August 16, Orofino, Idaho — Today marks the official launch of Secure Idaho Elections, a grassroots, non-profit dedicated to the protection of Idaho’s “one person, one vote” elections, and the fight against the radical changes of Jungle Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). With a mission to ensure that every vote counts directly and transparently, Secure Idaho Elections will educate the public, engage in legislative advocacy, and mobilize everyday Idaho citizens to maintain the integrity of the Idaho electoral process.
WHY WE STAND AGAINST RCV:
Voter Confusion: Studies indicate that RCV leads to voter confusion, disenfranchising voters by complicating the voting process.
Potential for Manipulation: RCV requires centralized and computerized tabulation, destroying transparency and making it easier for results to be manipulated, undermining the democratic principle of one person, one vote.
Decreased Voter Turnout: Adoption of RCV correlates with a decline in voter turnout, possibly due to the complexity of the system.
Costly: Idaho’s Secretary of State has indicated RCV will cost Idaho and its counties up to $40 million dollars, potentially leading to cuts in county essential services.
Idaho Citizens Don’t Want it: Recent posts on X highlight a growing movement against RCV, with significant figures and grassroots efforts in states like Alaska pushing for its repeal, indicating a strong public and political opposition.
LAUNCH ACTIVITIES
Public Awareness Campaign: Secure Idaho Elections (SIE) will launch a series of informational talks, webinars, and public forums to discuss the implications of Proposition 1 - RCV, featuring experts in electoral systems and former officials who have witnessed its effects firsthand.
Legislative Advocacy: The nonprofit will work with state legislators to oppose any bills threatening the integrity of Idaho’s simple, high trust election system.
Community Engagement: Through partnerships with local civic groups, SIE will organize community events to build a grassroots coalition against Proposition 1 - RCV.
Research and Documentation: Aiming to provide factual, non-partisan analysis, SIE will compile and publish research on the effects of RCV.
Bill Gaffney, Co-Founder of Secure Idaho Elections, stated, "The people of Idaho trust and understand their current electoral system. Why change something that is working? Because it's not working so well for the monied interests. Ranked Choice Voting preys upon voters with a ridiculous level of complexity and confusion. We know that as people learn about Proposition 1 they clearly reject it."
About Secure Idaho Elections:
Secure Idaho Elections is a non-partisan, grassroots organization committed to
advocating for an Idaho voting system that is transparent, accessible, and fair. Our goal is to ensure that every Idahoan’s vote is counted as intended, without the complexities that lead to voter disenfranchisement.
Media Availability:
For further information, interviews, or to arrange speaking engagements, please
contact Bill Gaffney at [email protected] or call 406 230 2027.
