Proposition 1 Fails by Nearly 40% in Idaho as Similar Measures Fail Nationwide

Update on 11/6/2024 at 12:29 p.m. MT – Governor Brad Little said the following on X about Prop 1:

“Idahoans have decided: Proposition 1 does not promote clear voting practices, voter participation, or election confidence. My top priority will continue to be ensuring Idahoans have trust and confidence in our election system.”

Original Story Below

Proposition 1 failed in Idaho by nearly 40% as ranked choice voting, and changes to primary elections in other states failed nationwide as well.

With over 900,000 votes cast as of this writing, Prop 1 is trailing 69.7% to 30.3%. Turnout statewide for the 2024 election is at 84%.

Before the election night results, Idaho Dispatch released the results of our exit polling, which had Prop 1 failing at 61%. The current number is 8% higher than our exit poll showed.

Prop 1 would have implemented a top-four primary and ranked choice voting for the general election.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation, one of several groups that opposed the measure, said the following on X:

“The people of Idaho have spoken! Proposition 1, the attempt by out-of-state leftists to rig our elections, has failed.

This initiative was initially placed on our ballot by organizations who deceived Idahoans into believing they were signing a petition to revert back to the old open primary system the legislature chose to do away with over a decade ago. Instead, Prop 1 was really an initiative to implement jungle primaries and ranked choice voting.

This would have been costly, confusing, and would have weakened the voices of Idahoans everywhere. This movement, backed by so-called “Idahoans for Open Primaries” was funded over 80% by out-of-state interests who wanted to undermine our state’s sovereignty.

Luckily, a majority of Idahoans saw through these lies and voted to strike down this initiative. This should be a lesson to all other leftist interest groups seeking to force their beliefs on us: you are wasting your time and money, and the good people of Idaho see through your deceit.”

House Speaker Mike Moyle (R-Star) sent out a press release with the following statement about Prop 1’s defeat saying,

“With polls now closed, Proposition 1 has failed. Over the last year, our state has been under attack by far-left, out-of-state activist groups attempting to change how Idaho conducts elections. Proposition 1 would have been costly, complicated, and unfair. I am thankful that Idahoans stood with me and other Republican leaders and rejected this manipulative attempt to change Idaho’s electoral system. Let the defeat of Proposition 1 serve as a message to out-of-state interest groups: any attempt to interfere with policy in our state will be met with a resounding defeat.”

Moyle and Rep. Josh Tanner (R-Eagle) had launched a Political Action Committee called One Person, One Vote to oppose Prop 1.

Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon led a GOP effort to oppose Prop 1. Moon told Idaho Dispatch about Prop 1’s defeat:

“The Idaho GOP grassroots deserves the credit for defeating Prop 1. Our Speakers Bureau of experts educating Idahoans on the dangers of Prop 1, the door-to-door contact, sign waves, phone calls, palm cards, and our fantastic signs popping up statewide won the day. It proves out-of-state money cannot buy Idaho. The people of Idaho rose up to keep our beautiful Idaho red and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Idahoans for Open Primaries, Reclaim Idaho, and Veterans for Idaho Voters, three groups that organized to pass Prop 1, have not posted anything online in response to the results. Idaho Dispatch has contacted all three organizations for a response. We will post an update on this article if we receive any response.

Nationwide, election changes to the primary process and/or implementing ranked choice voting failed in other states.

Alaska

Alaska has a ballot initiative to repeal its top-four primary/ranked choice voting system. With 70% of the vote in, the repeal is winning by just 4,000 votes. The race is still too close to call.

Arizona

In Arizona, voters were given the option to eliminate partisan primaries. With 57% of the vote in, the initiative is failing 58% to 42% and that race has been called.

Colorado

Colorado was one of the few states that had a similar ballot measure to Idaho’s Prop 1. Colorado voters had the option to implement the top-four/ranked choice voting system.

With 72% of the vote counted, the initiative is failing 55% to 45%. That race has not been called as of this writing.

District of Columbia

The one place where ranked choice voting was successful was Washington D.C. The initiative allows voters who are not registered with a party to participate in the primary and implement ranked choice voting for the general election.

With 85% of the vote counted, the initiative is passing 73% to 27%.

Missouri

In Missouri, voters passed an initiative to prohibit ranked choice voting 69% to 31%.

Nevada

Nevada had a similar initiative to Idaho, but it would have had a top-five primary instead of a top-four primary and implemented ranked choice voting.

With 84% of the vote counted in Nevada, the measure is failing 54% to 46%. That race has been called.

Oregon

Oregon’s initiative asked voters to implement ranked choice voting for federal and state elections. There was no proposed primary change on the Oregon initiative.

With 70% of the vote counted in Oregon, the measure is failing 60% to 40%. The race has been called.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, voters had an initiative that would have implemented a top-two primary system. Ranked choice voting was not part of the initiative.

With 90% of the vote counted, the initiative is failing 66% to 34%, and that race has also been called.

Did you support or oppose Prop 1 in Idaho? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags: 2024 Election, Dorothy Moon, Idaho Democrat Party, Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho GOP, Idahoans for Open Primaries, Josh Tanner, Mike Moyle, Prop 1, Proposition 1, Veterans for Idaho Voters

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