Earlier this week, I posted information re: the dilemma that SR colleague Betsy Russell and we other Idaho journalists find ourselves in -- whether or not to vote in 2012 primary election in May. For the first time, as a result of the GOP-pushed closed primaries, journalists will be required to state a party preference to vote. Betsy has been told by the paper that she could be reassigned away from covering politics & government, if she declared a party affiliation & it became the source of contoversy. I've been told by the paper that I'm free to vote because I'm not a reporter but an opinion writer. Betsy is president of the Idaho Press Club. The column she wrote about her dilemma wasn't posted on the group's Web site when I posted the initial story. Now it is. You can read it here.

Question: Should the newspaper allow Betsy to vote in the primary w/o potential consequences? Should it allow me to vote?