WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane provided testimony at Capitol Hill alongside a cohort of secretaries of state who aimed to provide their perspectives gained during the 2024 election.
"I am honored to represent the state of Idaho and emphasize that the 2024 election was among the most successful in our state’s history. Over 917,000 Idaho residents came out to cast their votes," McGrane stated.
McGrane talked about ways the federal government could assist Idaho along with other states by improving both the safety and ease of elections. He stressed the importance of having current voter rolls as well as more rigorous identification checks.
The committee has the ability to fund the necessary resources for our states to maintain precise voter registration lists," he stated. "This is an initiative that both sides ought to support.
McGrane further mentioned his hope for additional states to adopt stricter photo identification requirements. He added, "Another topic this committee could address is voter IDs. Currently, thirty-six states have established certain standards regarding voter ID, and upon examining public opinion polls, it reveals considerable backing from both parties."
Last summer, McGrane and Governor Brad Little enacted an executive order titled the "Only Citizens Can Vote Act" with the aim of confirming that solely U.S. citizens appear on Idaho’s voter rolls.
Following his testimony, Mcgrane told KLEW News that he believes the federal government could take lessons from how things are handled at the state level. He stated, “Elections frequently get portrayed through the lens of red and blue states; however, when it comes to facilitating voter accessibility and ensuring both precision and safety in the process, Idaho serves as an example.”
Accompanying me was the secretary of state from Connecticut; they had only recently introduced in-person voting, whereas we have been using this method for many years. It highlights that it’s possible to achieve both accessibility and security simultaneously. When it comes to electoral processes, Idaho is leading the way.
