STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS29548C1 / S1375
Under current Idaho election law, voter ID requirements are confusing and inconsistent across the many
methods to register and to vote. This bill cleans up the confusion and offers a consistent panel of acceptable
voter ID in order to prove identity, age, residence, and citizenship.
This bill also takes the following actions:
1. Requires an Idaho Driver’s License or Idaho State ID card produced by ITD.
2. Removes student IDs and military IDs due to lack of citizenship requirement.
3. Sunsets the use of Personal Affidavits in Lieu of photo ID on July 1, 2023.
4. Requires ITD to offer a free State ID card to those who cannot afford one.
5. Those registering to vote online or by mail must vote for the first time in person.
6. Removes the ability to send absentee ballots by fax or digital methods, with exceptions for military overseas
voters.
7. Requires Absentee ballot envelopes to include both voter signature and last 4# of ID.
8. Requires the signature and last 4# of ID for any person carrying another voter’s ballot.
9. States that Absentee ballots must be returned by mail or hand delivered to the elections staff.
FISCAL NOTE
Costs for this bill are: State ID cards for those who cannot afford one could cost approximately $16,000. This
is based on the 3200 voters who voted in the 2020 election without ID by signing a Personal Affidavit. Cost to
the state for an ID card is $5.00 according to the DMV. The DMV will administer the program and invoice the
SOS monthly.
There will be additional costs for design changes to the Absentee Ballot envelopes, but there will be cost savings
for election staff time as Affidavits are phased out. Increased staffing will be needed for accepting Absentee
ballots delivered to elections staff. These costs should be offset by grants from the SOS to the counties.
Contact:
Senator Mary Souza
(208) 332-1000
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: 03/04/2022, 9:36 AM
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: 03/04/2022, 9:36 AM


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 34-408A, 34-409, 34-410, 34-411, 34-1002, 34-1003, 34-1004, 34-1005, 34-1113, 34-1114