Groups say they’ll fight for open Idaho primaries

BOISE – Two groups representing Idaho’s independent voters say they’ll try to intervene in the Idaho Republican Party’s federal lawsuit over the state’s primary elections.

The Idaho GOP sued Secretary of State Ben Ysursa in April, attempting to restrict Republican primary elections to registered GOP voters.

On Wednesday, an attorney representing the American Independent Movement of Idaho and the Committee for a Unified Republican Party sent a letter to Idaho Deputy Attorney General Mike Gilmore, informing him that the groups would try to intervene. The Republican party is effectively trying to require every Idaho voter to affiliate with a political party in order to participate fully in the election process, Harry Kresky said in the letter.

“Idaho doesn’t have Democrats and Republicans, Idaho has voters,” Kresky said. “Just like people have the freedom of association – to become members of a group and have closed events – there is also the freedom of non-association. I don’t think every voter in Idaho should be forced take part in partisan registration.”

Currently, Idaho voters can choose any party’s primary ballot, but a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court ruling leaves closing such elections up to state parties.

Mitch Campbell, who founded the American Independent Movement of Idaho, said he hopes the lawsuit will naturally fade away if those attending the state GOP convention this weekend in Sandpoint elect moderate Republicans to lead the party. Some moderate leaders, such as state Party Chairman Kirk Sullivan, have said the party needs to remain attractive to a broad spectrum of Republican voters.