The Greater Idaho movement submitted a petition to force a ballot initiative onto the November 2022 Morrow County ballot yesterday at the Morrow County Courthouse. 287 signatures were submitted although only 226 valid signatures are required.
So far, nine eastern Oregon counties have voted for the movement’s ballot measures: two in November 2020, five in May 2021, one in a special election in November, and Klamath County last week.
The purpose of the ballot initiative is to show state legislators that voters want them to begin talks with Idaho to move the border. The movement is asking Oregon state legislators for hearings and for cosponsors for a resolution that would invite Idaho to begin talks with Oregon on moving the border.
When asked why the Oregon Legislature would be motivated to give up a part of the state, Mike McCarter, the leader of the movement, pointed to a January SurveyUSA poll that shows support for the move from voters of northwestern Oregon.
The area of eastern Oregon proposed to join Idaho voted 70% Republican in the 2020 presidential election, while Idaho voted 64% Republican and Oregon 40%, according to the movement’s website greateridaho.org.
McCarter said “Our representatives would be heard in the Idaho Legislature because they would be a part of the majority party there. Idaho respects rural values and rural industries. Idaho has a lower cost of living and lower taxes.”
The Greater Idaho movement completely revised its proposal this week to exclude southwestern Oregon. Updated maps for the movement are here: www.greateridaho.org/the-maps