The initiative and referendum were written into the Idaho Constitution by amendments in 1912. They were policies of the Populist wave of that era. It took the Idaho legislature 21 years to implement those constitutional provisions. The laws setting up the mechanics by which the people could initiate a law, or refer a law written by the legislature to the people for approval or rejection, were enacted by the 1933 legislature.
The right of initiative and referendum is found in Article III, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution. Title 34, Chapter 18 contains the statutory procedures pertaining to the initiative and referendum.
| DATE | ISSUE | DESCRIPTION | YES | % | NO | % | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/6/18 | INIT 1 | An initiative authorizing historical horse racing at certain locations where live or simulcast horse racing occurs and allocating revenue therefrom. | 278,212 | 46.2 | 323,924 | 53.8 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | An initiative to provide that the state shall amend its state plan to expand Medicaid eligibility to certain persons. | 365,107 | 60.6 | 237,567 | 39.4 | Adopted | |
| 11/6/12 | REFER 1 | Referendum to approve or reject legislation limiting negotiated agreements between teachers and local school boards and ending the practice of issuing renewable contracts. | 277,102 | 42.7 | 371,224 | 57.1 | Law
Rejected |
| REFER 2 | Referendum to approve or reject legislation providing teacher performance pay based on state-mandated test scores, student performance, hard-to-fill positions and leadership. | 272,939 | 42.0 | 376,689 | 58.0 | Law
Rejected |
|
| REFER 3 | Referendum to approve or reject legislation amending school district funding, requiring provision of computing devices and online courses for high school graduation. | 215,800 | 33.3 | 432,667 | 66.7 | Law
Rejected |
|
| 11/7/06 | INIT 1 | An initiative increasing public funding for education. | 204,381 | 45.4 | 245,563 | 54.6 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | An initiative restricting eminent domain and regulatory takings. | 105,778 | 23.9 | 336,083 | 76.1 | Defeated | |
| 11/5/02 | INIT 1 | An Initiative defining tribal video gaming machines and providing for amendment of State-Tribal Gaming Compact providing for their use. | 232,986 | 57.8 | 170,097 | 42.2 | Approved |
| REFER 1 | Referendum reinstating term limits for elected state, county, municipal and school district officials through ballot access restrictions. | 203,005 | 50.2 | 201,116 | 49.8 | Term Limits Remain Repealed | |
| 11/3/98 | INIT 1 | Initiative allowing congressional candidates to sign term limits pledge; informs voters on the ballot if candidate signs or breaks pledge | 192,390 | 54.7 | 159,615 | 45.3 | Approved |
| 11/5/96 | INIT 1 | Initiative to limit property taxes to one percent (1%) of value subject to assessment and providing exceptions | 180,678 | 37.1 | 306,818 | 62.9 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | Initiative to prohibit the use of dogs or bait while hunting black bear and to limit the bear hunting season | 194,750 | 40.2 | 289,752 | 59.8 | Defeated | |
| INIT 3 | Initiative requiring legislative and voter approval of agreements for the receipt of additional radioactive waste and nullifying prior agreement | 182,710 | 37.5 | 304,886 | 62.5 | Defeated | |
| INIT 4 | Initiative instructing candidates for state legislature and u.s. congress to support congressional term limits; requires statement indicating non-support on ballot | 267,973 | 56.1 | 210,108 | 43.9 | Adopted | |
| 11/8/94 | INIT 1 | An act establishing state policies regarding homosexuality | 202,681 | 49.6 | 205,754 | 50.4 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | Initiative establishing term limits for elected federal, state, county, municipal and school district officials | 234,703 | 59.4 | 160,748 | 40.6 | Adopted | |
| 11/3/92 | INIT 1 | Limiting ad valorem property tax rates to one percent (1%) of market value | 163,690 | 34.5 | 311,159 | 65.5 | Defeated |
| 11/4/86 | INIT 1 | Establishing State Lottery Commission | 226,816 | 60.0 | 151,132 | 40.0 | Adopted |
| REFER 1 | Concerning retention of Right-To-Work Law | 208,248 | 54.0 | 177,069 | 46.0 | Law
Approved |
|
| 11/6/84 | INIT 1 | Initiative exempting food for human consumption from sales tax | 186,505 | 47.0 | 210,054 | 53.0 | Defeated |
| 11/2/82 | INIT 1 | Initiative providing 50% or $50,000 residential tax exemption | 168,895 | 56.5 | 130,062 | 43.5 | Adopted |
| INIT 2 | Initiative authorizing the practice of denturitry and establishing licensing board | 197,756 | 65.2 | 105,436 | 34.8 | Adopted | |
| INIT 3 | Initiative supporting future generation of electricity through nuclear energy | 175,407 | 60.5 | 114,408 | 39.5 | Adopted | |
| 11/7/78 | INIT 1 | Restricting governmental ability to change property valuations or taxes | 164,817 | 58.3 | 118,102 | 41.7 | Adopted |
| 11/5/74 | INIT 1 | Sunshine Law for political funds and lobbyist activity disclosure | 178,705 | 77.6 | 51,707 | 22.4 | Adopted |
| 11/3/70 | INIT 1 | Legislative pay | 132,511 | 59.2 | 91,372 | 40.8 | Adopted |
| 11/8/66 | REFER 1 | Should 3% sales tax imposed by 1965 Legislature be approved | 156,109 | 61.2 | 99,048 | 38.8 | Law
Approved |
| 11/4/58 | INIT 1 | Right-To-Work Initiative. Right to employment regardless of labor organization membership or non-membership | 118,718 | 49.4 | 121,790 | 50.6 | Defeated |
| 11/2/54 | INIT 1 | Regulate dredge mining in Idaho | 174,377 | 85.3 | 30,102 | 14.7 | Adopted |
| 11/5/46 | INIT 1 | Anti Gambling Act | 69,144 | 44.6 | 85,797 | 55.4 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | Local Option Prohibition Act | 54,402 | 35.0 | 100,951 | 65.0 | Defeated | |
| INIT 3 | The Idaho Sobriety Act | 59,199 | 38.3 | 95,450 | 61.7 | Defeated | |
| 11/3/42 | INIT 1 | Senior Citizens Grants Act | 75,090 | 68.0 | 35,344 | 32.0 | Adopted |
| 11/5/40 | INIT 1 | County Option Liquor Control Act | 70,544 | 38.4 | 112,972 | 61.6 | Defeated |
| INIT 2 | Idaho Sobriety Act | 75,563 | 42.5 | 102,186 | 57.5 | Defeated | |
| 11/8/38 | INIT 1 | Idaho Fish and Game Commission Act | 118,448 | 76.0 | 37,442 | 24.0 | Adopted |
| 11/3/36 | REFER 1 | Adoption of two percent sales tax (HB 76, 1935) | 68,728 | 47.7 | 75,468 | 52.3 | Law
Rejected |