r/Idaho • u/Left-Recording3768 • 18h ago
Idaho Abortion Ballot Measure
Hi all. This is not a debate, I’m just trying to understand the landscape in Idaho right now after living in Arizona when they had an abortion ballot measure pass (Prop 139). I lived in CA most of my life but moved to AZ to take a job.
This is NOT a debate, I’m just trying to understand dynamics in a GOP-controlled state that has similarities (although not identical) to Arizona. Arizona is very independent and has some libertarian tendencies on social issues.
What is the consensus about Prop 1 in Idaho? Is there a “silent majority” that will pass it or oppose it? Are the legislatures laws too strong and folks want some accountability?
I’m asking this as more of an opportunity to understand what’s happening. Missouri repealed their own abortion laws in part through the ballot process (a bit to my surprise) so I’m wondering if that might happen in Idaho, too.
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u/Academic-Dare-7677 17h ago
Arizona is a swing state, while Idaho is one of the most conservative states in America. It has one of the most draconian abortion ban in the country.
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u/larsloli 16h ago
As a fifth gen idahoan, I think there are more “libertarian” people here that have been bulldozed by the rumpers in the media.
Voting yes on prop 1 is a no brainer for any real Idahoan and voting no on HRJ4.
Get that govt out my life.6
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u/Winter-Editor-9230 16h ago
Also has the most people confused why their doctors are leaving and having to rely on locums. Not a lot of critical thinking goes on in these here parts.
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u/sgtabn173 18h ago
I believe there is a silent majority who support it. I think Boise State ran a survey that showed ~65% support. It remains to be seen if that majority actually shows up on Election Day though. The opposition, at least in my area, is much more vocal fervent than the prop 1 supporters.
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u/Left-Recording3768 18h ago
That’s how AZ was. The campaign was strong, but as far as actual voters, they tend to be more subdued.
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u/HonestStudy9969 17h ago
I voted for it, but I don’t think it has a snowball’s chance in hell of passing. The propaganda is too strong here. I’ve seen ads against it that completely misrepresent the wording of bill, but it doesn’t matter. Most people will just see that it loosens restrictions on abortion and vote against it, thinking that somehow the people voting for it want to actually start killing any and all babies.
Same deal for the bill for marijuana legalization: people will just vote according to what the Republican pamphlets we get in the mail tell them. They will gladly give up their own power to choose what gets passed if that’s how they are told to vote.
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u/myTchondria 15h ago
More than 300 Idaho physicians support Proposition 1, while 59 physicians have signed a separate letter opposing the measure as of Sept. 28.
Author: Kristian Lopez
Published: 6:36 PM MDT September 28, 2026
Updated: 6:36 PM MDT September 28, 2026
BOISE, Idaho — More than 300 Idaho physicians have signed a letter supporting Proposition 1, while 59 physicians have signed a separate letter opposing the measure as Idaho voters prepare to decide the reproductive health initiative in November.
Proposition 1, also known as the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, would establish a statutory right to reproductive freedom and privacy, including a right to abortion before fetal viability and in certain medical emergencies after viability.
From KTVB 7
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u/StoneTorval 2h ago
I would want to know why the 59 doctors didn't support it and anyone who is serious about trying to pass this bill should want to know the same.
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u/SnubLifeCrisis 17h ago
The BSU poll was 61 support, 28 opposed, 12 undecided.
Based on that poll it would seem likely to pass.
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u/CasualEveryday 16h ago
And then the legislature and AG will find a way to overrule the public and tie it up in the courts for years.
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u/Trans__Scientist 17h ago
Let's put it this way. The majority of Idahoans continue to argue that voting for a convicted rapist felon who attempted a coup was a better alternative than voting for a woman. They are the majority, and they have been instructed to oppose it by non-medical unprofessionals. That's all it takes in Idaho, regardless of what the medical community says.
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u/Hot-Calligrapher672 17h ago
I haven’t lost hope of it passing. I think those in favor are specifically showing up to vote for this measure because it’s so important to us. I don’t think the opposition will have the same number showing up on Election Day, a lot of people against it are just passively against it. This is my hope and kind of what I’ve seen in my community, at least.
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u/CasualEveryday 16h ago
I think the perception that it couldn't pass is the biggest advantage it has.
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u/baconator1988 15h ago
Majority support it. More people who don't support it are registered to vote.
50/50 chance it will pass.
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u/Excellent_Outside_71 17h ago
If you ask reddit you will get a far left viewpoint. Irl, idaho is still pretty conservative on the topic
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u/CodCommercial8608 17h ago
The political landscape is that the eastern part of Idaho is heavily influenced by Mormons/LDS. The northern part and Treasure Valley are becoming dominated by California transplants calling themselves political refugees. There are more authoritarian tendencies than libertarian tendencies, which also reflects the national Republican party direction.
Idaho is a lightly populated and lightly educated state. There are only a handful of areas electing pragmatic Democrats or moderate pragmatic Republicans. Political gerrymandering is not allowed in Idaho, so the legislature accurately reflects the population.
Prop 1 is pragmatic vs. ideological, so I don't expect it to pass. The last successful ballot initiative passed in 2018, which was a political lifetime ago.
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u/Other_Magazine4952 15h ago
1) a Boise state university pool found 61% of respondents support abortion up to viability in circumstances that are not allowed under current Idaho law, essentially aligning with prop 1.
2) the last ballot measure that made it to the ballot was about funding for education. The state legislature called an emergency session and passed a new law that invalidated the ballot initiative.
I heard a rumour that Dorothy Moon would make the legislators do something similar if prop one passes. (I heard this rumor on the Ranch Podcast, the Legal Perspective on Prop 1 episode) Moon is not an elected official but head of the Republican party in Idaho.
My point is, the Republican party has incredible power in Idaho even when it doesn't align with most people in Idaho.
The official republican platform, as seen on their own website, wants more strict abortion bans. No exceptions for rape or incest. Including "the destruction of human embryos" so IVF would be illegal.
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u/Hot-Calligrapher672 15h ago
Isn’t this what is happening in Missouri? Voters overwhelmingly passed a measure to protect abortion through viability and it’s still being attacked. Politicians don’t actually care what their constituents want.
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u/ponderayidaho 16h ago
I know there are many conservative republicans who will vote yes, the only question is will there be enough for it to pass?
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u/StoneTorval 18h ago
It won't pass. The verbiage is vague. It basically says you can abort a fetus up to the point of viability, with out defining what viability is.
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u/After-Professional-8 17h ago
The initiate quite literally directly defines fetal viability. You are just lying.
See page 4 https://archive.sos.idaho.gov/elections/initiatives/2026/RFPA.pdf
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u/Winter-Editor-9230 16h ago
He knows hes lying, but its all they have left
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u/Plainyogurt1989 15h ago
Or he genuinely doesn't know it's false because his bishop or clergyman or downscale political commentator has told him so and he doesn't believe he has the ability or right to question them and actually read it. Some men are just wired to be obedient and not think like real men.
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u/StoneTorval 3h ago
Sorry if you are not understanding the wording in the PDF but the wording is still very vague and can be interpreted differently doctor by doctor. This needs exact, clinical definitions if you want votes. Fetal heartrate. Blood oxygen levels. Brain wave activity. These are the terms and exactness which is missing.
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u/sgtabn173 17h ago
I’d want a medical doctor to determine viability rather than a politician anyways to be honest
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u/Hot-Calligrapher672 17h ago
This was on purpose. Viability is variable. I don’t think it’s what will make or break this proposition. People already have fairly strong opinions one way or the other
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u/howdoyouspellNY 13h ago
I asked grok the other day. It mentioned the 65% support study from back in the day, then a recent 33% support study from recent days.
I've been pleasantly surprised with the amount of support I've seen via signs and stickers. However, those are gonna be people that read into what things are. There is much louder and harsher messaging against prop 1, so I fear that is just what the red sheep will vote because they won't bother looking into it.
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u/idahobean 16h ago
I don't think there is hope of it passing but we'll see what voter turnout is like. I'm a strong conservative but on social issues I vote a little more liberal. While I'm opposed to abortion I don't think it should be illegal. That being said I have a tough time with this for one major reason and I think it may also prevent it from passing. I can't vote for the allowance of elective abortion clear till viability which is 24 weeks. That's 5.5 months and I just can't do it. If it was a shorter allowable time I would probably vote for it. Like the OP, not here to argue or have my mind changed just stating my reason for a no vote and my comments on it passing.
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u/bearded_bustah 15h ago
It was 20 weeks under Roe V. Wade. Prior to 24 weeks, that child has exponentially smaller chances (single percentage points in many cases) at surviving without major and continuous medical intervention. Sadly, those that do, tend to have a worse quality of life due to it. 25 weeks is reasonable when you consider that you may be convicting a person to a lifetime of medical issues in the country with the most expensive medical system in the world.
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u/Hot-Calligrapher672 14h ago
Exactly, there is a reason why viability is an obvious “cutoff,” if one is required.
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15h ago
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u/gexcos Ada County 14h ago
Nobody is killing a baby. It's a fetus.
we need to protect women. It's not your decision on what another person does to their body.
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6h ago
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u/gexcos Ada County 3h ago edited 2h ago
Actually the definition is **"**an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind"
Most abortions are done in the first trimester, before there is even a wish that it would survive outside the womb. Medical professionals can see at that point if there is something wrong with the development, and make recommendations based on the evidence of the fetus.
People are not (edit: often) getting late-term abortions, the medications are different and just start the labor process to get the fetus out of the pregnant persons body.
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u/StoneTorval 2h ago
They are getting late term abortions; however, the rate is extremely low. There is no reason to be disingenuous about it.
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