KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho voters will decide on an amendment to the state’s constitution that would exclude any non-citizens from voting in Idaho elections.
Opponents of the bill say the amendment is unnecessary because citizenship is already required to vote.
Supporters of the resolution say it would clarify the requirements for voting since they say the current language does not expressly prohibit non-citizens from voting.
The ACLU of Idaho said this bill would potentially fuel anti-immigrant and racist sentiments.
If the resolution passes, it would add the sentence “No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be a qualified elector in any election held within the state of Idaho” to the state’s constitution.
State Representative Elaine Price (R – Coeur d’Alene) said the bill is mainly targeted for state elections.
“There has been legislation tried in the past to give non-citizens drivers licenses so that is concerning,” Rep. Price said.
In 2023, Senate Bill 1081 was introduced to the state legislature. It aimed to give everyone who lived in the state and met criteria to get a driver’s license, regardless of citizenship status. The bill was referred back to the State Affairs committee and not signed into law during that legislative session.
One statement of opposition to the measure says election fraud by non citizens attempting to vote is not a significant issue in the state.
The ACLU of Idaho also wrote a statement in opposition to the resolution, saying it could cost taxpayers $200,000 if it is passed.
Other statements of opposition say this bill could become a barrier to registering to vote for new citizens or state residents in the future.
Federal statuses already make it a crime for non-citizens to vote in any federal election.
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
