What does China have in common with Idaho?

What do the countries of China, North Korea and Cuba have in common with the opponents of Idaho’s Proposition 1? They have — or want to have — a one-party system in which power rests with party leaders (not the voters/citizens).

Opponents of Prop 1 cite the cost of transitioning to open primaries and ranked choice voting as a reason to vote no, even though the system and the cost have not been determined yet. Yet the bigger cost to Idaho citizens has been revealed since 2011 when the supermajority Republican legislature closed its primaries and our legislature became a puppet for emboldened outside interests and the Idaho Freedom Foundation. The voice of the voters is no longer sought or heard. This has resulted in extreme agenda items eclipsing fundamental issues. For instance, it took a ballot initiative and 61% of the vote to overturn the Legislature’s refusal (during six consecutive sessions) to accept expansion of Medicaid.

I encourage you to check out the facts on Idaho’s Proposition 1. They are available online at yesforopenprimaries.com or ReclaimIdaho.org.

Please make your voice count: Vote for Proposition 1.

LEXIE de FREMERY

Sandpoint