Proposition 1 would reshape Idaho elections. The first results will be available soon

The results of the Proposition 1 ballot measure could change elections in Idaho. Polls in the Treasure Valley closed at 8 p.m. Mountain and close in North Idaho at 9 p.m

If Prop 1 passes, the measure would bring two big changes to elections in the state. Instead of the closed Republican primary (and the separate but open Democratic primary), all voters would participate in a single “blanket” primary. Currently, independent voters — of which there are about 284,000 — cannot participate in the GOP primary. Voters would select their preferred candidate and the top four would advance to the general election.

In November, voters were able to rate the candidates in each race. Their second and third choices would become important if one of their preferred candidates dropped out due to insufficient votes.

The new format would apply to all partisan elections, except for U.S. presidential and county committeeman elections.

The measure's proponents, a coalition called Idahoans for Open Primaries, raised a $5.5 million war chest this year, running ads on television and social media, holding town hall meetings and going door-to-door, to convince voters to vote “yes.”

But the group faced near-uniform opposition from incumbent Republicans, who banded together to express concerns that the changes would weaken the party's power or make voting more difficult. Groups opposing the measure — including a political action committee called Idaho Rising led by House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star — spent more than $420,000.

Many supporters of the measure say the Idaho Republican Party has been swept by the far right since the GOP closed its primary in 2012 and view the move to a broader primary as a recipe to make election results more representative of the general population make.

“I think everyone should have the opportunity to vote however they want, whenever they want,” Katherine Bueno, 31, of Meridian, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday after voting yes.

Many elected Republicans viewed the proposal as an attack on their power.

Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon wrote numerous statements condemning the proposal. The party platform advocates limiting or completely eliminating ballot initiatives. Other GOP-aligned groups, such as the Idaho Freedom Foundation, also strongly opposed it.

“I voted no because I think it’s just full of gamesmanship,” Glen Wallace, 69, of Meridian, told the Statesman on Tuesday.

Republican Attorney General Raúl Labrador was a staunch opponent of the reform and made several failed attempts to keep it off the ballot through litigation. If voters support it, he can file another lawsuit. Gov. Brad Little also said he was against it.

But an earlier generation of Republican leaders supported the reform and pointed to broader changes in the Republican coalition. Former Republican Gov. Butch Otter was in favor, as was former Republican House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, the treasurer of Idahoans for Open Primaries.

The Idaho Democratic Party did not publicly comment on the measure.

Lead advocate organizer Luke Mayville is the head of Reclaim Idaho, a reform-minded organization that spearheaded the successful 2018 ballot measure to expand Medicaid in Idaho.

More than 75,000 people signed a petition this year to put the proposal on the ballot. This exceeded the minimum requirement by around 12,000 signatures. Idaho law allows citizens to skip the legislative session and make their own laws if they get at least 6% of voters in 18 of the 35 legislative districts to sign and then receive majority approval on Election Day.

In recent years, elected Republicans have become wary of ballot measures and have passed laws that make it harder to put initiatives before voters. In particular, the Medicaid expansion in 2018 was a thorn in the side of conservatives, who strongly oppose more comprehensive social programs. Lawmakers this year discussed a bill that could have reversed the expansion.

In 2019, Little vetoed a bill that would tighten signature requirements. A year later, lawmakers added a requirement that initiatives include financial reports. Another bill this year introduced a single-issue requirement for proposals and required petitioners to report paid signature collectors to the Secretary of State. Then in 2021, lawmakers tried to require voter initiatives to obtain signatures from 6% of voters in each voting district — a change that the Idaho Supreme Court blocked, ruling that it violated residents' rights.

Voters decide on the emphasis on electoral obligations

Another change voters considered in this election was whether to tighten the requirements in the Idaho Constitution that non-citizens cannot vote.

The amendment would add language affirming that non-citizens may not vote in “elections in the State of Idaho.”

The Idaho Constitution and state law already require citizenship to vote in government elections.

Former Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa told the Idaho Statesman by phone that the change was gratuitous because local jurisdictions in Idaho are required by law to adhere to the state's definition of a “qualified voter” — which requires citizenship . Changing that requirement — and allowing cities or school districts to define their electors as they see fit — would require a change in state law.

“The possibility that the Idaho Legislature, which controls the qualifications of these other bodies, would allow non-citizens to vote (in local elections) is extremely, extremely remote,” he said.

A simple majority is required to amend the constitution.

Reporter Sally Krutzig contributed.