Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Voter Registration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to expand voter-data verification, including one-way matches with third-party databases
Summary
The Senate State Affairs Committee on March 24 advanced H 339 to the 14th Order for possible amendment. Sponsors say the bill codifies current data-matching practices to verify voter eligibility; opponents raised data-security and same-day registration citizenship verification concerns.
Representative Mitchell introduced H 339 on March 24, saying the bill is intended to ensure only eligible citizens vote in Idaho and to provide statutory authority to verify registration data with state databases such as the Department of Health and Welfare and the Department of Corrections. He asked that the bill be sent to the 14th Order of Business for possible amendment.
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told the committee H 339 primarily codifies existing practices and clarifies SOS authority to compare voter registration data with agencies including the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Vital Statistics, and the Department of Corrections. McGrane said the bill reflects aspects of Governor Little’s 2024 executive order, Only Citizens Will Vote Act, and that a proposed amendment specifies data-security measures already used by the Secretary of State’s Office. “H 339 aimed to confirm, not collect and store data,” McGrane said.
Committee members asked about the use of third-party data providers. Vice Chairman Bernt and Senator Den Hartog asked who the providers would be and how data would flow; McGrane cited Equifax as an example and described the exchange as a one-way comparison in which Idaho data are checked against Equifax records, with no Idaho-to-Equifax data transfer. He also noted that voters could discover what the State held about them via public records requests.
Public testimony was divided. Teresa Roth of Stop SMART Cities opposed H 339, arguing the bill’s language was overly broad on what voter data could be authorized for collection and asking for citizenship verification before voting; she said about 70% of new registrations occur within 90 days of an election and urged stronger protections for same-day registration. Daniel Schoenberg, testifying for himself, supported the bill and described routine record maintenance that removes 12–16% of registrants annually who have not voted in four years, saying cross-checks with ITD help identify people who moved. Daniel Owsley opposed the measure on data-security grounds and urged clearer specifications for third-party protections. Jodi Arnold asked for an amendment requiring citizenship verification for same-day registrants, saying one-third of voters in her area register on election day and those registrants were not being verified for citizenship.
Committee discussion and committee staff responses emphasized verification methods. McGrane said same-day registrations are verified using driver’s license information against the ITD database and the Social Security Administration, and that citizenship verification occurs immediately following an election. Representative Mitchell noted Idaho driver’s licenses will begin showing “USA” on citizens’ licenses. Senator Harris moved to send H 339 to the 14th Order of Business for possible amendment; Senator Den Hartog seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.
The committee took no final action adopting the bill as drafted; the measure was advanced for further consideration and possible amendment.
