On Monday, the House State Affairs Committee voted 12-2 to send Senate Bill 1110 to the full House, despite overwhelmingly negative testimony against the legislation, which seeks to add additional hurdles to the ballot initiative and referendum process in Idaho.
Rep. Chris Mathias
The two Democrats on the committee, Reps. John Gannon and Chris Mathias, were the only opposing votes. Mathias, who grew up in a rural community, said he believes rural participation is important but doesn’t think the bill actually addresses that concern; instead, it will render Idaho’s Article 3, Section 1, initiative rights, “wholly unexercisable” by those without deep pockets, effectively killing true grassroot, citizen-driven efforts.
The bill passed the full Senate 26-9 last week, with two Republicans joining the seven Democrats in opposition. It requires 6% of signatures of registered voters in all 35 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, rather than in 18 as under current law.
“Through this process, the people are able to act as a check on the Legislature, and either pass laws they want or remove ones they don’t. Idahoans should be active in government and democracy, and this is a way for them to do that,” Mathias said. “This bill, as written, will likely ensure no Idahoan — rural or urban — will ever get to vote on an initiative question again. We need to stand up for this constitutional right, not make it harder for the people to have their voices heard, no matter where they live.”