Idaho Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian Rights, SJR 1 (1962)
| Idaho SJR 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Constitutional rights and Race and ethnicity issues |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Idaho SJR 1 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Idaho on November 6, 1962. It was approved.
Election results
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Idaho SJR 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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180,699 | 75.40% | ||
| No | 58,951 | 24.60% | ||
Measure Design
This amendment deleted a portion of Section 3 of Article VI of the Idaho Constitution which prohibited naturalized Chinese citizens, and other citizens of Mongolian descent, from voting, serving as jurors, or holding civil office, thereby giving naturalized Chinese citizens of the United States, citizens of Mongolian descent, and citizens of Japanese ancestry the right to vote, to serve as jurors, and to hold civil office.[1][1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for SJR 1 was as follows:
| “ | "Shall Section 3 of Article VI of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended so as to permit Chinese, and persons of Mongolian descent, not born in the United States, to vote, serve as jurors, or hold civil office?" | ” |
Background
According to the University of Idaho, Chinese immigrants began arriving in Idaho in the 1860s amid gold discoveries, and by 1870, 28.5% of Idaho's population were Chinese residents. In the 1890s, Japanese immigrants were also beginning to reside in Idaho. In 1882, the United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, a federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur, which prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The Attorney General, in the amendment's statement of purpose, wrote, "Idaho is the only state with such discrimination against any naturalized citizen, and the Idaho State Legislature unanimously recommended that this question be placed before the voters."[2][3]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Idaho Constitution
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Idaho State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 47 votes in the Idaho House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Idaho State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Idaho Boise (capital) |
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