Jungle Primaries & Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Ballot Initiative: A Race to the Bottom - Update 09/24/24
🦨 Open/Jungle Primaries & RCV threaten Idaho’s conservative voices. These are leftist-favored tactics to turn Idaho blue. Learn the issues! Do not fall for Reclaim Idaho's propaganda.
🚫 DEFEAT PROPOSITION 1 👎 VOTE NO!
Proposition 1: Top-Four/Jungle Primaries + Ranked Choice Voting = Idaho Elections Disaster
🔖Cliff’s Notes Version: (short link): https://tinyurl.com/2s4fftvu
🔖Full Article (short link): https://tinyurl.com/4m8rbbun
Do not be fooled by this leftist Trojan Horse’s patootie of a proposition! VOTE NO on Proposition 1 — misleadingly labeled “Idaho Open Primaries Act”.
🦨Article at a Glance
Introduction
What Proposition 1 Will Do
Two separate, drastic changes to our laws.
Was it honest not to tell you when you signed that petition?
→ NOT EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT!
18 pages of obfuscation. Did you read all 18 pages?
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) starts on page 16!
Your vote may not be counted AT ALL!
In other states, the highest RCV vote getter LOST the election — several times!
Is that fair?
→ PARTIES WOULD BE IRRELEVANT!
In a “Jungle Primary” anyone can identify as anything — party doesn’t matter!
→ COSTLY, CONFUSING & COMPLICATED!
> $40M for new machines and voter education.
Chaos in the counting house! Voter errors likely, some ballots not counted.
MUST be processed by computers.
https://www.secureidahoelections.org | https://secureidahoelections.substack.com/
🆕 Idaho Proposition 1 Ranked Choice Voting phone script (posted 09/24/24)
Script: Absentee Voter phone bank calling project (Source: Idaho Republican Party member; see also Substack Note)
"Hi this is ___________,
I am calling on behalf of the Idaho Republican party to warn you of the dangers of Proposition 1. Ranked Choice Voting is a risky Democrat voting scheme that will turn Idaho Blue. We are encouraging you to vote No on Prop 1 to protect election integrity in Idaho. Can I count on your opposition to Proposition 1?
[IF “Yes”]
Fantastic! I encourage you to spread the word and remind others to “Just say no to Ranked Choice Voting”. Thank you for your time. Have a great day!
[IF “Unsure”]
For more information you can go to
http://idgop.org/
, click on “Resources” then open the “Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center”.
Thank you for your time. Have a great day!
[IF “No”]
Thank you for your time. I hope you have a great day!"
🆕 One Person One Vote. YouTube Channel
Speaker Mike Moyle and Rep. Josh Tanner created a PAC to spread the word about the dangers of Prop 1 and ranked choice voting. The PAC recorded videos of candidates and elected officials warning their constituents against this deceptive initiative. Visit the channel and watch them all (each is about a minute or less in duration). Share them with your communities. https://www.youtube.com/@OnePersonOneVoteID/videos
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) — more appropriately nicknamed Rigged Choice Voting — was already prohibited by law in Idaho via House Bill 179, but leftist backed group Reclaim Idaho is trying to overturn voter choice with a ballot initiative that eventually will destroy Idaho’s primary and general elections. (In Idaho, the primary elections often determine the general election winners, so open primaries are particularly harmful.)
👀😱 Section 40 should scare everyone. It’s right in the ballot measure! ANY existing law contrary to Proposition 1 is gone!
SECTION 40. All statutes enacted before the effective date of this act that are inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed and the Idaho Code Commission shall include such repealers in the annual codifiers’ corrections bill as necessary.
Full text of the “Idaho Open Primaries Act” ballot initiative (PDF, from Idaho Secretary of State website)
The Reclaim Idaho ballot initiative proposes to completely restructure Idaho’s election system in three main ways that will harm conservatives and turn Idaho into Colorado and any other blue state you can name:
Require all primaries to use a wide-open “top-four” scheme technically termed a “jungle” primary. The current partisan primary, where Republican voters select the Republican nominee, would be abolished. Replacing it would be a “top four” primary, where all candidates are on the ballot, and voters can choose any one of them. The top four vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation (or lack thereof).
Implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in our general elections. The general election would be conducted via an instant runoff, also known as ranked choice voting. In this system, voters rank candidates by order of preference, and votes are counted in multiple rounds. If nobody receives an outright majority, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated. This process — which requires computer intervention (what could go wrong?) and eliminates voted ballots — continues until one candidate has a majority. That candidate is then declared the winner.
🆕 Cost Idaho Taxpayers up to $40 million by requiring new voting machines and extensive voter education while putting an undue burden on county elections (especially those that span counties such as state Senators and Representatives).
Freedom Bro Greg Pruett states: “Liberals in Idaho are pushing hard to get Rigged (Ranked) Choice Voting on the ballot in 2024. I can't begin to emphasize enough how dangerous RCV is to Idaho's conservative future. It wouldn't take more than 1 or 2 election cycles for our state to begin turning purple.” [Must-watch 55-minute video!]
Alaska already tried RCV, which failed to achieve anything good for the state. In some cases, the “winner” of a race (e.g., Murkowski over Trump-backed Tshibaka) was NOT the first choice of most voters. The video explains how this happens. Other locales also have tried RCV, again with regrettable results. Many, including Alaska, are trying to repeal or have abandoned RCV.
🦨 Leftist-Backed Jungle Primaries & RCV Stink 🦨
They are BAD FOR IDAHO!
DO NOT VOTE FOR BAD IDEAS!
How Does Ranked Choice Voting Work?
The one-minute video below explains RCV in a nutshell.
And here’s a less than two-minute video.
🆕 And here’s another phenomenal four-minute video:
The following is a general description of RCV from StopRCV.com, a website highlighting Ranked Choice Voting dangers (each implementation may vary slightly):
Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV), also called Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV), is a complex election process where voters can rank multiple candidates for a single office.
In an RCV election, if one candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, it works like any other election (the rankings are irrelevant). If no candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, then the candidate with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated. Ballots that ranked the eliminated candidate first are “adjusted” in one of two ways:
If they ranked other candidates, their next-ranked candidate is moved up to get their first-place vote.
If they did not rank other candidates, their ballot is eliminated (as if they had not voted at all).
This process is repeated until one candidate has a majority of the remaining votes. It relies on precise data entry and well-programmed computers—with more than just a few ballots, the RCV process is entirely dependent on computers to run the multiple rounds of adjustments and retabulation.
Why are Jungle Primaries and RCV Bad for Idaho?
🦨 Jungle Primaries: Each political party should decide how to nominate its own candidates. Outsiders should NOT make those important determinations. If political parties cannot nominate their own candidates, what’s the point of having parties at all?
🦨 Ranked Choice Voting: RCV is incredibly complicated for voters and election workers. It invites computer and data entry fraud. It encourages fringe candidates and radical splinter parties. It is slow (sometimes requiring multiple counting iterations). And it relies on computer technology that many voters don’t trust.
If an election scheme is too difficult to understand and explain (which RCV IS), no person should support it.
How Can You Stop the Reclaim Idaho Initiative?
Reclaim Idaho’s Open Primaries 2024 Ballot Initiative to open primaries and implement ranked choice voting must be soundly defeated!
GENERAL TIPS
Two easy steps:
1️⃣ Never sign a petition you don’t fully understand.
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and sign under pressure (often from a paid signature gatherer).
2️⃣ VOTE AGAINST ballot initiatives; instead propose good legislation to your legislators, who can debate the merits.
Over time, initiatives often prove themselves harmful, despite their purported good intentions. Examples from Idaho include the past disastrous Medicaid Expansion and the upcoming Open Primaries Act (Open Primaries + RCV) and Idaho Medical Marijuana Act
NOTE: Oregon started with medical marijuana on their regrettable road to “anything goes” drug use. Better to treat medical marijuana the same as any prescription drug. No special carve-outs should be needed for medical marijuana if it’s truly medicinal.)
HOW TO STOP RCV TIPS
Three easy steps:
1️⃣ Share the message below:
🦨 Leftist-Backed Jungle Primaries & RCV Stink 🦨
They are BAD FOR IDAHO!
DO NOT VOTE FOR BAD IDEAS!
LEARN MORE HERE (short link): https://tinyurl.com/4m8rbbun
2️⃣ Save, Print and Share the flyers above.
3️⃣ VOTE NO on the “Idaho Open Primaries Act” ballot initiative!
How Can You Learn More?
Please review the articles and videos below if you would like to learn more about ranked choice voting and jungle primaries (categories are in alphabetical order below, except “Other,” which is at the end of the list). This list just scratches the surface, but should help you cut through the Reclaim Idaho rhetoric. (We’ll mark new additions with 🆕below.)
Once you are well-informed, you’ll likely OPPOSE and vote AGAINST this scheme.
GEM STATE SUBSTACK
The Devil’s Bargain: Read
Ranked Choice Voting and the Jungle Primary. It's nothing short of a plan to turn Idaho blue forever: Read
Ranked Choice Redux: Read
IDAHO FREEDOM CAUCUS, IDAHO FREEDOM FOUNDATION & IDAHO GOP
Capitol Clarity Week 5: Ranked Choice Voting - YouTube (02/08/24). With Dorothy Moon, Idaho GOP Chairman and Chad Ennis, Honest Elections Project | Watch (1hr) | Read
Help us fight Ranked Choice Voting in 2024 (12/26/23). By Idaho Freedom Foundation: Read
IDGOP expresses concern over former Governor Otter’s divisive rhetoric and support for Reclaim Idaho’s policies such as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Idaho GOP Chairman Dorothy Moon explains how the initiative would overturn the American principle of “one person, one vote” that has been the foundation of our republican system of government since the beginning. Read (09/13/23) | Read (09/15/23)
🆕 Idaho Freedom Foundation: Ranked Choice Voting in a Nutshell (08/02/24): Read
🆕 Idaho Freedom Foundation submits argument against RCV initiative to the Secretary of State (07/31/24): Read
The West is the Best — Idaho at War. If we let go of the rope by embracing ranked-choice voting and open primaries, Idaho will inevitably become San Francisco. The Idaho Freedom Caucus will hold the line. By IDAHO FREEDOM CAUCUS (05/25/23): Read
LEGISLATION & INITIATIVES
Proposed Initiatives
🆕 → PROPOSED “Top-Four Primary and Ranked-Choice Voting” Initiative. VOTE NO!
Short Title: MEASURE TO (1) REPLACE VOTER SELECTION OF PARTY NOMINEES WITH A TOP-FOUR PRIMARY; (2) REQUIRE A RANKED-CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS. Read full text from Idaho Secretary of State Vote Idaho website (PDF) | Read Ballotpedia
🆕 → PROPOSED Medical Marijuana Act. VOTE NO! [will not be on ballot - did not receive enough signatures]
Short Title: INITIATIVE ESTABLISHING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM FOR QUALIFYING PATIENTS AND PROTECTING PARTICIPANTS FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND CIVIL SANCTION: Read full text from Idaho Secretary of State website (PDF) | Read Ballotpedia | Read About Side Effects in Oregon
Past Legislation & Initiatives
House Bill 179 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting: Read
HJR003 - Elections, highest number of vote: Proposed Constitutional Amendment (02/23/24): Read | Article by Idaho Dispatch
🆕 Idaho Medicaid Expansion Initiative (2018): Read Ballotpedia
RECLAIM IDAHO WEBSITE & DONATIONS
Donations to Democrats by Reclaim Idaho and its Key Employees and Founders 1/1/2020 - 10/10/23 (Source: Idaho Secretary of State Sunshine campaign finance website):
Reclaim Idaho: Sunshine Search
Luke Mayville (Director): Sunshine Search
Yvonne Sandmire (Director): Sunshine Search
Cameron Crow (Director): Sunshine Search
Tracy Olsen (Director): Sunshine Search (none found)
Deborah Silver (Treasurer): Sunshine Search
STOP RCV & Secure Idaho Elections
🆕 Idaho Republican Party Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center
🆕Secure Idaho Elections Substack
Is Prop 1 Legal? The Idaho AG's attempt to remove Prop 1 from ballot fails, but legal questions remain (09/13/24)
Sunshine. Tracking Out-of-State Influence in our Elections (08/29/24)
Key pages: What is RCV? | Risks of RCV | How to Stop RCV | Resources
TIMOHDEE’S SUBSTACK
The Rising Star of Election Manipulation. 2024 Ballot Initiative Would Change Election Results: Read
Elections Initiative Headed to Court. The initiative would require open primaries and ranked choice voting: Read
OTHER SOURCES
Sources below mostly alphabetical by title.
Articles
Alaska Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024). By Ballotpedia. (Also describes and maps Ranked-choice voting in the United States.): Read
🆕 Ballotpedia: Ranked-choice voting (RCV) In-depth explanation of RCV, with maps and examples of how it works; Example #3 provides an interactive example you can try (08/24/24): Read
🆕🔥 Do Idaho Voters Want Ranked-Choice Voting? By Charity Joy (08/30/24): Read (one of the best, most complete articles we’ve read to date!)
How Alaska fought back against Rank(ed) Choice Voting. By Ward Clark (04/01/24): Read
Defeat Ranked Choice Voting! Stalin Would Defeat Lincoln in Ranked Choice Voting. Add spoiler candidates for Lincoln and his percentage is diluted further. By Dean Cannon (09/08/23): Read
🆕 Democrats’ Foremost Expert on Party Rules Explains How Biden Could Be Replaced (07/13/24). Why primaries and nominees should be controlled by the Parties (Democrat, Republican, etc.). This article indirectly illustrates why an open or jungle primary — which diminishes party influence — is a bad idea for ALL sides: Read
🆕 A $40 Million Drain On Taxpayers: Ranked Choice Voting Comes At A Heavy Price For Idahoans. By Niklas Kleinworth (07/12/24): Read
🆕 How legal cannabis actually made things worse for sick people in Oregon. By Melanie Sevcenko (07/31/18): Read
🆕 Political Organizations Supporting or Opposing Proposition 1. By Idaho Dispatch Staff (09/2224)
🆕 Lenney, Brian: Idaho Senator, Nampa
This Will WRECK Idaho. Prop.1 is THAT bad. Here's why... (08/20/24): Read
🆕 The Math of Ranked Choice Voting. By Art Da Rosa (08/31/24): Read
Missouri joins other red states in trying to stamp out ranked choice voting (06/25/24). By St. Louis Public Radio (Jason Rosenbaum): Read
🆕 Moon, Dorothy: Chairwoman, Idaho GOP
Political Vandalism Violates the Law and Undermines our Elections (09/19/24): Read | Substack Note
Idaho GOP Condemns Hateful Vandalism of Campaign Signs, Offers Reward for Conviction of Perpetrators (09/16/24). Read | Substack Note
Ranked Choice Voting Changes The Rules (09/05//24): Read | Substack Note
Prop 1 Ranked Choice Voting Is Expensive (08/22/24): Read
Our Military’s Voting Rights (08/15/24): Read
Ranked Choice Voting Truth (07/03/24): Read
🆕 Op-Ed: Prop 1’s Glitter Will Not Create Open Primaries. By Rep. Lance Clow (09/12/24): Read
🆕 Ranked Choice Voting a Threat to Idaho Gun Rights. By Greg Pruett (06/18/24): Read
Regan, Brent: Chairman, Kootenai County GOP
🆕 Why Is RCV BAD? If Prop 1 is so great why aren’t they pushing it in blue states (e.g., Washington and Oregon)? By Brent Regan, Chairman KCRCC (09/08/24): Read | Substack Note
🆕 Chaos Primaries and Rigged Choice Voting. AN ELECTION IN ALASKA SAW MORE THAN 11,000 BALLOTS EXHAUSTED, MEANING VOTERS DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION (07/18/24): Read
Death of the Primary: Read
🆕 Prop 1 Fact Check. So what is Prop 1 and why should you care (08/30/24): Read
True Cost of Prop 1. A minor programming error resulted in half the nation’s airlines being grounded? Imagine Voting Software Errors! (08/15/24): Read
🆕 Ranked Choice Voting and Jungle Primary??? Don't be fooled. By (Christy) Zito for Idaho (08/14/24): Read
A Republic or A Direct Democracy.
"What we have given you, Madam, is a republic if you can keep it.” By ZITO FOR IDAHO (04/22/24): Read
🔥🆕 Republic vs. Democracy: What Is the Difference? ThoughtCo (posted 09/08/2024): Read | Related Substack Note thread
🔥🆕 Scammer Ranked-choice Voting & Grifter Open Primaries. By Ralph Ginorio (08/06/24). One of the best editorials on this topic: Read
Secure Idaho Elections Substack. By Secure Idaho Elections
🆕 Bigger Than Trump vs Harris. Proposition 1 Would Drastically Change Idaho Elections (08/21/24): Read
🆕 Where Does Idaho’s Congressional Delegation Stand on Prop 1? By Greg Pruett (08/24/24): Read
Videos
Freedom Bros - Ranked Choice Voting - How Bad Is It? (video 55 min): Watch Video | Read Newsletter | Visit Phil Izon’s Ranked Choice Education Website
🆕 Idaho Signal | Ranked Choice Voting Special. By Citizens Alliance of Idaho (07/25/24, video 1 hr 22 min): Watch
🆕 One Person One Vote. YouTube Channel (09/21/24): Watch Channel
Ranked Choice Voting Explained in Less than One Minute: Watch
Ranked Choice Voting Explained in Less than Two Minutes: Watch
🆕 Fiscal Fridays: Ranked Choice Voting will Cost Idaho (07/12/24, video 5 min): Watch
🆕 Nowhere To Hyde — Idaho's Choice: Honest Elections or RCV (09/06/24, video 14:34, with transcript): Watch
🆕 Nowhere To Hyde — Idaho's Rigged Choice Voting Scheme (07/12/24, video 12 min, with transcript): Watch
Press Releases & Resolutions
🆕 Ada County Idaho Republican Central Committee (ACRCC) Resolution to Condemn Ranked Choice Voting (Proposition 1) on the November 2024 Ballot (09/05/24): Read
🆕 Gov. Little, Secretary McGrane make Idaho first state to take executive action ensuring ONLY CITIZENS WILL VOTE (07/09/24): Read
🆕 Idaho Supreme Court Dismisses AG’s Lawsuit Against Prop 1 on Procedural Grounds. By Greg Pruett (08/14/24): Read
🆕 Idaho Attorney General Files Suit Against Ranked-Choice Voting/Top Four Primary Ballot Initiative. By Greg Pruett (07//25/24): Read
🆕 Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement On Ranked Choice Voting, Open Primaries Initiative Certification. By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff (07/11/24): Read