IdahoIdaho law separates issue questions from candidate ballots
Starting July 1, 2026, Idaho’s secretary of state must provide separate ballot forms when voters decide constitutional amendments or other issues.
What it does
At Idaho general elections, the law calls for one ballot listing each party’s nominees, with write-in space when needed, plus separate forms for constitutional amendments and other issues.
Argument forSeparate forms could help voters distinguish ballot questions from candidates for office.
Argument againstSeparate forms could mean voters have to handle more than one ballot form at a general election.
More detail
The law calls for one general election ballot listing each party’s nominees, with room for write-in candidates when needed, and separate forms for constitutional amendments and other issues. These rules apply at Idaho general elections; separate forms are required when voters decide constitutional amendments or other issues. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
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Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 1Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 31, 2026 Session Law Chapter 227 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 12:31 p.m. on March 30, 2026To Governor
- Mar 30Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 30Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 30Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 27Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 26Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Read third time in full – PASSED - 34-0-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – SemmelrothFloor Sponsor - BerntTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 24Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 23Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Introduced, read first time; referred to: State AffairsMinor
- Mar 17Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 16Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 66-2-2AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug(Chadwick), Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, MathiasAbsent – Haws, WheelerFloor Sponsor - Tanner(13)Title apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 13Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Reported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Mar 11Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting