CALDWELL, Idaho — Nonpartisan groups educated the Caldwell community during a congressional and legislative forum Thursday evening about one of this election cycle's most controversial ballot measures — Proposition 1, which would change how Idahoans vote in primary and general elections.
The League of Women Voters co-hosted with the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce. The voting advocacy group kicked things off by demonstrating how ranked-choice voting would work if Prop. 1 passes.
"It's a hot button issue," said Travis Palmer, Caldwell Chamber of Commerce president. "And there's a lot of people that just are asking a lot of questions. Events like this are how people figure out which side of the fence they're going to lean toward."
Everyone would vote in a blanket primary that includes all candidates regardless of party. The top four candidates would advance to the general election, where voters rank their choices, and a winner is decided by an instant runoff.
"It's on the ballot in four states this season, and Idaho being one of those four," said Betsy McBride, League of Women Voters president. "But in Idaho, it sounds exotic and unfamiliar. So, to get voters ready to really understand the two parts of Proposition one, we said, let's go into communities and have citizens experience how it works."
If passed in November, voters pick their top candidate and then rank remaining candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins with more than 50% of the vote after all the first-choice rankings are counted, then the candidate in last place is eliminated from the race.
Whichever candidate those voters chose second, then gets those votes. That process goes on until one candidate gets at least 50% of the vote and is declared the winner.
"You would describe it as a proponent, that the outcome will deliver winners, that more people supported," said Betsy McBride, League of Women Voters president.
She said people against Prop. 1 often think it would decrease the power of party leadership.
"The way it exists now, the leadership has the ability to manage who's going to be the eventual candidates," she said. "This shifts those decisions back to citizens of all parties and the independents."
People that were unable to attend Thursday's event can email the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce at info@caldwellchamber.org. The League of Women Voters has other candidate forums coming up where they will demonstrate ranked-choice voting.
"We have to be informed voters, and that's the League's mission," McBride said. "Civil society and government doesn't work without citizens doing their job, and that's what we hope for."
Events
7 p.m. Oct. 15 @Valley View Elementary School, 3555 N. Milwaukee Street in Boise
Candidates for Ada County Highway District 2 Commissioner will answer community questions.
7 p.m. Oct. 22 @Jefferson Elementary School, 200 South Latah Street in Boise
Candidates for ACHD District 1 will answer community questions.
7 p.m. Oct. 24 @Whittier Elementary School, 29th and Bannock Street in Boise
Candidates for Ada County Commissioner will answer community questions.