This bill amends various sections of the Idaho Code to establish and regulate presidential primaries, defining them as elections held on the first Tuesday in March during presidential election years. It introduces new requirements for presidential primary candidates, including a declaration of candidacy and a filing fee, as well as procedures for candidate removal and election conduct. The state will cover the costs associated with these primaries. Additionally, the bill revises laws regarding party affiliation changes, allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in presidential primaries if permitted by the political parties, while ensuring that their unaffiliated status remains unchanged.

Moreover, the bill mandates that unaffiliated voters declare their choice to election personnel when voting in a primary, which will be recorded in the voter registration system. It also introduces provisions for a postelection audit of selected ballots, including those from presidential primaries, with the Secretary of State responsible for ordering these audits after county canvasses. The audit process will involve hand recounts and comparisons with reported results, and the costs will be covered by the Secretary of State's office. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 34-102, 34-106, 34-411A, 34-601, 34-713, 34-904A, 34-1203A