A bill to restrict who is eligible to receive an absentee ballot was introduced by a North Idaho lawmaker on Tuesday.
The Idaho House State Affairs Committee was informed by Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, that the goal of the bill is to stop fraud. The bill’s statement of purpose states that the absentee ballot was never supposed to be a convenience but rather to give voters with physical disabilities, illnesses, or work-related restrictions access.
Any Idaho voter who is currently registered may ask for an absentee ballot to be mailed to their residence.However, the measure would alter this rule so that only the following Idaho residents could ask for an absentee ballot:
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Those on active military service
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Those experiencing an illness, disability or hospitalization
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Those working or attending university
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Those on a religious mission
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Those occupying a second home or residents outside of their home county on the day of the election
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Those 65 years old or older
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Those living in a mail ballot precinct
The Idaho Capital Sun previously noted that similar measures had been submitted by Idaho lawmakers in the past, but they failed to go past the preliminary stages of the Idaho House side.
Lawmakers are worried about the law requiring absentee voting.
VoteIdaho.gov, the official website of the Secretary of State of Idaho, reports that 56% of the more than 173,300 people who cast absentee ballots in the general election of 2024 were registered Republicans.
Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee expressed worries about the plan, given the prevalence of absentee voting in Idaho.
The bill, according to Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise, favors the elderly, and he wants to see concrete instances of voter fraud brought on by absentee ballots. He added that Idahoans must request an absentee ballot since they cannot foretell whether they will become ill on election day.
Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, concurred that the law benefits the elderly, but she also noted that moms with several children, particularly those living in rural areas, are not exempt.
I believe my kid may have to travel twenty miles to cast her ballot. “Michelsen said.” Nothing in this article seems to be addressing the requirements of young mothers and families. By doing this, are we attempting to restrict people’s ability to participate and express themselves?
In order to prepare for a full hearing in the upcoming days or weeks, the committee decided to move forward with Alfieri’s measure.
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