This letter is in response to a recently published letter to the editor, complaining of our typical low voter turn out, in the recent primary election.

This is also my second letter to this editor on the subject. After submitting my original email, I regretted the tone I used. I specifically had called out one of my neighbors, for her personal opinion. I asked for, and was thankfully granted a re-do by Mike Patrick, the editor. I still feel strongly about why I choose not to vote in the primaries, but felt all of our readers deserved some level of respect and civility.

This is why I personally choose NOT to vote in Idaho’s primaries: I refuse to “ declare my party affiliation.”

It doesn’t matter that “Idaho always votes Republican anyway,” so why not just register with the Republican Party?

In fact, that suggestion was made by this editorial page a month or so ago.

I prefer to think for myself, and vote for the best person most qualified for the job. With a closed primary we end up with a short list of local business people with a self-serving agenda. I consider myself an Independent individual, and have voted over the years for candidates of all parties. R, D, I, & L. Even a write-in candidate once.

I DO vote in the General Elections where I have freedom to choose from a wider variety of candidates. Voting is a privilege and a right I have taken seriously and exercised ever since I first became eligible.

Over the past eight years, I would have been embarrassed to call myself a Republican OR a Democrat. No wonder Mr. Trump has maintained his popularity during this long campaign season. I’m fed up with the status quo, like most of this country. Regardless of their party affiliation, gender identity, religion, or economic status, people are tired of being talked down to and flat out lied to.

Again, without mentioning names or arrest records, local and state Republican politicians continue to embarrass us on the national stage.

That’s not a club I want to be part of, by any name or affiliation.

Secondly, the specific letter I’m referring to said that voting is a God-given right. With all due respect, our voting rights are conveyed by specific amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Finally, I do not believe that the Republican Party of Idaho will change back to an open primary system. It is not in their best interest, and if the “sheeple” continue to follow blindly, they have no reason to change anything. The only winners in this scenario are the career politicians.

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Rick Casemore is a Coeur d’Alene resident.