Political parties discuss voter information and the secret ballot

With only two weeks left until the November 4 election, one topic is making its way to the forefront – candidate voting records.

Recently state superintendent candidate Sherri Ybarra has been accused of not voting in 15 out of the 17 past elections. But, the republicans aren’t the only ones facing this criticism.

Gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff supporter Rob Waite recently ran this adshowing his support for the candidate, but he was later accused of never having voted in the state of Idaho.

Bannock County interim clerk Robert Poleki said all of this information is public knowledge, except for who people vote for.

“Almost everything is public record,” Poleki said. “You can come into the elections office and see who is registered to vote, what party they are registered for, age group statistics, and even the Sunshine Report which includes campaign expenditures.”

Chairman of the Bannock County Democrats Dave Finkelnburg said he appreciates this information being open to the public because it prevents voter fraud.

“That’s what is necessary to assure voter fraud is not committed,” Finkelnburg said. “It helps reduce the opportunity for people to vote twice.”

Dakota Bates is the president of the College Republicans and campaign manager for district 29 legislative candidate Terrel Tovey.

He agrees transparency is key, but feels voters need to remember not to be swayed away from the key issues that could impact voters.

“It’s not the most important thing, as to whether someone voted or not, or even who they voted for,” Bates said. “It’s more the issues and what the candidates stand for. That’s what’s important.”

However, Bates feels differently about seeing the voting records of candidates already elected. He feels it should go without saying people should be allowed to see how elected officials voted on key issues, but says even that could be misread.

“We have seen too many times where those votes are used against our legislators. For example, Smith attacked Simpson for his stance on second amendment issues, but he used a vote that was 20 years old so you have to be careful when you see a legislator who voted ‘this way on this issue.’ That doesn’t give you the full picture,” Bates added.

President of the Idaho League of Women Voters Muriel Roberts said it’s sometimes hard, but encouraged, to remain a nonpartisan member of the nonpartisan group when the political party you register under is public knowledge.

But, she said, everything should still be public knowledge just as long as who you vote for is still held under the sanctity of the secret ballot.

“People should be able to find out whether or not you voted, but not how you voted, and that’s the important thing,” Roberts said. “The privacy of the ballot is sacred. But yes, if you didn’t vote, the public should be able to know that.”

Roberts said the final day for early voting is October 31, and the League of Women Voters will hold their legislative debate Monday night at seven o’clock at the Pocatello City Council chambers.

Here is a list of their upcoming debates:http://lwvid.org/