Bill Description: House Bill 574 would require increased accuracy and transparency for the statements accompanying bond and levy questions on the ballot.
Rating: +1
Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, accountability, or election integrity? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency, accountability, or election integrity?
House Bill 574 would amend sections 34-913 and 34-914, Idaho Code, to add new language that says, "If the ballot question or official statement includes information regarding guaranteed state tax relief funds of a specific dollar amount, including school district facilities funds, and such state tax relief funds will expire at a future date, the ballot question or official statement shall disclose the year such state tax relief funds are scheduled to expire using the following language: 'such state tax relief funds are currently only guaranteed through [insert year]'. No ballot question or official statement shall include any information regarding state tax relief funds, unless a specific dollar amount of such funds is guaranteed to the taxing district."
Part of maintaining election integrity is ensuring that the official statements accompanying bond and levy questions on the ballot do not contain one-sided or manipulated information designed to encourage voters to cast a particular vote.
(+1)