DEFEATED! Jungle Primaries & Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Ballot Initiative: A Race to the Bottom - Update 11/25/24
🦨 Open/Jungle Primaries & RCV threaten Idaho’s conservative voices. These are leftist-favored tactics to turn Idaho blue. Do not fall for Reclaim Idaho/Idahoans for Open Primaries propaganda.
🚫 DEFEAT PROPOSITION 1 👎 VOTE NO!
Proposition 1: Top-Four/Jungle Primaries + Ranked Choice Voting = Idaho Elections Disaster
🔖 Cliff’s Notes Version: https://eolson47.substack.com/p/jungle-primaries-and-ranked-choice-71e
🔖 Full Article: https://eolson47.substack.com/p/jungle-primaries-and-ranked-choice
🔥🔖FULL Voting Guide with Nov 5, 2024 Recommendations: https://eolson47.substack.com/p/idaho-voting-guide-updated-91423
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🙏 Thank you Idaho for defeating this measure.
You saved Idaho’s election integrity.
AND you likely saved Idaho.
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🆕 CLICK this Substack Note link summarizing all that’s bad about Proposition 1. Or, Download, Print, and Share the Note’s PDF below. Or click and print the Note’s side by side images.
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/
See Proposition 1 Exposed: https://idahofreedom.org/rcv/
🆕 Idaho Proposition 1 — For those who like Ice Cream and Sports
Do you like mosh pits where everyone piles on and the four who come out alive are your starting lineup?
Do you like voting for someone you cannot stand? How about counting games where no one knows whether the count was accurate? What if some votes are counted multiple times and others not at all?
You will love Proposition 1 if:
…You want other teams to pick your team's starting lineup or other ice cream aficionados to pick your club's favorite flavor.
…You’re OK if your least favorite pick wins or your ballot is thrown out unless you vote for your least favorite.
…You don’t mind spending ~$40 million taxpayer buckaroonies on computer voting machines and voter education.
SCENARIO:
You hate mint pistachio ice cream and love chocolate. In the mosh-pit primary, everyone must choose from among 31 flavors, some they have never heard of or tasted. The top 4 end up being milquetoast, melon, marshmallow, and mint pistachio. After ranked choice computer counting, everyone ends up eating mint pistachio and no one’s happy.
If you want all that, vote for Proposition 1. If you want to pick your own carefully-researched flavor using a non-computer counted auditable ballot, VOTE NO.🆕 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 groups Reclaim Idaho and Idahoans for Open Primaries are 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 and Idahoans for Open Primaries 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.
11/22/24 UPDATE: Alaska’s ranked choice repeal measure fails by 664 votes. By Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau and Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media -November 20, 2024 (Those trying to repeal it have not given up and will try again, either through legislation or another ballot initiative. There could be a recount as well.) Read 🆕 | Recount Requested 🆕
🦨 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 and Idahoans for Open Primaries want to open primaries and implement ranked choice voting. This scheme 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 / Idahoans for Open Primaries 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
Vote No on Prop 1. Ranked choice voting is costly, confusing, and unfair. By Brian Almon (09/24/24): Read | Substack Note 🆕
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 / Idahoans for Open Primaries 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 🆕
PROP 1 Exposed (Collection of Idaho Freedom Foundation articles about Prop 1 plus sign up to receive updates): Read | Substack Note
RANKED CHOICE VOTING – DECEPTIONS AND LIES. By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D. (10/17/24): Story | Substack Note
BREAKING: Proposition 1 poll released. (10/10/2024): Story | Substack Note
Media bias, dishonesty on full display as Idahoans consider Proposition 1 (10/04/24): Read
Idaho’s congressional delegation – save one member – comes out against Prop 1’s ranked choice voting. By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff (10/01/24): Read
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
Idaho Freedom Caucus 🆕
Ranked Choice Voting in Idaho. Proposition 1 will be on your November ballot — VOTE NO! (09/27/24): 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 (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 🆕
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
Idaho Republican Party, Secure Idaho Elections, & STOP RCV
Idaho Republican Party Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center 🆕
Secure Idaho Elections Substack 🆕
Section 40. Pandora's Box in Prop 1 (10/30/24)
Prop 1 Preview. What our elections may look like under Proposition 1 (09/27/24)
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’s ranked choice repeal measure fails by 664 votes. By Eric Stone, Alaska Public Media - Juneau and Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media -November 20, 2024 (Those trying to repeal it have not given up and will try again, either through legislation or another ballot initiative. There could be a recount as well.) Read 🆕
Alaska Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024). By Ballotpedia. (Also describes and maps Ranked-choice voting in the United States.): Read
How Alaska fought back against Rank(ed) Choice Voting. By Ward Clark (04/01/24): 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 🆕
Conservatives of Idaho — Op-Ed: Proposition One is a Jungle Primary with Ranked Choice Voting. By Sue Gatston (10/08/24): 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!) 🆕
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 🆕
Herndon, Scott: 🆕
Vote No on Prop 1 (09/24/24): Read | Substack Note
Idaho Attorney General - Labrador Letter - Idaho Voters Are Not for Sale. By Raúl Labrador (11/22/24): Read 🆕
Idaho Dispatch 🆕
Did a Prop 1 Volunteer Get Shot While Gathering Signatures? By Greg Pruett – Idaho Dispatch (11/19/24): Story | Substack Note
Zoldak/Idaho Dispatch Poll: Prop 1 Down 5.8% with Large Shifts Possible. By Greg Pruett (10/1024): Story | Substack Note
Idaho Dispatch Launches Dedicated Landing Page for Proposition 1 Coverage (09/27/24): Story | Substack Note
Idaho Dispatch Landing Page (updated frequently): Read
Lenney, Brian: Idaho Senator, Nampa 🆕
The Conservative Nightmare in Idaho. Here's a Step-by-Step Breakdown of How Ranked-Choice Voting Could Hand Power to RINOs and Democrats Across Idaho. By Brian Lenney - Nampa's Senator (09/28/24): Read | Substack Note
This Will WRECK Idaho. Prop.1 is THAT bad. Here's why... (08/20/24): Read
Little, Brad: Idaho Governor 🆕
Governor Little Says He Opposes Proposition 1. By Greg Pruett (09/27/24): 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 🆕
More Prop 1 Lies (10/10/24): Read | Substack Note
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 🆕
Redoubt News 🆕
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
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 🆕
True Idaho News 🆕
Marxists & Globalists Are Lying to Idahoans – Vote ‘NO’ on Prop 1. By True Idaho News Staff Reporter (09/27/24): Read
Where Does Idaho’s Congressional Delegation Stand on Prop 1? By Greg Pruett (08/24/24): Read 🆕
Wold, Theo: Ranked Choice Voting — Notes from former Idaho Solicitor General Theo Wold (posted 09/27/24): Substack Note 🆕
Zito, Christy (Zito for Idaho) 🆕
Zuiderveld, Glenneda: DON’T BE DECEIVED. VOTE NO ON PROP ONE (10/13/24): Read | Substack Note 🆕
Videos
🔥 Unholy Alliance - The Left’s Gem State Power Grab (10/22/24, video 44:20 includes transcript) | Watch Video | Substack Note 🆕
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 🆕
Nowhere To Hyde — What Prop 1 Ads & Snake Oil Have In Common (10/24/24, video 12:54 includes transcript): Watch | Substack Note
The Big Lie of Prop 1. By Bryan Hyde (09/24/24, video 14:19 includes transcript): Watch | Substack Note
Idaho's Choice: Honest Elections or RCV (09/06/24, video 14:34, with transcript): Watch
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