Idaho Supreme Court orders officials to revise abortion ballot initiative language, impact statement
The Idaho Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Monday that Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and the Idaho Division of Financial Management must revise the short ballot title and the fiscal impact statement for an initiative that would restore abortion and other reproductive health care access statewide.
Idahoans United for Women and Families announced more than a year ago that it would pursue a ballot initiative to establish rights to access abortion, contraception and fertility treatments, among other reproductive health care needs, under state law. Idaho does not allow citizens to pass constitutional amendments, and instead must propose legislation to be passed by a simple majority of voters via ballot initiative.
The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is responsible for drafting short and long ballot titles that summarize what the legislation would do if passed. Idaho law states that the language must describe the proposal accurately and use common language without phrasing that is likely to prejudice voters.
Idahoans United sued state officials in January because the ballot titles did not accurately capture the intent of the initiative, the group said, and the fiscal impact statement included information about the Medicaid budget and cost impacts to the state prisoner population. The group said that was unnecessary and prejudicial information.
https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/06/16/idaho-supreme-court-orders-officials-to-revise-abortion-ballot-initiative-language-impact-statement/