Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding voter identification and proof of residence.

The purpose of this legislation is to clarify and create uniformity in voter registration requirements. Currently, there are inconsistencies among the various methods of registering, as well as lack of clarity concerning the type of documentation an applicant must show to prove residence in order to complete registration. To standardize the voter registration process, this legislation requires that applicants submit a completed application, show proof of identity, and show proof of residence, regardless of the manner of registration. In addition, by specifying the acceptable documentation required to prove identity and residence, this legislation prevents any uncertainty for applicants and election officials. Given the lack of uniformity in the sophistication of student ID cards, such cards are no longer a valid form of personal identification to vote at the polls. As an alternative, this legislation requires the Idaho Department of Transportation (“ITD”) to issue no-fee identification cards for the purpose of complying with voter registration and voting requirements.