RS31387C1 / H0599

This legislation addresses the issue of “ballot harvesting” – which is the practice of third party individuals and groups, many of them political activists or political parties, “harvesting” absentee or mail ballots from voters and then delivering them to election officials for processing and counting. This legislation would generally prohibit this practice by limiting ballot handling to those authorized to do so pursuant to Idaho law.

Idaho has not historically experienced ballot harvesting at scale. However, it has become a widespread practice in some other states, where its practice places many voters’ ballots, and the sanctity of their vote, into the hands of those who may have a partisan interest in the election’s outcome. These individuals may have a political incentive to deliver certain ballots to the county clerk, but not others, based on the ballot harvester’s perception, or a social/political database’s report, of the likely choices of the voter.

The specifics of this legislation are informed by the recommendations of the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, in their 2005 report, Building Confidence in U.S. Elections. This legislation would limit ballot handling to election officials, U.S. Mail and common carrier employees and contractors, family members, caregivers, members of the voter’s household, and anyone hired by the voter to convey the ballot.

Between Idaho not historically having had problems with ballot harvesting at scale, and the effect of deterrence, it is not expected that this legislation would result in any additional convictions, or costs associated with such.

Bill Text

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note

Legislative Co-sponsors

Bill on Idaho Legislature site