Idaho State Capitol – On Monday, the Idaho House of Representatives voted to approve House Bill 322. The legislation sets a deadline for voter registration for the presidential primary in March. In December, the Attorney General sent a letter to the Secretary of State explaining that voters could change their party affiliation up to the day of the election. This bill sets the deadline 90 days before the presidential primary elections. The emergency clause created in Section 2 would put the bill into effect immediately after being signed into law by the Governor. This clause has the potential to trap thousands of voters who had not previously changed their affiliation.
Representative Brooke Green/(D-Boise) reached out to the Attorney General for an opinion on the bill. The AG opinion concluded the emergency clause would be retroactive to the bill.
“The emergency clause of this bill pulls the rug out on thousands of voters who believed they still had time to change their party affiliation,” Green explained. “Voters deserve the opportunity to change their affiliation to accurately represent their beliefs in this election cycle. If voters are not awarded the opportunity to vote for the party they align with, Idaho stands to see lower voter turnout.”
“The Attorney General opinion concluded that the emergency clause would be retroactive. Trapping voters without any opportunity to change their affiliation could disenfranchise thousands of voters. If the emergency clause is removed then this bill provides voters enough time to change their affiliation.”
“Trapping voters into their party affiliation is illegal and unethical. As a legislature, it is our job to make sure our constituents have ample opportunity to vote for the party and the candidate that they chose. This bill suppresses the voices of Idaho voters.”