Sine Die!
2024 Legislative Session
The Legislative Session for 2024 is finally done.
First of all, we can all take a big breath. It’s finally done.
Secondly, congratulations to all those working incredibly hard down at the legislature. Whether you were reporting on the newest changes, elected and working to stop the worst pieces, testifying, or protesting, our community came together this year in opposition to the horrible bills the Supermajority was working so hard to pass.
Lastly, we need to take a look at all the things that the Legislature did this year. And we need to get ready to work harder than we’ve ever worked before. Why?
3 very specifically anti-LGBTQIA+ bills were passed this year. One banning all State funds for gender-affirming care to trans people, one protecting State employees in their rights to deadname and misgender trans people, and one changing all Idaho code to change the word Gender to “Sex” where “Sex” means specifically sex assigned at birth.
An anti-Library bill was passed, with provisions for anyone in America (maybe even across the Earth?) can call an Idaho Library and demand that materials are moved to “adult sections”, which generally don’t currently exist in Idaho Libraries. These book-banners can get $250 for each offense the Library decides to challenge. This bill also contains special wording targeting books with, you guessed it, LGBTQIA+ content.
Republicans cut federal funding for school lunch programs, passed school voucher bills, and refused to hear any bills seeking to reclaim abortion rights.
Yes, a few victories were won this year – specifically, a bill that eases some of the difficulties around obtaining birth control, a bill expanding homeless shelters’ abilities, and an eviction records bill. However, it is plain to see that for every step forward we take, the Supermajority sprints a hundred meters in the opposite direction.
Get Your Absentee Ballot for 2024
We often talk about signing up for absentee ballots, but I don’t always talk about why I believe everyone should be signing up for them. Let’s get into it.
- You won’t forget a single election. In 2024, there are 4 elections – signing up for the absentee ballot here will automatically get you on all three State-run elections (May 21st, August 27th, and November 5th) and signing up for an absentee ballot here will get you an absentee ballot for the Democratic Presidential Caucus (May 23rd).
- You can read over the ballot and have time to do research. How many times have you walked into the voting booth only to see a judge you don’t know, running unopposed. What do you do? What kind of message do you want to send? There’s a lot of pressure on Election Day, but sitting quietly at home in early October, you can call all your friends and chat about that one election you don’t know enough about.
- You can be ready for emergencies! I once had a very tragic conversation (this is a true story!!). The day was Tuesday, November 6th, 2018. I got called over by a volunteer who was on the phone with a voter. He had just been in a traffic accident, and was completely immobile in the hospital. He had always liked going in on Election Day to experience the excitement of the polls – something I hear from most people when I talk about absentee voting. By the time we talked to him, it was too late. He couldn’t vote that year. If he had his absentee ballot, it would have been a snap!
- None of the above stops you from voting in-person anyway! If you like the excitement of the polls, get your absentee ballot anyway. It will remind you about the election, you can pop it open and read through it, you can be prepared for an emergency, and you can still head down to the polls and vote in person! If you bring your absentee ballot with you, they will void it right there, and if you lose it or forget it at home, they will still let you vote, and it will simply be marked as provisional.
- But wait. There’s even more reasons! By actually voting early, your name will be taken off our lists. That’s right – as soon as we get confirmation that you have cast your vote, we will stop calling, stop texting, stop knocking on your door. Not only does this give you some peace and quiet, but it also frees our volunteers up to get to other voters who are more in need of a nudge to get to the polls.
Sign up for your absentee ballot in 2024:
Click here for the 3 State Elections
Click here for the Democratic Party Caucus
Upcoming Events
Ada County Caucus Training
Saturday, April 13th, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Zoom
RSVP Here
County Commissioner Candidate Forum
Wednesday April 24th 6 PM – 8 PM
Hillcrest Library 5246 W Overland Rd, Boise
Get to know the Ada Democratic Candidates for the County Commission.
The 2024 Democratic Presidential Caucus
Thursday, May 23rd, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
EAGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1000 W FLOATING FEATHER RD
SILVER SAGE ELEMENTARY 7700 W SNOHOMISH ST
TIMBERLINE HIGH SCHOOL 701 E BOISE AVE
Click here to RSVP for the Caucus
Click here to read more about the Caucus
Click here to become a delegate in Ada County
Thanks for supporting local Democrats,
Lily Pannkuk, Field Director
Ada County Democrats