Idaho AG Labrador Files Lawsuit Against Open Primaries

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has refiled a lawsuit in the Fourth Judicial District to challenge a ballot initiative that aims to end closed primary elections, following a recent rejection by the Idaho Supreme Court. The initiative proposes a nonpartisan primary system open to all voters, allowing the top four candidates to advance to the general election where voters can rank their preferences. Labrador claims the initiative's description is misleading and alleges that signatures were collected fraudulently, asserting that voters were not informed about the inclusion of ranked-choice voting. Idahoans for Open Primaries, which gathered over 70,000 signatures to place the initiative on the ballot, contends that Labrador's lawsuit is an attempt to deny voters their rights. The Supreme Court's earlier dismissal emphasized that any fraud claims must first be resolved in lower courts, while constitutional concerns could only be evaluated if voters approve the measure in November. The organization remains committed to ensuring that all Idaho voters have a voice in the upcoming election.