Politics & Goverment

Turnout was low as Idaho voters cast their ballots in the state’s first-ever closed primary.  Many who did go to the polls said they were frustrated by the new process.  One of them was Kelvin Taysom.  He turned out early in the southeast Idaho town of Rockland, population 318.  He was the fourth person to vote at Rockland City Hall, but his was a vote of protest.

Tuesday's primaries in Idaho mark the beginning of a new way of voting in the state. The Republican Party closed its primary. That means voters must declare their political affiliation before they can cast a ballot.  Scott Ki visited polling sites in Boise and Meridian to find out how today's primaries are going. 

There aren’t many voters coming out to cast ballots in the state’s first closed primary.  Phil Mcgrane, Chief Deputy of the Ada County Clerk's Office says, "The one big thing of note is that turn out seems to be low."

Idaho is now one of more than 30 states that has a closed or semi closed primary. For the first time Tuesday voters must declare a party affiliation before casting a ballot. That presents an ethical dilemma for some people who want to remain non-partisan including journalists.

County election headquarters around Idaho are busy places ahead of tomorrow’s primary - especially in Ada County.  The state’s most populous county re-did its Election Headquarters after the last Presidential Election.  Samantha Wright took a tour to find out how your vote gets counted in Ada County.

Last week, the Air Force held public hearings on possibly basing its newest fighter jets in Mountain Home.  They drew about fifty people from the Treasure Valley. The search for a suitable home for the F-35A is now in its second year, but it’s unlikely the jets will actually end up in Mountain Home.   

Northwest gay rights supporters are cheering President Obama’s comments that he thinks same sex couples should be able to marry. But organizers of a petition drive to repeal Washington’s new marriage equality law hope to capitalize on the President’s new stance.

Referendum 74 is the name of the repeal measure in Washington. Backers say so far they’ve collected 70,000 signatures. That’s fewer than half the total the campaign hopes to submit to ensure the measure makes it on the November ballot. The deadline is June 6th.

Now that the Idaho Republican Party has opted for a closed primary, voters will encounter some big changes at the polling booth.  Elections officials are trying to explain the new format to the public, and prepare workers for questions on voting day.  Lots of questions. 

Helen Robins is gearing up for Election Day.  She’s petite, energetic, and she laughs a lot.  She’s been a poll worker and a Chief Judge, that’s the person in charge at a precinct.  “I think I’ve seen it all…”

When you vote in the primary next Tuesday, you must, for the first time, register for a political party.  That’s after the Idaho Republican Party sued the state for the right to close its primary.  The GOP argued party faithful, not crossover Democrats, should pick Republican candidates.