Why do Idaho Republican legislators want to make it harder to vote? | Opinion

Voting

In November, 2020, over 81% of Idaho voters, the majority of them Republicans, voted. About 56% of those voters used no excuse and early voting. There was no fraud. Republicans won over 80% of Idaho’s legislative seats. So why would any sane Republican legislator support HB667, which makes no-excuse absentee and early voting illegal for the majority of GOP voters who elected them to office? HB667 would only allow voters who state they are ill, disabled or “out of their jurisdiction” to vote early or by absentee ballot. HB667 will end voting in the safety and privacy of most Republican homes. HB667 will encourage Republicans to lie to get an absentee ballot. HB667 paperwork will increase tax dollars spent by every county clerk’s office and waste tax dollars for more polling locations to handle previous absentee voters. More GOP voters will be forced to drive more miles in rural districts to stand in long lines, in bad weather, just to exercise their right to vote. Fewer Idahoans will vote. Are these the goals of far right GOP legislators who support HB667? Are they afraid of their own party’s voters? HB667 is bad legislation for GOP and all Idaho voters.

Steven Shake, Caldwell

Absentee ballots

Been noticing lately the mention of the possibility of all absentee ballots requests not being granted except those who are gone from the area. My wife and I are 73 years old and due to numerous back and leg injuries throughout the years due to high level athletic endeavors, we cannot stand in line to vote. We have used the Idaho absentee ballots for 20-plus years and vote virtually every election. There are others in our family older than we are who live here in Meridian who also are able to vote because of this great offering! Take the absentee ballot away and our votes will simply have no way to be counted. Idaho’s ballots are safe, secure and thorough. Please rethink the elimination of the elderly from being able to vote!

Robert Earl, Meridian

Micron

If they build it, will they come? Micron must be asking themselves this question as our Legislature continues to create doubt in my mind.

A Christian nationalist agenda is taking hold in our Legislature where women are relegated to second-class status, not even in control of their own bodies. People who are a little different are marginalized. Our teachers and librarians are subjected to endless mind-numbing critiques and harassment.

Idaho’s schools are an afterthought with long-neglected repair and maintenance needs. The Legislature’s answer: tax cuts and private school tax credits for the well-heeled.

We already have teachers and doctors punching out and moving away…voting with their feet. Micron must believe they can convince 2,000 new workers and their families to move here while at the same time our Legislature persists in making Idaho an increasingly unattractive destination.

So, if Micron builds it, will they come? Or…will Micron end up with a new $15B derelict building? Just wondering.

Gary Hanes, Boise

Censorship

As dedicated advocates for libraries and defenders of intellectual freedom, it is disheartening to witness the recurrence of censorship debates in Idaho. The persistent efforts to restrict access to certain books highlight an alarming trend that warrants urgent attention from both the public and lawmakers.

For three consecutive years, the Idaho Legislature has grappled with bills aimed at banning books, raising concerns about the prioritization of this issue over other pressing matters facing our state. It is imperative that we address the underlying reasons behind these recurrent challenges to intellectual freedom and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the principles of free speech and unrestricted access to information.

As residents of Idaho, we must unite in opposition to censorship and urge our lawmakers to prioritize initiatives that foster equality, inclusivity, diversity, and the open exchange of ideas within our communities. Let us not falter in our resolve to safeguard the fundamental right to access knowledge and ideas, ensuring that our libraries remain beacons of enlightenment and intellectual exploration for generations to come.

Steve Groothuis, Meridian

Pronouns

Idaho’s House of Representatives moved to codify for everyone their fear of people who aren’t like them. If made law, House Bill 538 will protect offensive speech used against non-binary Idahoans and other sexual minorities in public places. While courts are divided on the legality of the use of slurs, the message in this bill is clear: refraining from hurtful speech against non-binary individuals and other sexual minorities in public places is too hard and confusing for some Idaho lawmakers. They need protection.

Additional pain, this time against non-traditional families, was inflicted in House Concurrent Resolution 35 which would establish Traditional Family Values Month. Several representatives voting for the bill spoke proudly of their ability to overcome the consequences of non-traditional upbringings. They were eager to pull the ladder up behind them for Idaho’s current and future children who have the “misfortune” of living in a home without a biological mother and father enacting “traditional gender roles.” No one pointed out the irony that the next bill on the docket moved to ease adoption procedures.

Idaho is contracting as it shuts its doors to doctors, non-gun owners, immigrant laborers, sexual minorities, and most women. Stop the steal.

Jean Henscheid, Star

Vote

To all Idaho voters, please vote this year.

• Vote to remove the people that are taking away older and handicapped Americans’ rights to vote by absentee ballots, because we cannot stand in those long lines in the chilly weather to cast our votes.

• Vote to remove the ones taking away a woman’s right to choose what they do with her own body.

• Vote to remove the elected officials that are going to close libraries and jail librarians.

• We should also remove from office the ones making threats against other elected officials that do not vote for their bills.

• Please let elected officials know that public school funds should not go to pay for private schools’ tuition.

Cindy Benson, Nampa