IdahoIdaho divides some highway districts into five subdistricts
In qualifying Idaho counties, county commissioners divide the county into five subdistricts, and commissioner elections include primaries beginning in 2028.
What it does
In counties that meet the population and voter conditions, county commissioners divide the county into five subdistricts, with no precinct split.
Commissioner elections in the covered districts include primary elections beginning in 2028.
Independent candidates need five voter signatures, and write-in candidates need five primary votes and a filed declaration of intent.
The statewide rule for one nonpartisan ballot does not cover single countywide highway districts.
Argument forDividing a large county into five districts could help residents choose commissioners who live in their part of the county.
Argument againstRequiring each commissioner to live in the subdistrict they represent could limit who can run for a seat, even when other county residents want that candidate.
More detail
County commissioners divide the county into five subdistricts. This applies in a county with more than 200,000 people where voters previously chose to establish a countywide highway district. The subdistricts must be as nearly equal in population as practical, and no precinct may be split. Each commissioner must live in the subdistrict they represent; county commissioners, mayors, and city council members cannot serve as highway district commissioners. The subdistrict provision took effect July 1, 2026.
Commissioner elections include primary elections. This applies to highway district commissioners in the counties covered by the five-subdistrict provision. The primary elections follow Idaho's rules for primary elections. This applies beginning with the 2028 elections.
Candidates for single countywide highway district offices follow county election procedures. These procedures cover party, independent, and write-in candidates for single countywide highway district offices. An independent candidate must file a declaration and a petition with five qualified voters' signatures. A write-in candidate must receive at least five primary votes and file a declaration of intent. Candidate filing dates follow the county deadlines stated for the primary election.
The single nonpartisan ballot rule for highway commissioner elections excludes single countywide highway districts. The exception covers commissioners of single countywide highway districts organized under Idaho law. This provision took effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Signed by Governor Brad Little on 04/10/26 Session Law Chapter 333 Effective: 07/01/2026 SECTION 1-11; 01/01/2027 SECTION 12Became Law
- Apr 2Reported delivered to Governor at 5 p.m. on 04/02/26To Governor
- Apr 2Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 2Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Apr 2Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Apr 2Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Apr 1Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 47-20-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon(Cannon), Cayler, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts(Batt), Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Cheatum, Church, Egbert(Beazer), Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Mathias, McCann, Nelsen, Raybould, Raymond, Rubel, Sauter, VeileAbsent – Manwaring, Weber, WheelerFloor Sponsor - Vander WoudeTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 1Read First Time, Referred to State AffairsMinor
- Apr 1Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Apr 1Read third time in full – PASSED - 19-16-0AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Carlson, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Cook, Foreman, Guthrie, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, WoodwardAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - Den HartogTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1Retained on calendar
- Mar 31Retained on calendar
- Mar 30Retained on calendar
- Mar 27Retained on calendar
- Mar 26Retained on calendar
- Mar 25Retained on calendar
- Mar 24Retained on calendar
- Mar 23Retained on calendar
- Mar 20Retained on calendar
- Mar 17Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 16Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 3Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
- Mar 2Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
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