Back again: Bill to limit absentee ballots introduced in Idaho House committee
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BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — A North Idaho legislator on Tuesday introduced a bill intended to limit who can receive an absentee ballot.
Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, told the Idaho House State Affairs Committee the bill’s purpose is to prevent fraud. According to the bill’s statement of purpose, the absentee ballot was “never intended as a convenience,” and it was meant to provide access to voters with a physical infirmity, an illness and those with work restrictions.
Currently, any registered voter in Idaho may request an absentee ballot to be mailed to their address. But the bill would change this policy, allowing only the following Idahoans to request an absentee ballot:
- Those on active military service
- Those experiencing an illness, disability or hospitalization
- Those working or attending university
- Those on a religious mission
- Those occupying a second home or residents outside of their home county on the day of the election
- Those 65 years old or older
- Those living in a mail ballot precinct
Idaho legislators have introduced similar bills in the past, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported, but they did not make it past the early stages of the Idaho House side.
Legislators concerned about absentee voting bill
According to VoteIdaho.gov, an official website run by the Idaho Secretary of State, more than 173,300 individuals submitted an absentee ballot during the 2024 general election, 56% of whom were registered Republicans.
Given the popularity of absentee voting in Idaho, Republicans and Democrats on the committee shared their concerns about the bill.
Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise, said the bill favors older people, and he would like to see real examples of absentee ballots causing voter fraud. Additionally, he said Idahoans cannot predict if they’ll fall sick on Election Day and need to request an absentee ballot.
Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, agreed that the bill favors older people, and pointed out that there is no exception for mothers, especially in rural areas, with multiple children.
“My daughter, I think she might have to go 20 miles (to vote), right?” Michelsen said. “I don’t see anything in here that addresses the needs of young families, young mothers… Are we trying to limit people’s participation and their voice by running this?”
The committee voted to advance Alfieri’s bill, clearing the way for a full hearing in the coming days or weeks.