Idahoans serving abroad in the military or living outside the country for other reasons could get easier access to absentee ballots under a proposal introduced in the state Senate on Wednesday.
The bill, approved for a full hearing by the Senate State Affairs Committee, would bring the state into line with a federal law requiring states to allow people living abroad to vote and giving them an emergency ballot if needed.
The measure, supported by the Secretary of State’s Office and the Idaho National Guard, also mandates that ballots be mailed 45 days before an election, though people could apply to vote later than the 45-day cutoff. Voters could get the needed registration forms and ballots online, but would need to mail them in for their votes to be valid.
An Idaho National Guard spokesman says the legislation could affect November’s elections, with tentative plans for about 2,000 Guard members to deploy to Iraq this fall.
The legislation would also end early voting in Idaho elections on the Friday before Election Day, rather than Monday before. Supporters say ending early voting a few days earlier would help county clerks check the list of early voters to ensure that no one votes twice in an election.
The Secretary of State’s Office says absentee voters would be exempt from a proposed requirement to show ID when voting that has been approved by the Idaho House. (IdahoReporter.com)
