Citizens of Idaho may only initiate legislation as a state statute. Idahoans may also repeal legislation via veto referendum, but cannot place a constitutional amendment on the ballot via initiative. The Idaho State Legislature, on the other hand, may place measures on the ballot as legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
Of the 24 states that allow citizens to initiate legislation through the petition process, several states have adopted restrictions and regulations that limit the allowable scope and content of initiated proposals. These regulations may include laws that mandate that initiatives address only one topic, restrict the range of acceptable topics for proposed laws, prohibit unfunded mandates and establish guidelines for adjudicating contradictory measures.
Idaho law requires initiatives to "embrace only one subject and matters properly connected with it."
Before 2020, Idaho did not employ a single-subject rule.
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Idaho does not restrict the subject matter of initiated measures. In addition, they are not required to specify a funding source for mandated expenditures.
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
In Idaho, veto referendums can be used on emergency legislation.
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Idaho law provides that in the event that two conflicting measures are approved, the measure with the most affirmative votes supersedes the other on any points of conflict. However, the other measure is not wholly superseded.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1811
Each initiative and referendum state employs a different procedure for filing petition applications. Some states require preliminary signatures while others do not. In addition, several states review each proposed statute, verifying that the law conforms to the style and conventions of state law and recommending alterations to initiative proponents. Some of these states also review the law for more substantive considerations of content and consistency. Also, many states conduct a review of the ballot title and summary, and several states employ a fiscal review process which analyzes proposed laws to determine their impact on state finances.[1][2][3]
Idaho is one of several states that require a certain number of signatures to accompany petition applications. The signatures of 20 qualified electors are required. Along with the signatures, proponents must file a copy of the proposal with the secretary of state. Once these requirements are met, the secretary transfers the proposal to the attorney general for review.
When filing an initiative, proponents must also submit a proposed funding source for any expected costs of implementing the measure. The proposed funding source is nonbinding and is not part of the legal text of the measure. This proposed funding source must be included on petition sheets during signature gathering and within the voter information pamphlet for the election.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1804 and Section 34-1804
After receiving the measure from the secretary, the attorney general is required to evaluate the proposal and provide recommendations on substance, form, and style. These revisions are advisory; petitioners are free to accept or reject them. After the review, the sponsor must re-submit the revised proposal to the secretary of state. The attorney general then assigns the measure a short and long ballot title.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1804 and Section 34-1804
The Division of Financial Management prepares a fiscal impact statement for any filed citizen initiatives describing the expected effects on state and local government revenue, expenditures, costs, and debt. This fiscal impact statement is to be included on signature petition sheets during signature gathering and on the voter information pamphlet for the election.
When filing an initiative, proponents must also submit a proposed funding source for any expected costs of implementing the measure. The proposed funding source is nonbinding and is not part of the legal text of the measure. This proposed funding source must be included on petition sheets during signature gathering and within the voter information pamphlet for the election. See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Each initiative and referendum state employs a unique method of calculating the state's signature requirements. Some states mandate a certain fraction of registered voters while others base their calculation on those who actually voted in a preceding election. In addition, many states employ a distribution requirement, dictating where in the state these signatures must be collected. Beyond these overarching requirements, many states regulate the manner in which signatures may be collected and the timeline for collecting them.
Idaho law sets the form for initiative petitions and requires the inclusion of the following on petition sheets:
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34
In Idaho, the number of signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot is equal to 6 percent of the number of registered voters as of the state's last general election. Moreover, Idaho has a distribution requirement requiring signatures to equal at least 6 percent of registered voters in 18 of the state's 35 legislative districts.
Below are the statewide signature requirements that initiative proponents must meet to get their initiatives on the ballot in that year.
Year | Statute | Veto referendum |
---|---|---|
2024 | 62,895 | 62,895 |
2022 | 64,945 | 64,945 |
2020 | 55,057 | 55,057 |
2018 | 56,192 | 56,192 |
2016 | 47,623 | 47,623 |
2014 | 53,751 | 53,751 |
2012 | 47,432 | 47,432 |
2010 | 51,712 | 51,712 |
2008 | 45,893 | 45,893 |
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1805
Idaho has a distribution requirement of 6 percent of the qualified electors at the time of the last general election in each of at least 18 of the state's 35 state legislative districts, provided the total number of signatures is equal or greater than 6 percent of qualified electors in the state at the time of the last general election.
Idaho had a distribution requirement requiring 6 percent of the signatures from each of 22 of Idaho's 44 counties. This rule was struck down in 2001 by a federal court in Idaho Coalition United for Bears v. Cenarrusa.[4] However, in 2013, the Idaho Legislature passed Idaho Senate Bill 1108, which added geographic distributions requirements for signature collection based on state legislative districts.
The signatures must be collected from only one county per petition. Regarding the petition format, the designation of legislative districts must be marked "for official use only."[5]
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1, Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
In Idaho, there are no statutes that prevent a circulator from signing the petition being circulated. Each initiative petition contains a mandatory circulator affidavit. The circulator is required to sign these affidavits before a public notary. He/she must swear to and sign a statement, under the penalty of law, that he/she personally witnessed every act of signing the petition.[6] He or she must also certify that he or she believes each signer noted his/her address correctly. According to Idaho Statutes Sec. 34-1807, those circulating petitions are required:[6]
Once circulation is completed, the signatures are submitted to a county clerk who then submits them to the secretary of state.[6]
See law: Idaho Statutes Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 07
Idaho allows paying signature gatherers based on the number of signatures collected. Idaho law requires anyone that pays signature gatherers a total of $100 or more to collect ballot initiative signatures to report the expenditures to the secretary of state.
Idaho used to have a law banning paying signature gatherers on a per-signature basis, but a court struck this law down in 2001 in Idaho Coalition United for Bears v. Cenarrusa.[7]
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 & Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Idaho requires that petition circulators are residents of the state. Similar laws in other states have been overturned, but the U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on the matter.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1807
Idaho requires badges for paid petition circulators; requires circulators to verbally notify potential signers that they are being paid, and a disclosure to be printed on petitions.
See law: Senate Bill 1377
In Idaho, the Legislature passed a bill to prohibit electronic signatures for ballot initiative petitions in 2021.[8]
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1807
In Idaho, petitioners have 18 months to collect signatures after the ballot title has been granted. Signatures may not be collected after April 30 of the year in which the measure would appear on the ballot. Signatures must be filed by the close of business on May 1 and cannot be collected after April 30.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1802
Once signatures have been collected, state officials must verify that requirements are met and that fraudulent signatures are excluded. States generally employ a random sample process or a full verification of signatures. After verification, the issue must be prepared for the ballot. This often involves preparing a fiscal review and ballot summary.
In Idaho, each petition signature is verified by the county clerks and transmitted to the secretary of state. Petitions must contain signatures from only one county and should be filed with the appropriate county clerk.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1802
The short and long ballot titles are assigned when the proposal is submitted for review. The short title is only a few, descriptive words. The long ballot title concisely explains the purpose of the measure. A generic ballot title and number (e.g. Proposition 1, Proposition 2, etc...) is assigned according to the order in which the measures are filed with the secretary.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1802 and Section 34-1810
Ballot measures face additional challenges beyond qualifying for the ballot and receiving a majority of the vote. Several states require ballot measures to get more than a simple majority. While some states mandate a three-fifths supermajority, other states set the margin differently. In addition, ballot measures may face legal challenges or modifications by legislators. If a ballot measure does fail, some states limit how soon that initiative can be re-attempted.
Idaho initiatives do not require a supermajority for approval. This also applies to legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article XX, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1803
State law sets the earliest possible and the default effective date for statewide ballot initiatives to be July 1 in the year following the election. Initiatives can set effective dates that are later than July 1 of the following year.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1803
Any person may challenge a ballot title in the Idaho Supreme Court within 20 days. Any time after the attorney general has reviewed a proposal, any qualified elector may challenge the constitutionality of the measure in the Supreme Court. If a petition fails to qualify for the ballot, any citizen may challenge the decision in the State District Court for the Fourth Judicial District within 10 days. The decision of the district court can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1808 and Section 34-1809
Idaho does not limit how soon, or with what majority, the legislature can repeal a measure.[9]
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Idaho does not limit how soon an initiative can be re-attempted.[10]
See law: Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1 and Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18
Some of the notable features of Idaho's campaign finance law include:
Article III of the Idaho Constitution provides authority for the initiative and referendum process.
Title 34, Chapter 18 of the Idaho Statutes governs the initiative and referendum process.
State of Idaho Boise (capital) | |
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Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
Contents |
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1 Laws and procedures |
2 Changes in the law |
2.1 Proposed changes by year |
2.1.1 2022 |
2.1.2 2021 |
2.1.3 2010 |
2.1.4 2019 |
2.1.5 2018 |
2.1.6 2017 |
2.1.7 2016 |
2.1.8 2015 |
2.1.9 2014 |
2.1.10 2013 |
The following laws have been proposed that modify ballot measure law in Idaho. If a box is empty for any given year, it means Ballotpedia did not track any ballot measure or recall-related laws in that year.
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Reclaim Idaho v. Denney[edit]On August 21, 2021, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that Senate Bill 1110 (SB 1110), passed earlier in the year, was unconstitutional. SB 1110 was designed to change the signature distribution requirement for ballot initiatives from 6% of voters in 18 (of 35) state legislative districts to 6% of voters in all 35 legislative districts.[1] The Idaho Supreme Court held, "Ultimately, the effect of SB 1110 is to prevent a perceived, yet unsubstantiated fear of the 'tyranny of the majority,' by replacing it with an actual 'tyranny of the minority.' This would result in a scheme that squarely conflicts with the democratic ideals that form the bedrock of the constitutional republic created by the Idaho Constitution, and seriously undermines the people's initiative and referendum powers enshrined therein." While striking down SB 1110, the Court did not address the previous distribution requirement. "In so ruling, we clarify that we have not decided the question of whether section 34-1805, with its 18 legislative district requirement, is also unconstitutional," read the opinion.[1] |
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Idaho House Bill 109 was designed to do the following:
Idaho House Joint Resolution 3 was designed to amend the state's constitution to reduce the supermajority requirement to pass local bond measures from a two-thirds (66.67%) vote to a 60 percent requirement. As a constitutional amendment, this proposal would have required voter approval had it passed the legislature. |
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The following bills were introduced in the Idaho State Legislature:
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Idaho senate bills 1108 and 1191 were approved in 2013.
The following bills were introduced in the Idaho State Legislature: SB 1026: Amends existing law relating to initiative and referendum elections to revise provisions relating to the form of certain petitions; revises provisions relating to certain signature sheets; revises provisions relating to the number of signatures required on certain petitions; revises provisions relating to certain petitions and signature sheets. SB 1108: Amends existing law relating to initiative and referendum elections to revise signature requirements. Adds geographic distribution requirements. Revises provisions relating to the form of petitions to include legislative district on the signature sheet. SB 1191: Amends petition format requirements, removes certain petition signature requirements, removes language from circulator oath and adds certification that circulator believes signer has noted correct address. |
The following bills were introduced in the Idaho State Legislature: Idaho House Bill 452 (2012): Bill description/summary: "The legislation adds requirements of the taxing district to provide a statement as to the purpose for which the bonds are to be used, disclose the interest amount of the bonds, and to disclose when the bonds will be paid off or retired." |
No proposed changes were identified in 2011.
No proposed changes were identified in 2010.
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State of Idaho Boise (capital) | |
---|---|
Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |