Idaho
Idaho Ballot Initiative on Abortion Access Gains Bipartisan Support
BOISE, Idaho — Suzanne Gallus is a Catholic woman and mother of seven who has been pregnant 12 times, and she’s spent the past year asking residents to sign a petition to help restore access to abortion in one of…
Key points
- Idaho volunteers submitted over 110,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to restore abortion access.
- The initiative has bipartisan support, including 28% from registered Republicans.
- A recent poll shows nearly 61% of Idaho residents favor the proposed act.
BOISE, Idaho NewsWK — On July 2, volunteers gathered at the Idaho Capitol to submit over 110,000 signatures for the proposed Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, which seeks to restore abortion access in Idaho without government interference until fetal viability. This initiative also aims to protect fertility treatments and contraception.
One of the leading advocates, Suzanne Gallus, a mother of seven from Rathdrum, shared her experience canvassing for signatures. She noted that many respondents, even those opposed to abortion, were willing to support the initiative, citing personal stories related to family members’ experiences with pregnancy, adoption, and infertility. “People were always very open with a lot of their stories,” Gallus explained.
Despite Idaho’s conservative political landscape, where President Donald Trump won by a significant margin in 2024, the initiative has garnered diverse support. Approximately 28% of the signatures come from registered Republicans, with 33% from unaffiliated voters and 37% from Democrats. The initiative will require a simple majority to pass if it makes it to the November ballot.
A recent poll from Boise State University indicates that nearly 61% of Idaho residents support the act, with 45% of Republicans in favor. The state has previously enacted a strict abortion ban following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health in 2022, leading to significant consequences for healthcare providers in the state.
As the signature verification process continues, Melanie Folwell, the lead organizer of the initiative, expressed confidence in meeting the required threshold for the ballot. David Ripley, executive director of Idaho Chooses Life, acknowledged the potential for the measure to appear on the ballot, stating, “Idaho Chooses Life will fight this radical proposal with all the means at our disposal.”
This ballot initiative is one of several abortion-related measures expected to be voted on in various states this November, reflecting a growing movement to address reproductive rights across the country.
Based on reporting by Kelcie Moseley-Morris originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
