Adds to existing law to prohibit the collection of ballots and to provide exceptions.
ELECTIONS -- Adds to existing law to prohibit the collection of ballots and to provide exceptions.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This legislation addresses the issue of "ballot harvesting" - which is the practice of third party individuals and groups, many of them political activists or political parties, "harvesting" absentee or mail ballots from voters and then delivering them to election officials for processing and counting. This legislation would prohibit this practice by limiting ballot handling to those authorized to do so pursuant to Idaho law. Idaho does not currently experience significant problems with ballot harvesting. However, it has become a widespread practice in some other states, where its practice places many voters' ballots, and the sanctity of their vote, into the hands of those who may have a conflicted interest in the election's outcome. These individuals may have a political incentive to deliver to the county clerk certain ballots, but not others, based on the ballot harvester's perception or knowledge of the voter's choices. The specifics of this legislation are based on the recommendations of the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, in their 2005 report Building Confidence in U.S. Elections. The legislation would limit ballot handling to election officials, U.S. Mail carriers, employees of nationwide parcel delivery businesses, and acknowledged family members.
HOW THEY VOTED
House Third Reading
YEA (53)
NAY (15)
ABSENT / NOT VOTING (2)
LATEST ACTION
Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs