FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 17, 2018
Contact: Kristie Winslow, Communications Coordinator
Phone: (208) 332-2818
Boise, Idaho – Secretary of State Lawerence Denney announced today that the Medicaid eligibility expansion ballot initiative is eligible for the November 6, 2018, General Election ballot.
To become eligible for the ballot, the initiative needed at least 56,192 valid petition signatures. This amount is equal to 6 percent of the total registered voters at the time of the last general election. These signatures are also required to be distributed across at least 18 legislative districts with at least 6 percent of registered voters from each district.
The Secretary of State certified the initiative exceeds that threshold today, and it qualifies for the November 6, 2018, General Election ballot.
The Attorney General’s official title of the initiative is as follows:
AN INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SHALL AMEND ITS STATE PLAN TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY TO CERTAIN PERSONS. RELATING TO MEDICAID; AMENDING CHAPTER 2, TITLE 56, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 56-267, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE SHALL AMEND ITS STATE PLAN TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY TO CERTAIN PERSONS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE IS REQUIRED AND AUTHORIZED TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION; AND AMENDING SECTION 56-262, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A CORRECT CODE REFERENCE.
A summary of the initiative can be found on the Idaho Secretary of State website by visiting https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/inits/2018/init03.html.
The proponent of this initiative is Caroline Merritt. The proponent can be reached at P.O. Box 2835, Boise, ID 83701.
For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in Idaho, visit https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/inits/2018/instructions.html.
ABOUT LAWERENCE DENNEY
Lawerence Denney has served the people of Idaho since 1990. His public service began as a representative in District 13 and, following redistricting, then became a representative in District 9 until 2014. During this time, Denney served two terms as Majority Leader and three terms as Speaker of the House before successfully running for state office as Idaho’s Secretary of State. He is currently in the fourth year of his first term as Secretary of State.