In the wake of the 2023 Idaho legislative session, new voter‑identification requirements have sharply curtailed the ability of 18‑ and 19‑year‑old citizens to register and vote. The law removed student identification cards as a valid form of ID for both registration and in‑person voting, a change that directly targets college students but also creates hurdles for other residents who have moved, changed names, or no longer drive.
Statistical impact
Idaho experienced a 66% surge in registrations among 18‑ and 19‑year‑olds between 2018 and 2022. After the new rules took effect, the state saw a 23% decline in that same age group, dropping it to the nation’s lowest share of young voters compared with the 45‑plus population.
Legal challenges and legislative response
Non‑partisan groups BABE VOTE and the League of Women Voters of Idaho filed a lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality. The case was dismissed without a trial, and the plaintiffs argue that a full hearing would have revealed numerous legally eligible voters who were barred from casting ballots.
Representative Brent Crane (R‑Nampa), who helped pass the legislation, defended the measure, stating, “[the laws] were doing exactly what they were designed to do.” He emphasized the state’s interest in safeguarding election integrity, even though there is no documented evidence of students using their school IDs fraudulently.
Real‑world consequences for Idaho voters
Members of BABE VOTE report concrete difficulties. Sam Sandmire, a volunteer, spent over an hour on the phone with the Secretary of State’s office trying to update her address, only to endure a week‑long series of calls before securing an absentee ballot. Similar stories have emerged from long‑time voters who discovered their names removed from the voter database despite consistent participation in recent elections.
These obstacles extend beyond students. Idahoans who have relocated, changed their legal names, or who no longer drive face the same identification barriers, potentially disenfranchising a broader segment of the electorate.
State officials’ perspective
The Secretary of State’s office continues to promote Idaho’s voter‑registration system as “easy,” yet the experiences shared by BABE VOTE suggest that the new requirements create unnecessary delays and confusion for many eligible voters.
What Idaho voters can do
BABE VOTE urges all legally eligible Idahoans to verify their registration status now, re‑register if necessary, and develop a voting plan—whether by absentee ballot, early in‑person voting, or on Election Day. Addressing these procedural hurdles early can prevent last‑minute scrambles and ensure every voice is heard.
Looking ahead
While the current law remains in place, continued community feedback and potential future litigation may prompt the legislature to revisit the identification standards. In the meantime, Idaho’s young voters and other affected residents are encouraged to stay informed, seek assistance from the Secretary of State’s office, and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
