Lawsuit challenges Idaho’s new ballot initiative process
BOISE, Idaho (AP) Two groups on Friday filed a lawsuit with the Idaho Supreme Court challenging the state’s new law making it more difficult to get voter initiatives or referendums on ballots.
A group that has had previous ballot initiative success and another comprised of attorneys committed to defending Idaho’s Constitution filed the lawsuit against Secretary of State Lawerence Denney.
Reclaim Idaho and the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution said the new law violates the state’s constitution because it makes the ballot initiative process impossible.
The groups are seeking an injunction to prevent the state from enforcing the law until the lawsuit is decided on its merits. The law went into effect with Republican Gov. Brad Little’s signature on April 17.
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Amid growing concerns that Republicans will try to use new voting laws to overturn elections in the wake of a campaign of lies stoking unfounded fears about vote-rigging, GOP-led state legislatures across the country are already trying to reverse popular ballot initiatives approved by majorities of voters.
Missouri voters last year passed a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. Arizona approved a new tax on the wealthy to fund schools. South Dakota legalized marijuana. But Republicans are trying to block those measures from being implemented and dozens of state legislatures are pushing new bills to make it harder to get voter initiatives on the ballot in the first place.
Lawsuit filed to overturn new initiative laws as unconstitutional argusobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from argusobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Reclaim Idaho says this latest measure would make it nearly impossible get initiatives on the ballot. Author: KTVB Staff Updated: 4:52 PM MDT May 7, 2021
BOISE, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed legislation last month making it more difficult to get initiatives or referendums on ballots in Idaho.
Little vetoed similar legislation in 2019 out of concern a federal court could find it unconstitutional and dictate the state’s ballot initiative process.
Reclaim Idaho says this latest measure would make it nearly impossible get initiatives on the ballot and have filed suit in the Idaho Supreme Court to strike down the law as unconstitutional.
Lawsuit challenges Idaho s new ballot initiative process
KEITH RIDLER, Associated Press
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) Two groups on Friday filed a lawsuit with the Idaho Supreme Court challenging the state s new law making it more difficult to get voter initiatives or referendums on ballots.
A group that has had previous ballot initiative success and another comprised of attorneys committed to defending Idaho’s Constitution filed the lawsuit against Secretary of State Lawerence Denney.
Reclaim Idaho and the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution said the new law violates the state’s constitution because it makes the ballot initiative process impossible.