In addition to state and federal races, Idaho voters will decide on three ballot questions: a citizen-led ballot initiative (Prop 1), and two constitutional amendments (HJR 4 and HJR 6).
Just as researching a candidate shapes choices at ballot box, voters should also understand the goals and impact of the initiative and amendments that will appear on Idahoans’ 2026 ballots. Below we explain the legal and political contours of all three ballot measures.
This post does not discuss the Idaho Official State Gun Question, a non-binding, advisory question without significant policy impact, which will also be decided in the November election. For information about ballot measures that did not qualify for the November 2026 election, see: "Idaho 2026 ballot measures" (Ballotpedia) or Initiatives and Amendments (Vote Idaho).
Proposition 1 – Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act
Idaho's only 2026 citizen-led ballot initiative is Proposition 1 (Prop 1): the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act seeks to create a statewide, individual right to reproductive health decisions including choices about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, and more. If passed, reproductive healthcare decisions would be private — made between providers and patients — and abortion would become legal up to the point of fetal viability.
Current state law criminalizes providing abortion as a felony. Idaho’s laws include extremely narrow exceptions that only allow abortions to prevent the death of the pregnant patient, or in reported cases of rape and incest within the first trimester. Abortions are prohibited even for health-threatening pregnancies, pregnancies involving severe or fatal fetal diagnoses, and when the patient risks death via self-harm.
Despite multiple lawsuits and four legislative sessions since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, Idaho remains among the 13 most restrictive states in the country when it comes to abortion.
Prop 1 would not explicitly repeal any single Idaho law. Instead, the measure would establish the right to individual reproductive freedom and privacy, and would allow the state to continue to regulate abortion after the point of fetal viability.
Prop 1 states that the government should not infringe on personal decisions about reproductive health, which includes choices about not only abortion, but also contraception, fertility treatment like IVF, miscarriage care, prenatal and postpartum care, and more.
Additionally, under Prop 1, healthcare providers would no longer be subject to criminal or civil liability for providing healthcare aligned with an individual's right to reproductive freedom and privacy.
As a statutory measure, Prop 1 requires a simple majority approval to pass. The measure would not change Idaho's constitution, leaving it vulnerable to legislative overhaul. We answer common Prop 1 questions in greater depth on our Prop 1 FAQ page.
House Join Resolution 4 – Legislature-Only Power Over State Drug Law
Also on the ballot in November is House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4), a proposed state constitutional amendment put to voters by the Idaho legislature. If passed, HJR 4 would restrict people-led ballot initiatives by prohibiting measures that address cannabis and other psychoactive substances.
If HJR 4 passes, only the Idaho legislature would have the power to make changes to laws that address drug legalization.
HJR 4 departs from citizen-led initiative norms in substantial ways. First, of the 24 states with an initiative process, only seven restrict the subject or content of measures themselves. In states where subject restrictions exist, they typically relate to revenue and appropriations, or court rules and jurisdiction. HJR 4 would make Idaho the first and only state to create a subject restriction on the initiative process expressly directed at cannabis and drug legalization.
Next, HJR 4 would significantly change Idaho's initiative process. Idaho laws are created in two ways:
- Through the work of the state legislature, and
- Through people-led ballot initiatives.
Citizen-led initiatives are designed with guardrails; measures appear on the ballot only after going through extensive signature collection requirements, multiple filings, review, and certification from state executive offices, and other strict qualification hurdles.
HJR 4 would mean Idahoans could not propose a certain kind of measure, based purely on the measure's subject, further limiting the power of the people to engage in Idaho's democratic initiative process.
House Joint Resolution 6 – Establishing English as Official State Language
Finally, voters will decide whether to amend the Idaho Constitution so that English is codified as our official state language. House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR 6) is a measure passed by the Idaho legislature that calls for English to be used in all public documents, instruction, and “other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho."
Notably, Idaho law already designates English as our official state language—for nearly 20 years, all state and local government publications, meetings, and other official materials are required to be in English under state law (Idaho State Code 73-121).
However, there are important exceptions to our current English-only law.
Specifically, our current state law only allows a non-English language to be used where required by the U.S. or state constitutions (e.g., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects against nationality-based discrimination, creates language-access obligations for recipients of certain federally funded programs). Current Idaho law also allows law enforcement and other officials to use a language other than English when necessary for public safety. There is also an exception for the promotion of tourism and economic growth, and for certain educational purposes like English- and foreign language learning.
HJR 6 does not include any specific exceptions to its English-only requirements. Instead, it would create a state constitutional requirement to use English in all public documents and proceedings, “except as required by federal law.” And while some federal laws permit use of languages other than English (such as Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act), it is unclear whether HJR 6 would preserve—or prohibit—current allowances in state law for public safety, health, and education. And, unlike Alaska and South Dakota, states where English is the official state language alongside co-official Indigenous languages, Idaho’s HJR 6 does not include any such protections.
About 30 states have designated English as their official state language, but Idaho’s HJR 6 is the first new law since 2010. The measure was introduced in March 2025 by Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) just days after a federal executive order designated English as the official language of the U.S.
State “English-only” laws raise significant civil rights and language access concerns, as they limit public service availability in ways that risk rights violations, particularly for people with limited English proficiency (LEP).
Some states, including our neighboring Utah, have challenged state “English-only” laws, noting substantial harm to rural, immigrant, and refugee populations, as well as Indigenous communities. In 2024, Utah amended its “English-only” laws to improve language access across the state.
In Idaho, ongoing growth continues to increase language diversity across the state. Today more than ever, language access is a crucial part of equality under the law. Every Idahoan, including LEP Idahoans, should have access to information presented by the government, and the state should protect against disparate treatment when interacting with government agencies, officials, and entities.
Idaho is obligated to ensure LEP and all individuals have full access to information provided by the government, and HJR 6 likely threatens this duty.
Are You Ready to Vote?
The General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Be sure you are registered to vote and make a plan to vote in-person on Election Day, by mail, or Early Voting.