ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to increase the vote threshold for statewide initiative petitions and to remove obsolete language.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

House Bill H 2 raises the vote threshold for statewide initiatives in Idaho from 50% to 60%, ensuring broader support is needed for approval.

Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs

#campaignsandcandidates #elections #initiativesandreferendums #secretaryofstate #votingandvoters

Bill Overview

Bill Number: H 2

Title: Elections – Amends existing law to increase the vote threshold for statewide initiative petitions and to remove obsolete language.

Introduced On: January 08, 2025

Status: Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs

Classification: Bill

Subject Areas: Campaigns and Candidates, Elections, Initiatives and Referendums, Secretary of State, Voting and Voters

Purpose and Intent

House Bill H 2 aims to amend Idaho's election laws by increasing the voting threshold required for statewide initiative petitions from 50% to 60%. This change is intended to ensure that a greater consensus is needed for initiatives to be approved by voters. Additionally, the bill seeks to remove obsolete language from existing statutes, thereby clarifying and modernizing the legal framework governing statewide initiatives and referendums.

Key Provisions

Increased Vote Threshold:

The bill revises Idaho Code Section 34-1811 to stipulate that an initiative must receive at least 60% of the votes cast to be adopted, rather than the previous 50% requirement.

Removal of Obsolete Language:

The bill amends Idaho Code Section 34-1813 to eliminate outdated language, streamlining the process for counting and canvassing votes on initiatives and referendums.

Emergency Clause:

The bill includes a declaration of an emergency, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Impact

Voter Initiatives: The primary impact of this bill will be on the process of statewide initiatives. By raising the threshold to 60%, it may become more challenging for initiatives to be passed, potentially reducing the number of successful initiatives.

Election Administration: The removal of obsolete language is expected to simplify the legal framework for election officials, making it easier to administer and understand the voting process for initiatives and referendums.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced and referred to the Joint Rules Committee for printing on January 8, 2025. It was subsequently reported printed and referred to the State Affairs Committee on January 9, 2025.

The bill has no fiscal impact, meaning it will not require additional funding or result in changes to revenue for state or local governments.

Conclusion

House Bill H 2 represents a significant change in the voting requirements for statewide initiatives in Idaho. By increasing the threshold for approval, the bill aims to ensure that only initiatives with broad support can become law, while also updating the legal language governing the electoral process.

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