Supporters of the Idaho open primary initiative submitted signatures in support of the ballot initiative to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
Members of Idahoans for Open Primaries submitted their signatures to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office for final verification on Tuesday, with supporters feeling optimistic they would qualify their ballot initiative for the Nov. 5 general election.
In Idaho, ballot initiatives are a form of direct democracy where the people vote on whether or not to pass a law, independent of the Idaho Legislature.
If it qualifies for the ballot and is approved by a simple majority of voters, the ballot initiative would end Idaho’s closed primary elections and create a ranked-choice voting system for the general election.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Taylor Jenkins, an independent voter who lives in Nampa, spoke in favor of the initiative on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.