Latest news with #PhilMcGrane
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho Supreme Court hands down mixed ruling in abortion-rights ballot lawsuit
The Idaho Supreme Court partially ruled in favor of a nonprofit that sued state officials over what the group called 'misleading, inaccurate and prejudicial' proposals for a ballot initiative to let Idaho residents vote on abortions rights and other reproductive health care. Idahoans United for Women and Families, which formed last year in response to concerns about women's health care, sued Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Secretary of State Phil McGrane and Idaho Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolff in January. The nonprofit said the officials chose confusing wording and left out key elements when crafting the language that could appear on voters' ballots in the future if the measure meets qualifications. Idaho voters can change or create state law through ballot initiatives, which are also called ballot measures. Proposals are submitted to the Secretary of State's Office, and the AG's office writes 'ballot titles' for the proposal. The titles, a long version and then a shorter version, are what appear on official ballots if enough signatures are gathered to support the proposal. Idahoans United's measure, which the group called the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, would legalize abortion up to fetal viability or in the event of a medical emergency. It would also guarantee a right to privacy for reproductive health care decisions including contraception and fertility treatments. The group hopes to have the measure on voters' ballots next year. The court ruled that the AG's office failed to fully and comprehensively describe all four aspects of the initiative in its short title, but ruled against Idahoans United over its complaints against using the term 'fetus viability,' rather than 'fetal viability,' in the long and short titles. It also ruled that the long title the AG's office filed was legal and appropriate. The Supreme Court also ruled unanimously that the Division of Financial Management failed to establish a factual basis for its estimated financial impact and to comply with requirements that its fiscal impact statement be clear and concise. The fiscal impact statement is meant to help voters understand any financial implications of approving proposed legislation. Lead organizer Melanie Folwell told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview that the ruling was 'a substantial win on the issues that were of highest priority for us.' 'Today's ruling is a significant victory for fairness and transparency in Idaho's election process,' Folwell added in an emailed statement. 'We are grateful that the Idaho Supreme Court recognized the importance of providing voters with clear, accurate and impartial information about ballot initiatives.' Representatives for the Division of Financial Management and Idaho Attorney General's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both offices were ordered to provide revised documents within seven days of the ruling. Folwell said Idahoans United hopes to have acceptable ballot measure titles by the end of June to begin collecting voter signatures around the state. It's the second time Labrador has been sued over ballot initiative titles during the Republican's tenure as attorney general. In 2023, Idahoans for Open Primaries won a lawsuit against the AG's office in which the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that Labrador's ballot titles did not comply with state law.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Friday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for Idaho's May 20 election
In this file photo from May 2021, an absentee voting drop box was available to voters outside Boise City Hall. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) Friday, May 9 is the deadline for Idahoans to request an absentee ballot for the upcoming May 20 local elections in Idaho, elections officials announced. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho voters have until 5 p.m., local time, on Friday to request an absentee ballot, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the Idaho Secretary of State's Office. Idaho voters can request an absentee ballot online for free at the official state election website run by the Idaho Secretary of State's Office. However, in order to request an absentee ballot, voters first must be registered to vote, elections officials said. Anyone who is not yet registered to vote may still register to vote at their polling place and vote on Election Day. Voters can find their polling place, review their sample ballot and more at On May 20, local elections will take place in 37 of Idaho's 44 counties. The specific elections voters get to participate in vary depending on where the voter lives, but local elections like library districts, highway districts, school district bond issues or supplemental levies, auditorium districts or hospital districts are being voted on across the state. CONTACT US 'This May, there are some important races happening in Idaho,' Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said in a written statement. 'Across 37 counties, voters will have the chance to weigh in on candidates and issues, from highway districts in Canyon County, water and sewer districts in Eagle, to a library levy in Burley. I encourage all Idahoans to take part in the May 20 election.' While voters in Blaine, Butte, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Lemhi and Washington counties do not have any elections on May 20, voters in all other Idaho counties do have elections on their ballots. In Ada County, there are several important elections, depending on where voters live. In the Meridian Library District, there are four candidates running for two available library district trustee positions. In the Greater Boise Auditorium District, there are four candidates running for two available seats on the board. In the Ada County Free Library District, there are six candidates running for two available trustee seats. 'Local elections are a powerful way to shape the decisions that affect our daily lives,' McGrane said. If voters do not wish to vote by absentee ballot, polls will be open across Idaho for in-person voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time, on May 20. Ada County Elections Office, 400 N. Benjamin Lane, Suite 100, Boise Eagle City Hall, 660 E. Civic Lane Meridian City Hall, 33 E. Broadway Ave. Kuna City Hall, 751 W. Fourth St. Boise City Hall, 150 N. Capitol Blvd. Star City Hall, 10769 W. State St. All completed absentee ballots must be received by elections officials no later than when the polls close at 8 p.m. May 20. For voters turning in completed absentee ballots by mail, those ballots also need to be sent in time so elections officials receive them by 8 p.m. May 20. It is not enough to simply have the return envelope postmarked by Election Day – in order for the votes to count, elections officials must have physically received the ballots by the time polls close. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After biennial cleanup, 144,000 individuals removed from Idaho voter rolls
Voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) County election offices have removed more than 144,000 individuals from Idaho's voter rolls after recently completing voter registration maintenance required every two years under Idaho law. Following the voter roll clean up, there are 1,017,691 remaining registered voters in Idaho — a shift from the 1,178,750 individuals registered as voters during the 2024 general election, the Idaho Secretary of State's website shows. Election offices regularly update their voter rolls, removing individuals who moved out of state, those who have not cast a ballot in four years, or those who are ineligible. Elections offices sent notices to people who were removed from Idaho's voter registration list. The biennial effort is meant to ensure the accuracy and integrity of Idaho elections, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's office. 'Ensuring the integrity of our elections starts with maintaining accurate voter rolls,' Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said in a press release. 'Thanks to the hard work of our county clerks and our collaboration with state and federal agencies, Idaho continues to lead the way in protecting our elections. We are committed to ensuring that only eligible voters are on our rolls, and we are taking every step necessary to make that happen.' Additionally, in July, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order, the 'Only Citizens Will Vote Act,' focused on ensuring only U.S. citizens can vote — even though non-U.S. citizens are already not allowed to vote in nearly all U.S. elections. But some places outside of Idaho allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in local elections, according to Idaho was the first state to implement an executive order of this kind, ordering the Secretary of State to coordinate with the Idaho Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to check immigration records. 'This effort underscores Idaho's commitment to ensuring that only eligible citizens are on our voter rolls,' McGrane said. 'Our partnership with state and federal agencies has provided additional safeguards to protect the integrity of Idaho's elections.' Voters can check their registration status and learn more about elections in Idaho at SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
