The governor of Idaho signs the bill making it harder for voters to put initiatives to the vote

Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) on Saturday signed a bill that would make it harder for voters to get initiatives on the ballot.

Poorly drawn Senate Bill 110 Saturday, which states that signatures from six percent of voters in the state’s 35 legislative districts are needed to get an initiative on the vote.

Before the law was signed, six percent of voters in at least 18 legislative districts were needed.

The measure came into effect immediately upon the signing of Little.

In a transfer letter In explaining its decision to sign, Little explains that “Idaho has a vital interest in ensuring that our ballots are not confused with initiatives that do not show adequate grassroots support.”

“Senate Bill 110 has a laudable goal of ensuring that initiatives have a minimal level of support throughout Idaho before being put to the vote,” he wrote.

He noted that state and federal courts may have to decide whether the bill is constitutional. However, he said there was good reason to believe that the ‘neutral regulations in this bill are constitutionally permissible’.

“I appreciate that the signing of this bill will be controversial,” Little wrote. “Very few issues elicit such strong feelings from both sides of the debate.”

Opponents of the measure were concerned that the bill would make it virtually impossible to get measures put to the vote, reports The Associated Press. Some see it as an attempt to stop the leftist dead in Idaho, such as medical marijuana.

Grassroots Group Reclaim Idaho said in a statement that it has filed a lawsuit over the bill and alleges that it violates the constitution of the state.

Several GOP-led states, including Arizona and South Dakota, are consider similar legislation that increases the requirements for ballot papers, after progressives won a victory in the 2020 election.

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