GOP, Dems raise concerns about new law eliminating Idaho's March presidential primary election

[RandySF]

Some progressives and conservatives alike are raising concerns about a new Idaho law from the recent 2023 legislative session that eliminates the state’s March presidential primary election.

With little debate or vetting, the Idaho Legislature overwhelmingly passed House Bill 138, which was pushed by Secretary of State Phil McGrane and Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, as a way to consolidate elections and save the state about $2.7 million every four years.

Idaho had been conducting its presidential primary election on the second Tuesday in March. Manwaring and McGrane said their law was designed to eliminate the March presidential primary election and move it back to another state election day: the third Tuesday in May.

But some Republican and Democratic party officials in Idaho are now saying the new law eliminates the presidential primary election altogether in Idaho.


https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/04/18/gop-dems-raise-concerns-about-new-law-eliminating-idahos-march-presidential-primary-election/

[keithbvadu2]

1. Supposedly to save money but how much would a special legislative session cost?

[dutch777]

2. I get the GOP angle of save money at any cost but becoming even more meaningless in Pres'd'l cycle

doesn't make much sense. Seems dumb on so many fronts. Also wonder if the law doesn't run afoul of either the state or US Constitution in some way.

[2naSalit]

3. What they are saying...

The Idaho GOP that is, is that Democracy is too expensive so let's start cutting back. They already have the lds church governing everything there so why would they need the US gov't other then to send them money they don't earn?