Panel votes today on Idaho initiatives bill

The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee will vote today on a bill that would make it harder for initiatives to reach voters on a ballot.

As it stands, initiative sponsors need at least 6% of a legislative district’s signatures from 18 of the state’s 35 districts. The legislation in Senate Bill 1110 would require signatures from at least 6% of voters from all 35 districts.

The author of the bill — Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens — said the measure would level what he sees as an imbalanced playing field.

“Having grown up in a rural area, I see there is a potential, even in a state like Idaho, for urban areas to have more of a say than rural areas,” Vick told the Coeur d’Alene Press. “Idaho is a very diverse state. Sometimes the southern portion has interests that aren’t necessarily aligned with the north.”

Compared to neighboring states, Idaho doesn’t see many citizen initiatives make the ballot, and those that do seldom pass. Since 2013, when the initiative requirements expanded to 18 districts, only two managed to make it to the ballot.

Luke Mayville, a Sandpoint High graduate and co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, said SB 1110 would likely be the death knell for any future citizen initiatives in Idaho.

“Senate Bill 1110 would very likely prevent all future grassroots initiatives from appearing on the ballot,” Mayville said. “At the same time, Sen. Vick’s bill would protect the rights of wealthy, out-of-state interests that want to place an initiative on the ballot. The barriers created by Sen. Vick’s bill will block initiatives led by ordinary Idaho citizens, but those same barriers will be easy to clear for initiatives backed by millions of dollars.”

Mayville helped organize those in opposition to SB 1110 to voice their concerns to State Affairs Wednesday. More than 100 showed up (virtually, in many cases) to testify both in favor and against the bill.

Because of time constraints, only 25 were allowed to speak on the matter. Many from rural areas spoke in favor of SB 1110, while many who have been involved with past initiative drives spoke against it.

When asked to clarify what he meant by “wealthy, out-of-state interests,” Mayville said well-financed organizations could still back initiatives with resources grassroots organizations simply do not possess.

“If a big-money organization is required to collect signatures from 6% of voters in all 35 districts, they can simply spend more money, hire more people, and get it done,” he said. “This is not the case for ordinary citizens, who already find it extremely difficult to put an initiative on the ballot under the current rules.”

Testimony will continue today at 7 a.m. Pacific Time before State Affairs holds a vote, though only those who originally signed up to testify Wednesday will be allowed to speak today. Vick said he is optimistic SB 1110 will clear the committee.