Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0736 – Ballot Format and Candidate Name Rotation Changes
Bill Summary
House Bill 736 amends Idaho Code Section 34-903, which governs how the Secretary of State prescribes the form and content of election ballots. The bill makes three substantive changes to candidate name rotation requirements: it replaces the term “city” with “local” when describing offices subject to rotation; it establishes a new 25,000 registered voter threshold for mandatory candidate name rotation for federal, state, county, and local offices (where previously no threshold existed); and it eliminates a separate provision that required rotation for “other offices” in political entities exceeding 100,000 registered voters. Under the revised law, political entities with fewer than 25,000 registered voters will use a random alphabet system selected by the Secretary of State to determine candidate order, rather than rotation.
The bill includes minor grammatical clarifications, adding the word “and” at the end of subsection (2)(a) and adding “names of” before “candidates” in subsection (4)(b). These changes consolidate the ballot rotation framework from a two-tiered system (with different thresholds for different office types) into a single threshold applicable to federal, state, county, and local offices. The legislation includes an emergency clause making it effective July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill makes technical adjustments to Idaho’s ballot preparation procedures, changing how candidate names are ordered on election ballots based on the size of the political entity. The changes establish a uniform 25,000 registered voter threshold for mandatory name rotation while eliminating rotation requirements for smaller jurisdictions and certain “other offices” categories. These modifications to ballot formatting procedures do not engage with policy areas such as fiscal matters, education, natural resources, healthcare, or other substantive governance issues.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill modifies ballot preparation procedures under Section 34-903, specifically changing candidate name rotation thresholds and terminology. These administrative changes to election ballot formatting do not address fiscal responsibility, taxation, government spending, congressional term limits, or legislative operations covered by this metric.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
While the bill concerns election ballots, it addresses only the mechanical process of how candidate names are ordered and rotated based on jurisdiction size. The changes do not affect voter access, primary election affiliation requirements, ranked-choice voting, concerns about non-citizen voting, or voting machine integrity issues that define this metric.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
The bill amends election ballot formatting requirements and contains no provisions related to education policy, parental rights in schools, curriculum standards, school choice, or higher education funding and governance.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
The changes to ballot preparation procedures in Section 34-903 have no connection to agricultural industry support, agricultural education, trade policy, water rights for agriculture, or family farm preservation.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The bill's modifications to candidate name rotation requirements and ballot formatting do not address water rights, prior appropriation doctrine, inter-basin transfers, dam preservation, or state sovereignty over water resources.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
The amendments to election ballot procedures contain no provisions regarding environmental stewardship, natural resource utilization, federal environmental regulations, wilderness areas, forest health, or public lands management.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill's changes to ballot formatting and candidate name rotation thresholds do not address energy independence, resource development, oil and gas exploration, electrical rates, hydroelectric power, or energy research.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
The modifications to Section 34-903 regarding ballot preparation have no connection to the Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear power research, technology development, or related economic impacts.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill's adjustments to election ballot procedures do not address Fifth Amendment property rights, eminent domain, just compensation, regulatory takings, or restrictions on property development rights.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
The changes to candidate name rotation requirements and ballot formatting contain no provisions regarding federal land ownership, state management of public lands, or transfer of federal lands to state control.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The bill's amendments to ballot preparation procedures have no connection to fish and game management, hunting and fishing access, predator control, or wildlife policy.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
The modifications to election ballot formatting and candidate rotation thresholds do not address economic growth, commerce and industry development, small business support, labor policy, or transportation infrastructure.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
The bill's changes to Section 34-903 regarding ballot procedures contain no provisions related to healthcare delivery, opposition to federal healthcare mandates, health savings accounts, medical conscience clauses, or child support enforcement.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
The amendments to ballot preparation requirements do not address traditional family values, government's role regarding families, marriage definitions, right to life issues, or children's welfare policies.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
The bill's modifications to candidate name rotation and ballot formatting procedures have no connection to policies affecting older Americans, including healthcare, employment protections, or social services for seniors.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The changes to election ballot procedures do not address criminal justice, presumption of innocence, gun rights, death penalty, drug policy, incarceration, juvenile justice, or state sovereignty regarding immigration enforcement.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
The bill's amendments to ballot formatting requirements contain no provisions related to military strength, veterans' affairs, missile defense, military installations, National Guard deployment, border security, or terrorism prevention.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
While the bill modifies ballot procedures generally, it does not specifically address the election of judges or justices, partisan versus nonpartisan judicial elections, or judicial philosophy regarding constitutional interpretation. The changes to candidate rotation apply to legislative and special district offices but do not alter judicial selection processes.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
The modifications to Section 34-903 regarding ballot preparation and candidate name rotation have no connection to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, Religious Freedom Restoration Act principles, or government interference in religious practices.