Former Justice drops off 16,000 signatures to governor

Former Justice Jim Jones delivered 16,000 petition signatures to Gov. Brad Little on Thursday and called on him to veto Senate Bill 1110, which would change Idaho’s ballot initiative process.

“People are concerned about Senate Bill 1110, which will make it almost impossible to get an initiative or referendum on the ballot,” former Justice Jones said.

The bill would require organizers to gather signatures of at least 6 percent of registered voters in all 35 legislative districts to get a citizen initiative on the ballot. Signature gatherers are now required to secure 6 percent of registered voters in 18 districts.

Jones said the signatures are by Idahoans from both rural and urban areas across the state from over 200 towns.

“It’s not a fight between the rural voters and the urban voters,” Jones said. “It’s a fight between the people and the lobbyists."