Eye On Boise

‘Poke independent voters in the eye’

Posted by Betsy

March 30, 2011 8:25 a.m. • 12 comments

Gary Allen, attorney for a group of independent voters, told the Senate State Affairs Committee, “I'm here on my 50th birthday, and I can't think of any better way to spend it than talking about democracy.” He said he and his clients disagree with the federal court ruling overturning Idaho's current system, and are appealing it. Independents don't want to publicly declare affiliation with one party or another, he said. “In our view, this is an unnecessary intrusion on voters' privacy,” Allen said. “Frankly, our clients do not want to do this, and we've seen no evidence that other independents in Idaho want to do this either. At a time when Republican Party identification in Idaho is falling like a stone … I would not think that the Republican Party would want to poke independent voters in the eye.”

Allen said he estimates switching to the new party-registration system will cost the state “well in excess of $2 million,” between state and county expenses. “I think you owe it to the people of Idaho to get to the bottom of this and be up-front about the cost of this change,” he said. “Frankly, we see all of these costs as simply welfare for politicians.” Allen said the Republican Party could hold a convention or caucus to choose its candidates instead. “If this were done, the Republican Party could prepare its own member list without the need to expend taxpayer dollars to pay for the party's private preference.”

12 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

BlueIdahos on March 30 at 10:59 a.m.
Well, since it’s Gary Allen’s 50th Birthday today, how about a bunch of us just crash his birthday party and expect to be provided with food, drink, etc?

Because that’s essentially the argument Mr. Allen is making…
BobEly on March 30 at 11:24 a.m.
Blue - is the GOP willing to pay for its own primary, or do the taxpayers get to pick up the tab? If it’s the former, then you have a valid point; if it’s the latter, then you’ve been drinking too much of Rush’s Kool-Aid.
BlueIdahos on March 30 at 11:39 a.m.
@BobEly, most states have closed primaries. I’m not aware of any of those which are paid for by the parties(not that I would necessarily be opposed to that-I would have to examine the issue further and see the pros and cons)
fortboise on March 31 at 8:32 a.m.
“because that’s essentially the argument Mr. Allen is making…”

Maybe up there in Bizarro Idaho where you live, Blue.

The argument Allen is making is that the state should not have to pay for the Republican’s private party.

There are counterarguments, but stating that black is white is not one of them, it’s just you trolling as usual. Why not try the counterargument the Republicans are putting into practice? “We run the state, so yes, we are going to have taxpayers pay for our party.”
straighttalk on March 31 at 8:37 a.m.
Closed primaries are only going to result in few citizens voting in the primary. Idaho citizens like their privacy and especially in regard to voting. Having it public record whether you voted R or D is a defnite determent to Idaho’s independent voters.
richardwinger on March 31 at 11:39 a.m.
It’s not really true that most states have closed primaries. It’s more like 50-50. The bill being discussed would not only create closed primaries, but it would forbid voters from switching parties several months before the primaries. That is a more rigid system than the laws of all other states, except New York and Delaware. Even the closed primary states generally let voters switch parties only two or three weeks before a primary, and some let voters switch on primary day. And 23 states have completely open primaries.
straighttalk on March 31 at 11:43 a.m.
You are incorrect about switching parties — read the legislation because the discussion on the Senate floor as I listened did not indicate such.
fortboise on March 31 at 12:25 p.m.
Not sure what you mean to say, straighttalk. Is richardwinger incorrect that other states’ switching is generally 2 to 3 weeks before a primary, or that “[Idaho’s bill] would forbid voters from switching parties several months before the primaries”?

What I’ve seen in the news … and yes, it’s in SB 1198, is that where registered choice is required, it will have to be made “no later than the last day a candidate 8 may file for partisan political office prior to such primary election,” which is at least a couple (if maybe not “several”) months before the election.
straighttalk on March 31 at 1:07 p.m.
Fort, he was indicating a voter would need to register several months prior to the primary and that is not the case.
BlueIdahos on March 31 at 1:51 p.m.
What is SO DIFFICULT to comprehend? If you are a Democrat, vote in the Dem Primary. If you are a Republican, vote in the GOP primary.

If you cannot understand those simple instructions, then you probably shouldn’t be voting(and likely voted for Obama
straighttalk on March 31 at 3:06 p.m.
Blue, fortunately or unfortunately, many, many Idaho voters truly consider themselves Independent not affiliated with any political party. Therein is the concern which many independent voters will is declaring for a particular party and the fact many citizens do not like the fact their political affiliation will now be of public record.
fortboise on March 31 at 3:56 p.m.
Can’t tell if your misdirection is inept or malicious, straighttalk, but the distinction between the legislation’s registration deadline and what richardwinger posted is a semantic niggle.

The bill as drafted purposely sets the registration deadline well ahead of the primary date—specifically, as quoted from the bill the Senate passed, to “no later than the last day a candidate may file for partisan political office prior to such primary election.”

In 2010, that was March 19, for the May 25 primary. So yeah, “more than two months” rather than “several.”

Sen. Davis made the intent of the timing crystal clear. What he didn’t do is explain how the “fix” does anything to prevent “political operatives” from registering however they like and casting votes as they please. Just when they’ll have to register.