Reclaim Idaho must stop collecting online signatures

Idaho Gov. Brad Little filed an emergency application for a stay to the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month, aimed at halting Reclaim Idaho’s online signature drive for a school funding initiative pursuant to a federal court order.

The U.S Supreme Court Thursday ruled that the Idaho group must stop collecting online signatures for the initiative to be on the November ballot.

The court ruled in favor of Gov. Little’s request that a district court’s order allowing online signatures be stayed until the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals makes a ruling.

Little told the nation’s highest court that the judge’s order would seize control of Idaho’s initiative process, that Idaho has never allowed electronic signatures for ballot initiatives, and it undermines the election process.

The Supreme Court cited case precedent that states retain leeway to protect the initiative process.

The Supreme Court’s ruling ends for now Reclaim Idaho’s attempt to collect enough signatures during the coronavirus pandemic for the initiative seeking to raise $170 million for K-12 education.