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Medicaid expansion initiative qualifies for Idaho ballot

Supporters gather during a rally in favor of a Medicaid expansion initiative on the steps of the state Capitol in downtown Boise, Friday, July 6, 2018. (Brian Myrick / Idaho Press-Tribune)
By Betsy Z. Russell Idaho Press-Tribune

An initiative to expand Medicaid in Idaho has officially qualified for the November ballot, Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney announced on Tuesday morning.

Backers of the initiative turned in a total of 75,134 verified signatures of registered Idaho voters, far exceeding the required mark of 56,192. They also exceeded the requirement for getting signatures from at least 6 percent of voters in at least 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts; they met that mark in 21 legislative districts, according to Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tim Hurst.

It is the second initiative to qualify for the November ballot; last week, a measure to legalize “historical horse racing” or “instant racing” betting machines at Idaho racetracks also qualified.

Ballot initiatives in Idaho have the same force of law as bills passed by the Legislature. If a majority of voters approve the measures in the November election, they’ll become law.