Democrats & Republicans sound off

BOISE - For more than 35 years, Idaho has had open primary elections - in which voters can cast ballots for whomever they want, no matter which party they affiliate with.

But some Republicans want to change that.  Members of the GOP's Central Committee voted over the weekend to close the Republican primaries, meaning you would need to be a registered member of that party in order to vote. That is something that has never happened in Idaho's history. 

It is a controversial move, which many fear could disenfranchise independent voters.

In fact, many of Idaho's top Republicans oppose the change, including Senator Larry Craig, Governor Butch Otter, Secretary of the State Ben Ysursa and the Republican Party's own chairman.

But, the majority of those who make up the central committee voted to the contrary.

"If you're going to be a Republican and vote in the Republican primary you need to be a member of the Republican Party," said Jason Ronk, executive director of Idaho Republicans.

But Ronk says he doesn’t think the move will alienate independents.

"I don't think so, I think the Republican Party is stronger than they've ever been and we will continue to that trend,” he said.

"I don't think it's good for the state," Harvard professor Keith Allred said.

Allred is a professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and he’s a fifth generation Idahoan.  He says it's well documented that closed primaries produce candidates with more extreme views - be they Republican or Democratic.

"Whether you are conservative or liberal we all have an interest in our government being representative of who we are as Idahoans, closed primaries give you less representative winners, they represent less well the broad swath of Idahoans and will represent more one wing of one party, and I just don't think that can be good for the state," Allred said.

A sentiment echoed by Idaho Democrats.

"I think this is one in a series of events that will change Idaho politics, there's going to be a real fight in the Republican Party for control of the center," said Chuck Oxley with the Idaho Democratic Party.

First, though, change has to be implemented. Just when and how that happens is a bit ambiguous at this point.  Since party rule trumps state law, Republicans will most likely sue the secretary of state to get the primary process changed.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 2000 sets precedent and paves the way for such action.

But then there's the issue of getting voters to register with their party. How does the state manage that with 700,000 registered voters?

Another major question: What happens to independents?

NewsChannel 7 was unable to find anyone with solid answers at this point - neither Republicans, nor the state of Idaho knows exactly how the change will occur - or what impact it will have on those who don't want to officially declare themselves Republicans.

It is generally believed, though, that this will become a reality, probably in time for the 2010 primaries.

It's important to note, this does not affect the general election, Idahoans will still be able to cast ballots for any candidate they choose come November.

  What do you think of the Idaho Republican Party deciding to close its primary to non-GOP registered voters?