The measure’s proponents, the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition, amassed a $5.5 million war chest this year, ran ads on TV and social media, held town hall meetings and went door to door to persuade voters to vote yes.

In one of the most closely watched elections in Idaho, the Proposition 1 ballot initiative that sought to end closed party primary elections and bring ranked-choice voting to general elections, was defeated,

If Prop 1 passes, the measure would make two big changes to the state’s elections. Instead of the closed Republican primary (and separate, but open, Democratic primary), all voters would participate in a single “blanket” primary.