Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding voting by absentee ballot.

This legislation sets specific requirements for the use of absentee ballots. With the increased use of Absentee ballots—as high as 30% of the vote total in the most recent election—it is important that we specify the reason and purpose of the absentee ballots. Though the use of absentee ballots has been expanded in recent years, largely because of the Covid-19 scare, its original intent was to provide access to voters who were physically unable to vote for reasons beyond their control. Its use was never intended as a convenience, which is what it has most recently become. Broadening the use of absentee ballots also opens Idaho up to potential voter fraud, astheCommissiononFederalElectionReformdeclared“absenteeballotsremainthelargestsourceofpotential voter fraud,” a concern reiterated by voting equipment manufacturer ES & S. This legislation addresses those issues by eliminating no-excuse absentee ballots, while preserving the rights of those unable to vote in person because of reasons beyond their control.