What are the ballot measures for the Nov. 3 election?

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

Early in-person voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 and absentee ballots must be received by no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, both at the Elections Office in the County Administration building (1500 Hwy. 2, Ste. 124, in Sandpoint). Polls will then be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Nov. 3. 

In addition to candidates for office, ballots in Idaho will include four statewide measures: Proposition 1, House Joint Resolution 4, HJR 6 and a non-binding advisory question. Sandpoint voters will also have a 1% local option sales tax to consider, Dover residents will vote on a 12% local option occupancy tax, the Westside and Spirit Lake fire districts are seeking levies, and the Coolin Sewer District is asking for authority to issue and sell bonds up to $8 million for work on its wastewater treatment system. 

Here’s a rundown of the various measures: 

Prop. 1

Prop. 1 is a citizens’ ballot initiative seeking to overturn Idaho’s strict laws banning abortion in almost all cases, and “creating [a] right to abortion before fetus viability, and post-viability to protect health; right to privacy; health care provider liability protections,” according to the ballot language.

The measure would not create a “general right” to post-viability abortion except in cases of “medical emergency,” which would be expanded from the ban’s current exception to protect the life of the mother to include instances when pregnant women “face complicating physical conditions that threaten their life or health, ‘including serious impairment to a bodily function’ or ‘serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.’”  

Prop. 1 also codifies the right not only to make reproductive health decisions — including contraception, fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization and more — but to do so in private. 

“The measure seeks to prevent the state from enforcing certain abortion laws protecting the life of the unborn child. It would also impose a requirement that any restrictions on reproductive decisions, including abortion prior to fetus viability, must be ‘narrowly tailored to improve or maintain the health of the person seeking reproductive health care,’” the ballot language states.

Finally, Prop. 1 prevents the state from imposing penalties on patients, health care providers or “anyone who assists in exercising the proposed right.”

Voting “yes” affirms support for establishing the right to abortion “before fetal viability defined as a fetus’ ability to survive without extraordinary medical measures — and after fetal viability in cases of medical emergency; providing protections against professional discipline and civil and criminal liability for health care providers; and codifying a statutory reproductive right to freedom and privacy.”

Voting “no” retains the status quo, which the ballot language states “preserves the life of preborn children by prohibiting abortion, except when necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman, and during the first trimester in documented cases of rape or incest reported to law enforcement.”

HJR 4

Though framed around the legalization of “marijuana, narcotics or other psychoactive substances,” HJR 4 proposes a constitutional amendment that gives the Idaho Legislature “exclusive authority” to make those decisions — with the stated goal of taking that power away from voters in the citizens’ initiative process.

The ballot language asks whether Section 26, Article III of the Idaho Constitution should be amended “to provide that only the Idaho Legislature shall have the power and authority to legalize the growing, producing, manufacturing, transporting, selling, delivering, dispensing, administering, prescribing, distributing, possessing or using of marijuana, narcotics or other psychoactive substances.”

A “yes” vote affirms that and would also “remove the ability for citizens to initiate state statutes that would legalize these substances,” while a “no” vote retains the status quo.

HJR 6 and advisory question

Proposing an amendment to Article X of the Idaho Constitution, HJR 6 would add a new section designating English as the official state language and stipulate that all public proceedings, documents, instruction and acts by any public institution shall be in English unless otherwise required by federal law. 

English is already the official language of the state according to statute, but a “yes” vote would add it to the Constitution while a “no” vote would retain the status quo.

The advisory question on the ballot also seeks to establish an official state designation, though for “the state gun of Idaho.” Voters are asked to weigh in on one of six options.

Sandpoint and Dover local option taxes

In an effort to secure a revenue stream for street and pathway infrastructure, the city of Sandpoint is seeking voter approval for a 1% non-property sales tax that would be in effect from Jan. 1, 2027-Dec. 31, 2036. 

The tax would be applicable to all sales — except those related to occupancy — with 75% of funds gathered going to the maintenance, repair, reconstruction and improvement of city streets, and 25% going to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bicycle facilities, pathways, trails and other improvements that connect with the city’s transportation network.

Dover is asking voters for a tax of 12% on all lodging charges for hotel and motel rooms, as well as short-term rentals, tourist homes and other dwellings leased or rented for 30 or fewer consecutive days. If approved, the tax would run Jan. 1, 2027-Dec. 31, 2036, and be put toward capital projects, improvements, extensions and maintenance; public works and maintenance; parks, recreation and other amenities; and grant matching.  

A portion of revenues from both LOTs would go to administering the tax, with any excess dollars received being placed in a property tax relief fund.

Fire levies

Residents in the Westside Fire District will consider a two-year, temporary levy increase of $23 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value, for a total of $67 per $100,000 of value each year. If approved, it would represent an increase of $380,000 to a total of $1,066,451 beginning in Fiscal Year 2028 and go toward hiring three firefighter/EMTs.

The Spirit Lake Fire District is asking for a permanent levy increase of $32.70 per $100,000 of taxable property value amounting to an annual $780,000 to maintain and increase staffing, equipment and operations. If approved, the permanent override levy would go into effect Oct. 1, 2027.

For all things election-related, including sample ballots and polling locations, go to voteidaho.gov or bonnercountyid.gov/Elections-Home. Information is also available by calling 208-255-3631, emailing [email protected] or visiting the Elections Office in the County Administration building (1500 Hwy. 2, Ste. 124, in Sandpoint).