Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, signed legislation on April 17 that raises the bar for ballot initiatives, effectively giving rural residents a greater say in shaping the state’s legal landscape.
By signing Senate Bill 1110, Little implemented a change to Idaho’s ballot initiative framework, which previously required signatures from 6 percent of voters in 18 legislative districts, but now needs 6 percent from all 35 of the state’s districts for new legislation to be placed on the ballot for a popular vote. The change, requiring signatures to be collected from a much wider area, will mean urban centers will have less clout.
