WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 697

ELECTIONS – Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for the crime of illegal voting, to provide for the crime of interference with an election, and to provide for the crime of tampering with voting machines or vote tally systems.

68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

Idaho bill criminalizes illegal voting, election interference, and voting machine tampering with new statutory definitions replacing existing law; passed House 68-0.

Reported Signed by Governor on March 19, 2026 Session Law Chapter 63 Effective: 07/01/2026
#criminaloffensesandprocedures #elections #votingandvoters
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 697

Legislative bill overview

H 697 creates or modifies three criminal offenses in Idaho: illegal voting, interference with elections, and tampering with voting machines or vote tally systems. The bill repeals existing provisions and replaces them with new statutory language defining these crimes and their penalties.

Why is this important

Election-related crimes directly affect the integrity of democratic processes and public confidence in voting systems. How these crimes are defined—including who can be prosecuted, what specific acts constitute violations, and what penalties apply—shapes both election security and potential prosecutorial reach.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: The bill's specific definitions of "illegal voting" and "interference" are not detailed in this summary; depending on language, these could be narrow (targeting clear fraud) or broad (potentially capturing legitimate election observation or administrative errors)
  • Voting machine provisions: Criminalizing tampering with voting systems is widely supported, but the bill's specificity matters—overly vague language could create liability for authorized technicians or routine maintenance
  • Prosecutorial discretion: New criminal statutes can be applied inconsistently; the bill's clarity on intent requirements, burden of proof, and affirmative defenses will determine fairness in enforcement

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

Sign in to ask a question.