Purging Voter Registration Lists

Idaho’s Secretary of State (ISOS) has the duty to periodically purge voters from registration lists, primarily for not voting for four years. Idaho Code section 34-435 (see below for text). In 2001, 2003, and 2005 the ISOS just listed the purge numbers. In 2007, he broke out the numbers showing purge for non-voting, and for

Voters included in this number have had their registration changed due to moving or changing their names, been convicted of a felony, received a notice of death or received a request from the voter.

Article 6, Section 3 of the Idaho Constitution (text below) takes away the right to vote for felons while in jail. Idaho Code section 18-310(2) (text below) makes it clear that upon completing the sentence the felon gets the right to vote back.

The purges reduced the registration rolls by the following percentages:
2007 – 70,915 purged - 9.27% of registered voters
2005 – 84,420 purged - 10.56%
2003 – 67,947 purged - 10.00%
2001 – 118,672 purged - 16.30%

In 2007, 40,605 voters were purged for failing to vote, and 30,310 for the other reasons noted above. No big conclusions to draw here, at least that occur to me. It doesn't appear that there was an extra effort to purge voters inclined toward Dems, as been alleged elsewhere. Just the normal purge required by law.

I do wonder why the 2001 purge was so large. There is no data on the ISIS’s website before 2001, so maybe it was a catch up.

Idaho Constituion Article VI

SECTION 3. DISQUALIFICATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS. No person is permitted to vote, serve as a juror, or hold any civil office who has, at any place, been convicted of a felony, and who has not been restored to the rights of citizenship, or who, at the time of such election, is confined in prison on conviction of a criminal offense.

Idaho Code

34-435. CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATIONS FOLLOWING ANY GENERAL ELECTION OF THOSE NOT VOTING FOR FOUR YEARS. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days following the date of the general election in 1978 and every general election thereafter, the county clerk shall examine the election register and the signed statements of challenge made at that election. After this examination, the county clerk shall immediately cancel the registration of any elector who did not vote at any primary or general election in the past four (4) years.

18-310(2)Upon final discharge, a person convicted of any Idaho felony shall be restored the full rights of citizenship, …