Prop 1 gives control to voters, not party bosses

Have you heard of Proposition 1, which is on the November ballot?

Like me, you may have been frustrated if you:

• Received a ballot in the primary election with only a few nonpartisan races on it, or

• Noticed the election is basically over after the Primary, as party bosses have more power than the voters, or

• Noticed a candidate was elected with support from just a small percentage of the electorate.

If so, you know some of the problems which Prop 1 aims to correct with an open primary and a general election with ranked choice voting:

• Every voter would select their favorite from the same primary ballot with all the candidates on it. The top four vote-getters of each race would advance to the general election.

• In the general election, you vote for your chosen candidate. If you have a second or third choice you can indicate that on the ranked choice ballot.

• The candidate who gets over 50% wins. If no candidate gets over 50% in the first round, successive rounds of distributing the votes of the candidate dropped with the least votes. This instant runoff takes place until a winner emerges with over 50% ensuring the winning candidate has broad support of the voters.

The Bonner County Republican Central Committee used RCV in an internal election. Don’t let them tell you it is too complicated. The loudest opponents of Prop 1 are those currently calling the shots in state government.

Shouldn't we, the voters, be electing the candidates?

Please vote yes on Prop 1.

JUDY BUTLER

Hope