Bill: S 1168 RELATING TO ELECTIONS; TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS REGARDING FUNDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS. 

Bill Description: Legislative purpose for this bill: In 2020, private grant money came into Idaho at the county elections level. The integrity of our elections becomes vulnerable if outside influence is allowed. This bill establishes that our elections must be funded by only appropriations from federal, state, or local government entities. FISCAL NOTE There is no cost to this action, as it only sets policy, however, those counties that have received private grant money will see a reduction in their available funds. 

Bill Status: Passes the Senate. Sent to House State Affairs.

League position: OPPOSE – The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. (Citizen’s Right to Vote The League’s Position Statement of Position on Citizen’s Right to Vote, as announced by the National Board, March 1982) 

Take action. Contact House State Affairs Committee members.

Chris Mathias CMathias [at] house.idaho.gov

Talking points on S 1168:

• This bill caps support for elections at $100. The sponsor claims to have been shocked at the financial support 20 counties in Idaho received in grants from a private funder to spend the money on nonpartisan efforts to cover additional expenses of holding elections during the pandemic. Additionally, the sponsor wants accountability and transparency. This bill does neither; it just eliminates the option of nonpartisan support for elections under the guise of “undue influence” without any evidence of such.
• Historically, voting has been difficult for many groups of American citizens who have the constitutional right to vote especially new voters, students, low-income voters, rural voters, and people of color.
• In light of the 2013 decision, private philanthropies have increased funding for a variety of nonpartisan efforts to improve voter access. According to the Carnegie report, “Voting Rights Under Fire” from 2019, “funders have increased support for voting litigation, policy research, and voter protection effort to ensure those who are eligible can have their voice heard in our democracy through their constitutional right to vote.”
• The perpetual underfunding of elections by the government at all levels in technology, poll-worker training, polling places, basic voter information and education, and more have contributed to accessibility issues. This bill cuts off a nonpartisan source of funding without providing or even researching how much money would be needed across the state to improve access to all eligible voters who want to exercise their constitutional right to vote.