Ranked choice voting, open primaries offer benefits, including to Republicans | Opinion

Ranked voting

In a recent opinion piece, Chris Cargill criticized Reclaim Idaho’s initiative for open primaries and ranked voting, asserting that it would create confusion and uneven voter influence. However, he did not attempt to counter the numerous benefits this system offers, including those that apply to Idaho’s Republican constituents.

Open primaries create an opportunity for moderate Republican candidates to attract support from independents and Democrats who lean toward centrists rather than far-right contenders. This broad coalition can lead to primary outcomes that better represent the interests of all Idahoans, fostering a more inclusive political landscape.

Ranked voting, on the other hand, empowers moderate Republicans to vote according to their convictions without inadvertently benefiting the Democratic contender. For example, in 2016, some Republicans reluctantly voted for Trump to avoid a Clinton victory. Ranked voting allows voters to list their preferences, ensuring that their vote will still count even if their top choice doesn’t win. By embracing Reclaim Idaho’s initiative for open primaries and ranked voting, Idaho can foster a political environment that values diverse perspectives and unites citizens under a common goal: selecting leaders who best represent the whole state. Ultimately, this approach embodies the true spirit of democracy.

Matt Youngberg, Fruitland

Vallow trial

I wish to publicly express my deepest thanks to the 12 Ada County jurors who rendered six guilty verdicts in the Lori Vallow trial. Eighteen fellow citizens had the monumental task over six long weeks of listening to 60 witnesses’ testimony and viewing hundreds of pieces of often gruesome evidence, revealing the most horrific crime details imaginable, so that they could ultimately offer the families of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell the justice prayed for, yet delayed, for 3.5 years. Also, I applaud all of the highly professional police officers, investigators, detectives, medical examiners, relentless sleuthing reporters, FBI special agents, prosecutors, bailiffs, Judge Steven Boyce and his courtroom staff. They spent thousands of hours pursuing justice for JJ and Tylee and deserve our collective gratitude. The verdict should keep this child murderer, conspirator and thief off our streets for the rest of her life.

Melanie Johnson, Eagle

Maternal mortality

To my horror, I have learned this Mother’s Day that the state lawmakers that you and I put in office will cancel the Idaho Maternal Mortality Review Committee. This committee has recently told us that maternal deaths in Idaho have doubled in two years and the trend line is going up. All of the deaths without exception could have been prevented by better care, but Idaho’s unclear and severe laws regarding maternal care are forcing OB-GYNs to move to other states: more than 50% say they are planning to leave, and those in other states say they will not come to Idaho.

Rural Idaho especially cannot spare these doctors. More than a third of Idaho’s maternal deaths, according to the committee’s findings, are from Canyon County and surrounding areas.

If Idaho state lawmakers are declaring war on Idaho mothers, especially in our smaller towns, their message is loud and clear. We need to vote them out of office. If they are telling the truth about caring for our families, Idaho will immediately reinstate the Maternal Mortality Review Committee and increase funding and support for the coming wave of unintended pregnancies, often among our most vulnerable citizens. Make no mistake.

Pei-Lin Yu, Boise

Mayor security

Police officers swear to protect and serve.

Mike Masterson (a former police chief) and challenger in the upcoming mayor’s race, claims Lauren McLean’s security detail is “selfish.” Should Masterson win the mayor’s race and choose to have a security detail, it is unimaginable that McLean would call him selfish for doing so. She is smarter than that.

Any public officer, woman or man, who has been threatened and whose family has been threatened should not be criticized for having a security detail.

Mary Feeny, Boise