February 18, 2025
BOISE, ID – The League of Women Voters of Idaho (LWVID) and BABE VOTE filed an amicus brief supporting a challenge to two Idaho voter suppression laws that prevented hundreds of eligible voters from casting ballots in the 2024 general election.
Idaho House Bill 124 (HB 124) and House Bill 340 (HB 340) eliminated the use of student IDs for voting and registration purposes, effectively converting a fundamental right into a privilege contingent upon specific government documentation requiring a current Idaho ID or federal ID. Both bills have made it harder for young Idahoans to register and vote, negatively impacting voter turnout in state and national elections.
Youth voter registration among 18–29-year-olds in Idaho dropped by more than 3% between the 2020 and 2024 general elections. Registration among 18–19-year-olds decreased by almost 23% after these new laws were enacted. University of Idaho students experienced 5-7 hour waits on Election Day, and hundreds of students at Brigham Young University-Idaho were turned away from polls due to the new ID requirements.
These bills have also effectively disenfranchised vulnerable populations, including elderly Idahoans in assisted-living facilities, houseless individuals, and disabled residents who face significant barriers to obtaining the newly required documentation. During early voting, over 100 people in Ada County were prevented from registering to vote, including new residents and seniors in assisted living facilities.
“The data from the 2024 election confirms what we’ve warned about – these laws are actively preventing eligible Idahoans from exercising their fundamental right to vote,” said Betsy McBride, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Idaho. “When hundreds of students are turned away from the polls, and senior citizens can’t register to vote, that’s not a minor inconvenience – it’s voter disenfranchisement. Even the Idaho Secretary of State acknowledged these laws have created significant challenges for voters, particularly recent Idaho residents.”
“We’re ready to fight these discriminatory laws in federal court because every eligible Idaho voter deserves to have their voices heard and rights respected, regardless of their age or circumstance,” said Marcia Johnson, chief counsel of the League of Women Voters of the US. “When election officials and county clerks are raising concerns about voters’ access to cast their ballots, it’s clear these laws need to be struck down.”
“Idaho’s new laws targeting students are working,” said Sam Sandmire, a volunteer and board member with BABE VOTE, an organization that empowers young people to register, vote, and organize their communities for democracy. “Since HB124 and HB340 took effect, BABE VOTE volunteers have been unable to help 20-35% of students complete their voter registrations. The sharp drop in young voters is no surprise—we predicted this would happen and warned legislators during hearings. They passed the laws anyway.”
The appeal comes after the Idaho Supreme Court applied a minimal “rational basis” standard of review to voting rights cases—a decision that provides weaker protection for voting rights than the federal standard. Because of this decision, federal courts must now take up the duty of protecting voting rights in Idaho.
The League is at the forefront of federal and state cases across the United States. Learn more about the League’s litigation work by visiting our Legal Center to review historic and active federal cases on our docket.
