BOISE, Idaho—Two Idaho nonprofit organizations say voting laws enacted in 2023 have made it more difficult for eligible residents to register and cast ballots, while Secretary of State Phil McGrane maintains that voters have multiple ways to meet the state’s identification and residency requirements.
Babe Vote and the League of Women Voters of Idaho, two groups that advocate for expanded voting access, argue that the state’s voting requirements create obstacles for students, older residents and organizations conducting voter registration drives.
The groups say stricter identification and proof-of-residency requirements have complicated efforts to register voters and could discourage participation among people who lack readily available documentation.
McGrane has disputed concerns that the laws have significantly reduced voter registration among younger Idahoans. He said registration numbers for residents ages 18 to 25 have remained consistent.
The secretary of state also emphasized that Idaho provides multiple methods for voters to establish their identity and residency when registering or voting.
The dispute centers partly on two laws approved in 2023. House Bill 124 eliminated student identification cards as an acceptable form of voter identification, while House Bill 340 changed documentation requirements for voter registration, including proof of identity and residency.
Voting rights advocates contend the changes disproportionately affect young voters and residents who may have difficulty obtaining the required documents.
The organizations challenged the laws in court, arguing that the restrictions violated constitutional protections for voting. An Idaho district judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2023, and the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the dismissal in April 2024.
The courts concluded that the requirements did not unlawfully discriminate against voters and that the state had a legitimate interest in maintaining election integrity.
McGrane said student identification cards were rarely used before the changes. According to his office, just 104 voters used student IDs during the November 2022 election, when more than 400,000 voters were checked in statewide.
His office has also pointed to voter education efforts, including informational mailings and advertising, intended to help residents understand registration requirements and available identification options.
Babe Vote and the League of Women Voters maintain that the restrictions create unnecessary obstacles, particularly for first-time voters and people who rely on student identification or other documents no longer accepted under the laws.
The disagreement comes ahead of Idaho’s Nov. 3 general election, with voting rights organizations continuing registration and outreach efforts while state officials defend the existing requirements.