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H 254

ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to require certain anti-fraud measures to be employed to ensure election ballots are secure.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Idaho H254 strengthens election security by requiring tested anti-fraud measures on all ballots (IDs, stamps, watermarks, holograms, or unique marks) before each election.

Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
#elections #government #secretaryofstate #security #votingandvoters
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Bill Summary · H 254

Summary of House Bill 254 (H 254), Idaho

Overview

  • Bill number: H 254
  • Title: ELECTIONS – Amends existing law to require certain anti-fraud measures to be employed to ensure election ballots are secure
  • Introduced: February 14, 2025
  • Status: Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
  • Effective date / Emergency: Section 2 declares an emergency and provides that the act takes effect on July 1, 2025

Purpose and intent

H 254 updates Idaho’s election-security framework by strengthening official ballot identification and anti-fraud measures. It seeks to reduce opportunities for ballot tampering, duplication, or counterfeit ballots, while ensuring measures are tested before each election. The bill also updates references in Idaho Code to remove outdated technology and provides guidance for modern technologies such as unique ballot identifiers.

Key provisions

General identification and confidentiality

  • County clerks must ensure all ballots are identified as official, display the election date/year, and include the words “Official Election Ballot.”
  • Measures to ensure authenticity must be tested and verified before each election. County clerks must notify the county board of canvassers which anti-fraud measures are used.
  • Voter confidentiality remains protected in accordance with Idaho constitutional protections.

Anti-fraud measures by ballot type

  • Optical scan counties:

    • Each ballot issued must have official election identification printed.
    • Each ballot must contain a unique marking to prevent duplication.

  • Paper or other ballots:

    • An official election stamp (or clerk-issued stamp) must be used. If the stamp is unavailable, the distributing clerk must initial the ballot and mark it as “stamped.”

  • Counties using voting machines (as per chapter 24, title 34):

    • Use at least two of the following on all ballots before issuance to the voter: 1) A unique identifier (barcode or QR code) that is randomly generated and not linked to voter identity; assigned prior to scanning/tabulation. 2) Ballots printed on watermarked paper or displaying a unique watermark image. 3) A unique election-specific hologram design that changes if a ballot is copied. 4) Security paper that indicates, upon copying, that it is a copy (not the original). 5) The words “Official Election Ballot” stamped or printed on issuance.

  • Hand-counted tallies:

    • Each ballot issued to a voter must be stamped or printed with “Official Election Ballot” and the election date.

Documentation and custody

  • Clerks must maintain documentation of security measures and the chain of custody for all ballots.

Affected entities and voters

  • County clerks and Boards of Canvassers: responsible for implementing, testing, documenting, and notifying about anti-fraud measures.
  • Counties using optical scan, paper, or voting machines, and those doing hand counts: must apply specified anti-fraud measures.
  • Voters: protections surrounding ballot authenticity and secrecy are reinforced.

Fiscal and timeline notes

  • Fiscal impact: State-level revenue and expenditures are not expected to change; counties may incur higher costs if they adopt more secure methods.
  • The act requires implementation by July 1, 2025, with an emergency declaration to ensure immediate effectiveness upon enactment.

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

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