Boise, Idaho – The following is a statement from Governor Brad Little regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Reclaim Idaho must stop collecting signatures for a fall ballot initiative:

“I am pleased that the Supreme Court upheld Idaho’s sovereignty over its election and initiative processes. It is important that initiatives follow the laws set by the Idaho Legislature so we can ensure those initiatives that get on the ballot are legitimate and have significant support throughout Idaho. This is a challenging time, and I am grateful for the work of our election officials who are preparing to conduct free and safe elections this fall in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.” – Governor Brad Little

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the order that Idaho’s existing initiative laws “are almost certainly justified by the important regulatory interests in combatting fraud and ensuring that ballots are not cluttered with initiatives that have not demonstrated sufficient grassroots support.”  He went on to recognize the State’s “sovereign interests in enforcement of initiative requirements that are likely consistent with the First Amendment.”

He also noted that if Reclaim Idaho’s initiative does not appear on the ballot this year, “that consequence is attributable at least in part to Reclaim Idaho, which ‘delayed unnecessarily’ its pursuit of relief until more than a month after the deadline for submitting signatures.”

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary

208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison@gov.idaho.gov