STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS28374 / H0106
Idaho's election laws provide for four possible election dates each year - March, May, August and November.
This legislation would eliminate the August election date. With four dates, the current election calendar
provides no time in which county clerks are not either finishing tasks associated with the last election,
preparing for the next election, or both simultaneously. Eliminating one of these four election dates would
provide a window of time in the election calendar in which the state can take the voter registration system down
for planned maintenance, county clerks can schedule voter registration list maintenance, while also providing
an opportunity for the Secretary of State to provide required training for county clerk election employees.
There are several reasons why this legislation chooses August as the election date to be eliminated. First, it
is the only election at which there are no state or federal elections on the ballot. Second, no taxing districts
have access to the August ballot, apart from school districts, and those only for tax levy elections. And third,
by performing the most thorough voter registration list maintenance at this time, it ensures that Idaho's voter
registration lists will be at their most accurate going into the election at which state, federal, county, and city
officials are elected.
FISCAL NOTE
Eliminating the August election will have a positive fiscal impact for those counties that would otherwise have
had to conduct an election on that date.
Contact:
Representative Vito Barbieri
(208) 332-1000
Representative Randy Armstrong
Jason Hancock
Secretary of State
(208) 334-2852
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN INTRODUCED: 02/08/2021, 9:53 AM


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 34-106