Conservatives of Idaho — Op-Ed: Proposition One is a Jungle Primary with Ranked Choice Voting. By Sue Gatston (10/08/24)
👎🚫 Idaho’s Proposition 1 — VOTE NO!!!!!
Proposition 1: Top-Four/Jungle Primaries + Ranked Choice Voting = Idaho Elections Disaster
Author Sue Gatston provides a good overview of both the Jungle Primary and the Ranked Choice voting schemes involved in Idaho’s Proposition 1 ballot initiative.
She writes: “For starters, have you seen a ballot with lists of 30-40 names on it all running for the same position? The primary ballot throws all candidates into a big swamp and tells the voter to figure it out. But, what comes next is the bigger surprise. Only the top 4 candidates move on to the General Election with a new ballot ranking system.”
Then she explains: “Instead of marking one bubble for one vote, you mark four bubbles, ranking 4 people from 1 to 4, regardless of ideals and platforms. (It could even be all Democrats or all Republicans in the top four General election).“
What ensues next is a computer distribution of votes that typically results in more than one vote per person (and thrown out ballots for others). Gatston also addresses the lack of security and auditability, the high costs for retraining and new machines, the unconstitutional nature of the proposition, and more.
Gatston’s Conclusion:
So let’s simplify this convoluted explanation and keep one person, one vote. Vote NO on Proposition One. No ranking required.
ED NOTE
👎🚫 Idaho’s Proposition 1 — VOTE NO!!!!!
Many registered Republicans are falling for the Proposition 1 propaganda, taking the simple view of Prop 1 supporters that so-called “open primaries” — which actually are mosh-pit "jungle primaries" — give everyone a chance to participate regardless of party. And they seem to like the simplistic idea of ranking their top-four picks in the general election, not understanding (or even caring) that some people’s votes will count more than once and others not at all if one mosh-pit candidate from the “primary” fails to win a majority in the general.
Questions:
1. PRIMARY: Do you want other teams to pick your team's captain and players? Or, put differently, do you want other ice cream afficionados to choose your ice cream club's favorite? That's what happens with jungle (top four) primaries.
2. GENERAL: Do you want to vote for your least favorites among four candidates knowing your least favorite could win? And if you don't vote for your last choice, do you want your ballot to be thrown out (this could happen)?
SCENARIO:
Suppose that you hate mint pistachio ice cream and love chocolate. In the mosh-pit primary, everyone had to choose from among 31 flavors, some of which they had never tried before. The top 4 ended up being chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and mint pistachio.
Following the ranked choice general -- which must be tabulated and audited by computers not people! -- you could end up eating mint pistachio for the next two or four years.
And did you know that the Communist Party USA strongly suppports Ranked Choice Voting?
COMMUNIST PARTY USA: Ranked Choice Voting is Part of the Struggle for Democracy (are you a Communist?): cpusa.org/article/ranke…
Those who truly understand how bad Proposition 1 would be for Idaho must speak up. Talk with your friends and neighbors. This isn’t the time to be shy. Too much is at stake.More information:
Jungle Primaries & Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Ballot Initiative: A Race to the Bottom: eolson47.substack.com/p…
Secure Idaho Elections: secureidahoelections.org
Idaho GOP Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center:
