Ranked choice voting (RCV), a process in which voters individually rank candidates rather than choosing just one candidate, is now a proposed state initiative that would change the course of voting in the state of Idaho.
RCV is a form of voting where the candidates put on the ballot would be subject to individual ranking, meaning that voters rank them in order of preference. This method gives more insight into the specific popularity of each candidate rather than the traditional ‘one or the other’ option that primaries offer.
RCV is now an impending voting method for Idaho as it is a process that is gaining popularity due to the argument that it increases voter participation, saves time and money and results in less negative campaigning among candidates.
Markie McBrayer, an American politics specialist for the University of Idaho, explained RCV in a simple way.
“RCV means I don’t have to choose just one candidate on the ballot. Instead, I get to select multiple candidates and rank them,” she said. “The process goes in rounds where you’re eliminating the lowest ranked candidates, and then reallocating the votes from the lowest ranked candidate to the other candidates.”
As ballots are tallied and votes come in, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated first. For voters whose ballots ranked the failed candidate as their first pick, their votes would be reevaluated, with their second-choice candidate moving to their priority. From there, a new tally would conclude if there is a candidate that has won with an outright majority.
If passed, Idaho Proposition 1, the Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative, would strip away the classical partisan primary system and replace it with a top-four primary system. This means that the leading four candidates then go on to the general election instead of just two. This voting system would apply to all Idaho elected positions, from U.S. Senate members to county elective offices.
Currently, Idaho is one of only 10 states that has prohibited the use of ranked choice voting through state statute. On March 24, 2023, Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 179 into law, prohibiting RCV.
“No county elections office shall use ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting to conduct an election or nomination of any candidate in this state for any local government, statewide, or federal elective office,” the law states.
On Nov. 5, 2024, the Idaho Proposition 1 would potentially be overriding the law set by Little in 2023 and enacting RCV in Idaho.
Although this would be a new form of voting for the state, McBrayer points out some theoretical benefits to this system.
“There are many theoretical benefits, like ideological moderation, a more complete expression of candidate preferences, larger and more diverse candidate pools and less negative campaigning,” McBrayer says.
If this initiative passes, it will change how voting works in Idaho. Due to the significance of it, there are many opposing opinions on it. While groups like Idahoans for Open Primaries advocate for it, Republican State Rep. Lance Clow and Idaho Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon oppose it.
As the 2024 election season approaches, it is critical that those who are eligible represent their voices by voting. Everyone deserves a say in choosing their representatives, and this is the time to take action.
Paige Wilton can be reached at [email protected].