Humble seeks Idaho secretary of state office

COEUR d’ALENE — Jill Humble isn’t content with the way Idahoans vote. She wants to make the process easier, and to bring more people into the voting booth.

The Democratic nominee for Idaho Secretary of State said she hadn’t intended on running this year, but was persuaded to do so by some friends. She felt her skills as a nurse and administrator were a good fit for the job, which oversees the elections process among other duties. “I believe in our democracy,” she said Monday.

The Carrington College-Boise dean of nursing said her experience managing people, being responsible for confidential records, and improving processes in health care equip her with the tools needed to succeed as secretary of state.

Humble favors voting by mail and would like to see it expanded to more Idaho precincts. Voting by mail gives seniors and those who might be deterred by bad weather more options to make their voices heard, she explained.

The experience of Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and other states that utilize voting by mail has shown that the process is secure and cost-effective, Humble said. However, she shied away from voting by smartphones due to possible hacking. “I wouldn’t take a chance with that,” she said.

Humble would also like adults 18 years of age and older to be automatically registered to vote when they get a driver’s license or change their home address.

You’d still have to show identification at the polls, she said. “I just want to make it so that when you’re ready to vote, it’s there for you,” she explained. Other states that automatically register voters see higher turnout and shorter lines on election day, Humble said.

Additionally, she would like to give Idaho voters the option to permanently request an absentee ballot. That way, they wouldn’t have to renew their absentee ballot requests each year, and county clerks wouldn’t have to process those requests, she said. County officials she has spoken with say that would save counties money, Humble said.

Felons who have done their time need to know that they can get their voting rights restored, she added. She said that during this year’s campaign she has met three former felons who didn’t know they could vote again. One had been done with his time for 20 years, she said.

As to non-citizens voting, Humble deferred to the state Legislature. San Francisco voters approved a 2016 measure allowing non-citizen parents of children in their local schools to vote in school board elections. Other states and municipalities have entertained similar proposals in recent years.

However, Humble said she would like the secretary of state’s office to offer voter registration forms in Spanish. Referring to citizens who may speak but not read English, Humble said “Their votes are important.”

Humble said according to her opponent, Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, there haven’t been voter fraud issues in Idaho. She therefore questioned the propriety of his handing over Idaho voter data for a cross-check of voter rolls.

She also said it seems like the Land Board, of which the secretary of state is a part, is “making decisions without good data.” Humble said she wants to see Idaho’s lands protected, and expressed concern about fracking leases across the state.

Fracking is dangerous for the environment, Humble said. “Let’s keep our state pure. Let’s fight it tooth and nail.”