IDAHO, USA — House Joint Resolution 5, or the Citizen Requirement for Voting Amendment, is one of the two ballot issues Idahoans will vote on this Election Day.
The resolution adds; "No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be a qualified elector in any election held within the state of Idaho" to the state's constitution.
Idaho's Constitution already states that; "Every male or female citizen of the United States, eighteen years old, who has resided in this state, and in the county where he or she offers to vote for the period provided by law, if registered as provided by law, is a qualified elector."
No state in the country allows non-citizens to vote in statewide elections. However, some cities around the country do allow non-citizens to vote in local elections like school boards. No cities in Idaho have adopted this yet.
Supporters say the language in the proposed amendment strengthens the language in the Idaho Constitution to make it clear that those local elections will also be required to be for citizens only.
Opponents of the proposal call it redundant and not needed. They also say that the inclusion of the term "any election" in the amendment could affect things like HOA boards or PTAs.
There has been no evidence of any wide-scale non-citizen voting in the state. Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane stated, "we do not see non-citizens trying to vote in Idaho elections," to legislators in March of 2024. Regardless, House Joint Resolution 5's purpose is to codify in Idaho's Constitution.
A "yes" vote supports amending the constitution to add the wording.
A "no" vote opposes amending the constitution.
