Lawsuit challenging Idaho’s initiative process dismissed

A federal lawsuit challenging Idaho’s ballot initiative process as unconstitutional because it requires signatures from multiple legislative districts has been dismissed.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye ruled Tuesday Ryan Isbelle lacked standing to bring the lawsuit but didn’t rule on the merits of the case.

Nye said Isbelle lacked standing because he hadn’t tried to get an initiative on the ballot.

Nye didn’t rule on Isbelle’s claim that Idaho’s initiative rules violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.

Isbelle argued that an Idaho law passed in 2013 requiring signatures from 6% of registered voters in 18 legislative districts was unconstitutional.

Before 2013, ballot initiatives required signatures from 6% of statewide registered voters.

Isbelle argued the change unconstitutionally gave more weight to signatures in some districts.