BOISE – A measure that makes it much harder for citizen initiatives or referendums to qualify for the ballot passed the Senate on an 18-17 vote this morning.
The bill now goes to the House, where the Republican caucus has already signaled its support.
The legislation would nearly double the number of signatures needed to qualify an initiative for the ballot, from 6 percent of registered voters to 10 percent. The 10 percent threshold would have to be met in 32 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, up from 18 now. The measure also reduces the time allowed to gather signatures from 18 months to 180 days.
Sens. David Nelson, D-Moscow; Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston; and Carl Crabtree, R-Grangeville, all voted against the measure.