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Committee advances bill to split election-related crimes to clarify charges
Summary
The committee approved H 697 to separate illegal voting, interference with an election, and tampering with voting equipment into distinct offenses so the public and officials can see which specific crime is charged.
The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to send H 697 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation after sponsors said the bill separates three election-related offenses that had previously been combined in statute.
Senator Bernt told the committee the change is intended to prevent cases from carrying an umbrella charge that obscures which specific offense was alleged. Phil McGrane, Idaho's Secretary of State, told the committee the prior combined formulation made it difficult for the public to determine the specific election-related crimes charged in individual cases; he described an example in which a person was listed alongside much more serious equipment-tampering allegations when the underlying charge was voting as a felon.
Senator Toews moved to send H 697 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation; Senator Adams seconded the motion and the committee carried the motion by voice vote. The bill will move to the full Senate for further consideration.
