coalition supporting the ballot initiative, called Labrador’s lawsuit a political stunt that was filed because Labrador is afraid voters will support the ballot initiative. 

Idaho Supreme Court justices Monday ordered Labrador to show cause as to why his deputy attorneys general should not be disqualified from representing the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, which Labrador is suing to block the initiative. 

In response, Labrador’s office filed briefs with the Idaho Supreme Court on Tuesday stating that separate deputy attorneys general and separate staff members have been assigned to represent the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in the lawsuit, and that the two sides are not to share confidential information or discuss the case.

As of press time, oral arguments have not been scheduled in the case.