2026 Idaho Proposition 1
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November 3, 2026[1]
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Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative[1] |
Proposition 1 is a voter initiative that will be decided by Idaho voters on November 3, 2026. The measure seeks to amend state law to establish a right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability,[a] and a right to contraception, fertility treatment, and prenatal and postpartum care.[2]
Background
[edit]As of 2026, Idaho has one of the United States' most strict abortion bans.[3] The state's current laws allow for abortion to save the mother's life, or if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest; the laws do not allow for abortion for the health of the mother.[3]
Ballot initiative
[edit]A volunteer-run group named Idahoans United for Women & Families initiated the measure. The group gathered over 100,000 signatures, more than the 70,725 necessary to make the ballot.[3]
Contents
[edit]The measure will display the following information to voters on the ballot:[4]
MEASURE CREATING RIGHT TO ABORTION BEFORE FETUS VIABILITY, AND POST-VIABILITY TO PROTECT HEALTH; RIGHT TO PRIVACY; HEALTHCARE PROVIDER LIABILITY PROTECTIONS.
The measure seeks to change Idaho’s laws by introducing a right to reproductive freedom and privacy including a right to abortion up to the point of the fetus’s ability to survive outside the womb. After fetal viability, there would be no general right to abortion except in cases of “medical emergency.” The “medical emergency” exception would expand Idaho’s current life exception and allow abortions 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.”
The proposed measure codifies a right to make reproductive decisions, including contraception, fertility treatment, and prenatal and postpartum care. This includes a “right of privacy” in making these decisions. 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 measure would also prevent the state from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists in exercising the proposed right.
Endorsements
[edit]- Statewide officials
- John Stegner, former justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2018–2023) (Independent)[5]
- State legislators
- Todd Achilles, former state representative from the 16B district (2024–2025) (Independent)[5]
- Anne Pasley-Stuart, former state representative from the 19A district (2002–2010) (Democratic)[6]
- Individuals
- Lauren Necochea, chair of the Idaho Democratic Party[7]
- Political parties
- State legislators
- Cindy Agidius, former state representative from the 5A district (2012–2014) (Republican)[8]
- Vito Barbieri, state representative from the 3A district (2022–present) (Republican)[5]
- Camille Blaylock, state senator from the 11th district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Judy Boyle, state representative from the 9B district (2008–present) (Republican)[5]
- Jeff Cornilles, state representative from the 12A district (2022–present) (Republican)[5]
- Cindy Carlson, state senator from the 7th district (2022–present) (Republican)[5]
- Gregory Chaney, former state representative from the 10B district (2014–2022) (Republican)[9]
- Jaron Crane, state representative from the 12B district (2019–present) (Republican)[5]
- Kyle Harris, state representative from the 7A district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Scott Herndon, former state senator from the 1st district (2022–2024) (Republican)[5]
- Clint Hostetler, state representative from the 24A district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Kent Marmon, state representative from the 11A district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Ronald M. Nate, former state representative from the 34B district (2014–2018; 2020–2022) (Republican)[7]
- Elaine Price, state representative from the 4B district (2022–present) (Republican)[5]
- Cornel Rasor, state representative from the 1B district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Steve Tanner, state representative from the 13B district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Julianne Young, former state representative from the 30B district (2018–2024) (Republican)[10]
- Christy Zito, state senator from the 8th district (2024–present) (Republican)[5]
- Individuals
- Dorothy Moon, chair of the Idaho Republican Party[11]
- Pro-Life, perennial candidate[5]
- Organizations
- Idaho Family Policy Center[12]
- Idaho Freedom Foundation[5]
- Idaho Right to Life[7]
- Liberty Counsel Action[5]
- Political parties
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Phrasing | Support | Oppose | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State University[13] | November 8–17, 2025 | 1,000[b] | ± 3.1% | "In November 2026, there could be a ballot initiative before Idaho voters titled the “Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.” This act would establish a right to make private reproductive health care decisions, including abortion up to fetal viability and in medical emergencies. Hearing this, would you say you support or oppose this ballot initiative?"[c] | 61%[d] | 28%[e] | 12%[f] |
Notes
[edit]- ↑ After fetal viability, abortion would be allowed only in cases of a "medical emergency," as defined by the initiative.
- ↑ "[A]dults who currently live in Idaho."
- ↑ 508 of those polled were given the aforementioned phrasing. The other 492 were given different phrasing that did not mention the initiative's title: "In November 2026, there could be a ballot initiative before Idaho voters. This act would establish a right to make private reproductive health care decisions, including abortion up to fetal viability and in medical emergencies. Hearing this, would you say you support or oppose this ballot initiative?"
- ↑ Rounded up from 60.5%.
The percentage in favor when asked with the secondary wording, as mentioned in the footnote next to the question wording, was 58.9%. - ↑ Rounded up from 27.6%.
The percentage in opposition when asked with the secondary wording, as mentioned in the footnote next to the question wording, was 31.5%. - ↑ Rounded up from 11.9%.
The percentage undecided when asked with the secondary wording, as mentioned in the footnote next to the question wording, was 9.6%.
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Idaho Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Re: Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative – Resubmission" (PDF). Idaho Secretary of State. November 20, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Kerr, Dara (July 13, 2026). "One of strictest US abortion bans could be overturned in November's election". The Guardian. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative Qualifies; Idaho Medical Cannabis Initiative Fails for November General Election Ballot". Vote Idaho. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Idaho Proposition 1, Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. November 8, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
- ↑ Pasley-Stuart, Anne (August 20, 2026). "Sarton is dead wrong. Prop 1 isn't extreme; current abortion law is Opinion". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Thacker, Alexis (July 14, 2026). "Idaho initiative to create a statutory right to abortion becomes the fourth abortion-related measure on 2026 ballots". Ballotpedia News. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ Agidius, Cindy (August 9, 2026). "OPINION: Idaho's Prop 1 is just a smokescreen for abortion on demand". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ Thayer, Allen (August 21, 2026). "Former lawmaker makes case against Prop 1 at Idaho Falls meeting". Post Register. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ Young, Julianne (July 28, 2026). "Opinion: The cost of conformity: Prop 1 could threaten religious freedom". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ Moon, Dorothy (July 9, 2026). "Opinion: Vote no on Prop 1 — again". Post Register. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ Thacker, Alexis (May 5, 2026). "Signatures submitted for Idaho initiative to establish a statutory right to reproductive freedom, including abortion". Ballotpedia News. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ May, Matthew; McGinnis-Brown, Lantz; Fowler, Luke (January 2026). "Eleventh Annual Idaho Public Policy Survey" (PDF). Boise State University. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
