TITLE 74

TRANSPARENT AND ETHICAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 6

PUBLIC INTEGRITY IN ELECTIONS ACT

74-604.  PUBLIC FUNDS PROHIBITED. Unless specifically required by law, and except as provided in this chapter:

(1)  Neither a public entity nor its employees shall make, nor shall a public official make or authorize, an expenditure from public funds to advocate for or against a candidate or a ballot measure.

(2)  Neither a public entity nor any of its employees shall use, nor shall a public official authorize or use, public property or resources to advocate for or against a candidate or a ballot measure. There shall be an exception to the provisions of this subsection for any elected and currently serving Idaho legislator personally making use of public property or resources for the sole purpose of advocating for or against an initiative or referendum. This exemption shall apply only to the legislator’s use of public property or resources for communication with the public using electronic or traditional physical correspondence or the use of any portion of any media initially produced using public property or resources from recordings of the legislature or any legislative committees. This exception shall not apply to any travel-related expenses or any advocacy for or against a candidate.

(3)  Neither a public entity nor any of its employees shall provide or offer to provide, nor shall a public official provide or offer to provide, college extra credit to a student of a state institution of higher learning either:

(a)  To encourage a student to vote or not vote; or

(b)  To influence a student’s vote for or against a candidate or ballot measure.

History:

[74-604, added 2018, ch. 260, sec. 1, p. 617; am. 2021, ch. 291, sec. 2, p. 872; am. 2024, ch. 268, sec. 1, p. 931.]