Idaho has declined to provide comprehensive voter data to federal entities, including recent requests from the Trump administration, by invoking a state law passed in 1994. The law exempts Idaho from certain provisions of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), commonly known as the "motor-voter" law, which requires states to offer voter registration at DMVs and other agencies.
The exemption, codified in Idaho Code ยง 34-408A, allows the state to maintain its own voter registration system independent of federal mandates. State officials, including the Secretary of State, have consistently stated that this law protects Idaho's sovereignty and the privacy of its citizens' voter information.
While federal requests for voter data have been made periodically, Idaho's position has remained unchanged for decades. The state provides only publicly available information, such as voter names and party affiliations, but withholds protected data like Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers as stipulated by its own statutes.
This stance reflects a broader sentiment of wariness toward federal intrusion in state elections, a principle embedded in Idaho law for over 30 years. The policy is not a new response to any specific administration but a long-standing application of state statute.
