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Idaho 2018 ballot measures
Two ballot measures were certified for the 2018 ballot in the state of Idaho. One was approved and one was defeated.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Proposition 1 | Gambling | Allows betting on historical horse races at video terminals in certain locations |  |
| CISS | Proposition 2 | Healthcare | Expands Medicaid under the ACA |  |
Getting measures on the ballot
Idaho allows citizen initiatives in the form of initiated state statutes and veto referendums. Idaho petition signature requirements are determined by calculating six percent of the registered voters in the state's last general election. In 2018, initiative supporters needed to gather 48,793 valid signatures by April 30, 2018, and needed to submit signatures no later than May 1, 2018, in order to qualify initiatives for the ballot.
The Idaho Legislature has the power to place constitutional amendments on the ballot when both houses of the legislature approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority vote. Once on the ballot, the amendment must be approved by a simple majority of the electors. The 2017 state legislative session ran from January 9, 2017, to March 31, 2017.
Historical facts
- From 1996 to 2016, 34 measures have been on the ballot in Idaho.
- Between 1996 and 2016, an average of four measures have appeared on even-numbered election year ballots in Idaho.
- Between 1996 and 2016, 26 of 34, or 76 percent, of Idaho ballot measures have been approved by voters.
- Conversely, eight of 34, or 24 percent, of measures have been defeated.
Summary of campaign contributions
- See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2018
The following chart illustrates how much support and opposition committees had amassed in campaign contributions for each measure on the ballot:
- Note: In some cases committees are registered to support or oppose multiple propositions. Ballotpedia lists the total sum that all committees registered to support or oppose each proposition have received in contributions. This means that the sum of all contributions in the chart below is higher than the total amount contributed.
| Ballot Measure: | Support contributions: | Opposition contributions: | Outcome: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Proposition 2 | $ | $ |
|
| Idaho Proposition 1 | $ | $ | |
Cost per required signature
- See also: Ballot measure signature costs, 2018
The cost-per-required signature (CPRS) is a comparison of the amount of money spent on the petition drive to the number of signatures the state requires for an initiative to make the ballot. The following chart illustrates the CPRS for ballot initiatives.
Proposition 1 had the second highest cost per required signature (CPRS) in 2018. Initiatives designed to authorize gambling in 2018 and 2017 had higher than average CPRS rates, both for the state and as compared to overall rates.
| Ballot Measure: | Topic: | Petition company | Cost | Signatures | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Proposition 2 | Healthcare | $0.00 | 56,192 | $0.00 | |
| Idaho Proposition 1 | Gambling | FieldWorks LLC | $1,251,549.68 | 56,192 | $22.27 |
| Averages: | N/A | FieldWorks LLC | $625,775 | N/A | $11.14 |
Not on the ballot
The list below contains measures that were proposed and reached a certain stage in the initiative or referral process, but did not make the ballot.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Crime Victim Rights Amendment | Law Enforcement | Expands on constitutional crime victims rights | 
|
| CISS | Medical Marijuana Initiative | Marijuana | Legalizes medical marijuana use |
|
| CISS | Abortion Prohibition Initiative | Abortion | Prohibits abortion as an act of first degree murder |
|
State profile
| Demographic data for Idaho | ||
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 1,652,828 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 82,643 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 91.7% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 0.6% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.6% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 11.8% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.5% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 25.9% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $47,583 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 16.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Idaho. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Idaho
Idaho voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Idaho coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Idaho
- United States congressional delegations from Idaho
- Public policy in Idaho
- Endorsers in Idaho
- Idaho fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2018 ballot measures
- List of Idaho ballot measures
- Laws governing the initiative process in Idaho
- Idaho Legislature
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of Idaho Boise (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
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