“This is a simple, common-sense reform that will give us better elections and better leadership.”
How it works:
The initiative will end Idaho’s closed primary system and create a non-partisan primary election, open to all voters regardless of party affiliation. The top four candidates will advance to the general election.
In the general election, voters will have the freedom to pick their top candidate and also to rank additional candidates in order of preference.
To make sure the winner enjoys support from a broad coalition of voters and not just a narrow faction, there will be Instant Runoff Voting in the general election (also called “ranked choice voting”). Here’s how it works: The last-place candidate will be eliminated and each vote for that candidate will go to the voter's second choice. This process repeats until only two candidates remain, and the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner.
This initiative will give Idahoans more freedom and better leadership.
More Freedom
It’s wrong that Idaho blocks independent voters from participating in elections unless they join a political party. The Open Primaries initiative will give all voters, regardless of party affiliation, the freedom to vote in all elections.
Better Leadership
By giving voice and power back to Idaho voters, the Open Primaries initiative will help elect more independent-minded leaders who are focused on solving problems, not wasting time with distractions and controversies that turn us against each other.