BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho Senator Mark Harris tells CBS2 Boise that as of Wednesday, Sept. 6, the Idaho Senate has achieved 60% support needed to convene and call itself back into special session.
All eyes turn to the House of Representatives to wait and see if they will achieve the 60% support needed. CBS2 reached out to the public information officers within the House and will update this story as more information becomes available.
The special session in question regards the upcoming Presidential Primary. A change in Idaho law earlier this year removed the traditional primary inadvertently. To fix the issue, two separate camps are calling for different remedies.
Senate Majority Caucus led by Mark Harris is pushing to consolidate all primary elections to the May date during the First Regular Session "to increase voter turnout and make sure that the nomination process used Idaho taxpayer's money responsibly and effectively. The consolidation would save approximately $2.7 million in taxpayer funds," says Harris.
A separate push has been made for a March presidential nominating caucus. Opponents of the caucus say a primary stands a better chance to enhance voter turnout, increase voter influence and better reflect the party's preferences.
Senator Herndon has also been leading the push for a petition to call the legislature back for the special session. He opposes the caucus, stating it inhibits the ability of absentee voters like military members serving abroad to participate in the primary voting process. Although he strongly disagrees with the idea of a consolidated primary in May.
During most Presidential Primary races, the candidate has already been chosen by the time of a May primary in Idaho. This makes Idaho votes irrelevant in the nominating process. Herndon wants to return to a primary style of voting but would like that date to be in early March, which would place Idaho in the first five states to vote and increase the relevancy of Idaho voters.
Whether the legislature will be called back for the special session now rests with the House of Representatives. What they will agree on should they be called back is still anyone's guess. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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