Tue., March 3, 2009

Ysursa: ‘Call me a turnout guy’

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa calls for consolidating Idaho's elections to improve voter turnout. Public policy should be made by the highest possible participation of voters, he told lawmakers. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa told lawmakers, "Public policy needs to be set by the most participation - call me a turnout guy. ... I think this bill will accomplish it." Ysursa was testifying to the House State Affairs Committee in favor of HB 201, the election consolidation bill. "I've been working on consolidation since the '80s," Ysursa said. "I think it's a good-government bill. I know the fiscal dilemma that we're in. ... The 'stealth election' is what we don't want."

Posted March 3, 2009, 8:49 a.m.