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Idaho signature requirements
 (By state) |
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Contents |
Federal offices
U.S. Senate
Partisan candidates for the U.S. Senate must file a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a $500 filing fee. In lieu of the filing fee, candidates may also submit a petition containing the signatures of 1,000 registered voters. Independent candidates must file a declaration of candidacy and a petition containing the signatures of 1,000 registered voters--they may not elect to pay the filing fee.[1][2][3]
Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent. They may participate in either the primary or general election. However, for a write-in candidate to be nominated in a U.S. Senate primary, they must garner at least 1,000 votes. If the candidate wins the nomination, they must pay the filing fee in order to appear on the general election ballot.[4]
U.S. House
Partisan candidates for the U.S. House must file a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a $300 filing fee. In lieu of the filing fee, candidates may also submit a petition containing the signatures of 500 voters registered in the district. Independent candidates must file a declaration of candidacy and a petition containing the signatures of 500 voters registered in the district--they may not elect to pay the filing fee.[1][2][3]
Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent. They may participate in either the primary or general election. However, for a write-in candidate to be nominated in a U.S. House primary, they must garner at least 500 votes. If the candidate wins the nomination, they must pay the filing fee in order to appear on the general election ballot.[4]
Filing deadlines
2012
Partisan and independent candidates had to file with the Secretary of State by March 9. Write-in candidates had to file a declaration of intent with the Secretary of State by April 17 for the primary election and by October 9 for the general election.[5]
State offices
Statewide executive offices
Partisan candidates for statewide office must file a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a $200 filing fee ($300 for gubernatorial candidates). In lieu of the filing fee, candidates may also submit a petition containing the signatures of 1,000 registered voters. Independent candidates must file a declaration of candidacy and a petition containing the signatures of 1,000 registered voters--they may not elect to pay the filing fee.[1][2][3]
Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent. They may participate in either the primary or general election. However, for a write-in candidate to be nominated in a statewide primary, they must garner at least 1,000 votes. If the candidate wins the nomination, they must pay the filing fee in order to appear on the general election ballot.[4]
State legislature
Partisan candidates for the legislature must file a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a $30 filing fee. In lieu of the filing fee, candidates may also submit a petition containing the signatures of 50 voters registered in the district. Independent candidates must file a declaration of candidacy and a petition containing the signatures of 50 voters registered in the district--they may not elect to pay the filing fee.[1][2][3]
Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent. They may participate in either the primary or general election. However, for a write-in candidate to be nominated in a U.S. House primary, they must garner at least 50 votes. If the candidate wins the nomination, they must pay the filing fee in order to appear on the general election ballot.[4]
Filing deadlines
2012
Partisan and independent candidates had to file with the Secretary of State by March 9. Write-in candidates had to file a declaration of intent with the Secretary of State by April 17 for the primary election and by October 9 for the general election.[5]
Ballot measures
The signature requirements are as follows: The number of signatures required is equal to 6% of the registered voters as of the last general election.
| Year | Statute | Veto referendum |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 53,751 | 53,751 |
| 2012 | 47,432 | 47,432 |
| 2010 | 51,712 | 51,712 |
| 2008 | 45,893 | 45,893 |
See law: Idaho Statutes, Title 34, Chapter 18, Section 34-1805
Basis of calculation
For an initiated state statute or a veto referendum, signatures collected on petitions must be equal to 6% of qualified electors in the last general election. In November 2010, there were 790,531 such voters[6].
Distribution requirements
Idaho does not have a distribution requirement. It used to have a distribution requirement requiring 6% of the signatures from each of 22 of Idaho's 44 counties. This rule was struck down in 2001 by a federal court in Idaho Coalition United for Bears v. Cenarrusa.[7]
Recall
- For recall, signatures equal to 20% of eligible voters in the last election for the office to be recalled, are required in signatures. The petition must be circulated within 75 days. Judicial officers cannot be recalled.
Signature deadlines
2012
For initiated state statutes or veto referendums, the deadline to submit signatures is either 18 months after receiving an approved ballot title from the Secretary of State or April 30, 2012 (if scheduled on the 2012 ballot), whichever is earlier.[8] [9].
See also
- Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 U.S. Congress elections
- Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 state legislative elections
- Laws governing the initiative process in Idaho
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Idaho
External links
- Idaho Secretary of State, "Initiative and Constitutional Amendment Information"
- Idaho Secretary of State, "Election Laws of the State of Idaho 2011"
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Idaho Statutes, 34-607 through 34-614, accessed May 4, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Idaho Statutes, 34-626, accessed May 4, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Idaho Statutes, 34-708, accessed May 4, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Idaho Statutes, 34-702 & 34-702a, accessed May 4, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Idaho Secretary of State, "2012 Idaho Primary and General Election Calendar" in Election Laws of the State Of Idaho 2011, accessed May 4, 2012 (See pg. 9)
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State "2010 General Election Results"
- ↑ Citizens in Charge, "Distribution Requirements," Accessed July 29, 2011
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State "Initiative and Referendum for Ballot Status November 8, 2012"
- ↑ [Confirmed with Idaho Secretary of State via phone on January 24, 2011]
