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Bill

H 114

ELECTIONS – Amends and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding the filling of vacancies of political party candidates.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

House Bill 114 reforms Idaho's candidate vacancy process, limiting withdrawals to protect primary results and ensuring voters' choices remain on the general election ballot.

Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
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Bill Summary · H 114

Summary of House Bill 114 (H 114)

Bill Overview

  • Title: Elections – Amends and repeals existing law to revise provisions regarding the filling of vacancies of political party candidates.
  • Bill Number: H 114
  • Introduced: February 3, 2025
  • Status: Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
  • Classification: Bill
  • Subject: Campaigns and Candidates, Elections, Government, Voting and Voters

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 114 aims to reform the process for filling vacancies of political party candidates in Idaho. The bill seeks to address concerns regarding the practice of candidates filing as placeholders and subsequently withdrawing after primary elections, allowing party leaders to select replacements rather than letting voters decide. The legislation intends to ensure that candidates who are selected through the primary process remain on the ballot for the general election, thereby enhancing the integrity of the electoral process.

Key Provisions

  1. Withdrawal Limitations:

    • Candidates may only withdraw from the nomination process during a designated pre-primary period. This restriction is intended to prevent last-minute candidate changes that could undermine the primary election results.
    • Independent candidates are exempt from this limitation, as their only election is the general election.

  2. Filling Vacancies:

    • The bill amends existing laws to clarify how vacancies are filled before and after primary elections:
      • Vacancies occurring before a primary election can be filled by the appropriate central committee, depending on the office.
      • Vacancies occurring within 10 days of a primary election cannot be filled.
      • Vacancies for partisan offices not filled by 50 days before a general election will remain unfilled, and the name of the deceased or disqualified candidate will remain on the ballot.

  3. Technical Corrections:

    • The bill repeals outdated provisions and makes technical corrections to ensure clarity and compliance with current electoral practices.

  4. Deadline Adjustments:

    • The cutoff for making changes to ballots is adjusted to 50 days before the general election, aligning with the timeline for absentee ballot distribution.

Impact

  • Affected Parties: The bill primarily impacts political parties, candidates, and voters in Idaho. It aims to protect the electoral process by ensuring that candidates who have been chosen by voters through primaries remain on the ballot.
  • Fiscal Note: The legislation is expected to result in a minimal reduction of $90 in state General Fund revenue every other year due to fewer candidate filing fees collected.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was introduced on February 3, 2025, and has been referred to the State Affairs committee for further consideration.
  • An emergency clause is included, declaring that the act will take effect on July 1, 2025, to ensure timely implementation of the new provisions.

Conclusion

House Bill 114 represents a significant reform in the way political party candidate vacancies are handled in Idaho, aiming to enhance the democratic process by limiting candidate withdrawals and ensuring that voters' choices in primaries are respected in the general election.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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