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Secretary of State seeks recurring funds for voter guide, IT subscriptions and succession planning
Summary
Secretary of State Phil McGrane told lawmakers the office requests new ongoing funds for a mailed voter guide, additional software subscription funding, and one-time support to double-fill a deputy business director post to ensure a smooth leadership transition. The office also updated the committee on multi-year election-IT investments.
At a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary of State Phil McGrane and Legislative Services Office analyst Christopher Lahoset reviewed the agency’s FY26 enhancement requests, which center on elections infrastructure, public information and continuity in the business services division.
The most prominent request is for an ongoing appropriation to produce and mail an Idaho voter guide to all households. Lahoset said the office requests $400,000 ongoing from the general fund — estimated as $300,000 for mailing and $100,000 for printing — and he corrected a typographical error in the budget book during his presentation.
McGrane told the committee the voter guide is a high‑demand item. “There’s a strong demand for it,” he said, noting polls and voter feedback. He said the voter guide differs from the prior voter pamphlet because the…
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