S13272026 Regular Session

Amends existing law to allow a political party to add qualifications for precinct committeemen.

ELECTIONS -- Amends existing law to allow a political party to add qualifications for precinct committeemen.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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This legislation clarifies that political parties may add to the requirements for who can serve as a precinct committeeman in addition to the criteria found in the Idaho Code. Political parties are private associations and as such, they have a first amendment right to choose with whom they may "assemble" with as long as there is no form of discrimination previously determined to be illegal.

FISCAL NOTE

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There is no cost for this legislation other than updating the code with this change in the law.

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1327 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 34-624, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE2 THAT POLITICAL PARTIES MAY ADD ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRECINCT3 COMMITTEEMEN AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AND DECLARING AN EMER-4 GENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.5

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:6

SECTION 1. That Section 34-624, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby7 amended to read as follows:8 34-624. ELECTION OF PRECINCT COMMITTEEMEN -- QUALIFICATIONS. (1) At9 the primary election, 1980, and every two (2) years thereafter, a precinct10 committeeman for each political party shall be elected in every voting11 precinct within each county. The term of office of a precinct committeeman12 shall be from the eighth day following the primary election until the eighth13 day following the next succeeding primary election.14 (2) No person shall be elected to the office of precinct committeeman15 unless he has attained the age of eighteen (18) years of age at the time of his16 election, is a citizen of the United States, and is a registered elector of17 the voting precinct for a period of six (6) months next preceding his elec-18 tion.19 (3) Each candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy with the20 county clerk.21 (4) No filing fee shall be charged any candidate at the time of his fil-22 ing his declaration of candidacy.23 (5) A political party may add additional qualifications for such24 party's precinct committeemen that are not in conflict with the provisions25 of this section.26

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby27 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after28 July 1, 2026.29