The Idaho Senate approved creating an earlier deadline for write-in candidates to officially declare for a race. If the governor signs the legislation, political hopefuls will need to file their paperwork with the Idaho secretary of state four weeks before an election. The current deadline is two weeks. The early deadline is supported by county clerks and the Idaho secretary of state, because it would give clerks more time to make sure ballots are correct.
Changes in voting technology requires the earlier write-in deadline, according to Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian. “The current statute was written around punch card ballots,” Fulcher said. “Optical scan ballots are what’s being used. The clerks need more time to test those.”
During a hearing on the change in the Senate, Tim Hurst, the deputy chief secretary of state, said that many write-in candidates file close to the deadline, but are usually unsuccessful in their races. During that hearing, a Senate committee decided to hold onto the legislation, which would have killed it. At a following meeting, the plan was sent on to a full Senate vote.
“This bill came back from the dead,” said Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise.
The approved legislation now heads to the governor for his consideration.
