Supporters of an Idaho initiative that would add a right to reproductive freedom and privacy to state law submitted the last of their signature petition sheets to county clerk offices on May 1.
County officials have until June 30 to certify the number of valid signatures submitted and report their findings to the secretary of state. If the secretary of state determines that the initiative has a sufficient number of signatures, the initiative will be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
In Idaho, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 6% of the number of registered voters as of the state's last general election. In 2026, that number is 70,725. Additionally, Idaho has a distribution requirement, requiring signatures to equal at least 6% of registered voters in 18 of the state's 35 legislative districts.
As of April 24, 2026, Idahoans United for Women and Families reported that they had gathered more than 100,000 signatures and met the distribution requirement in 19 legislative districts.
Measure design
The initiative would add a right to reproductive freedom and privacy to state law. The initiative defines that right as the ability to "make personal decisions about reproductive healthcare that directly impacts the person's own body."
The initiative explicitly includes the following topics as related to that right:
- abortion;
- childbirth care;
- contraception;
- fertility treatment;
- miscarriage care; and
- prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care.
The initiative would permit the state to regulate abortion after the point of fetal viability, except in cases of a medical emergency. The initiative defines fetal viability as “the point in a pregnancy when, on the basis of a physician's good faith medical judgment, based on the facts known at the time, and determined on a case-by-case basis, the fetus has a significant likelihood of sustained survival outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical measures.”
Under the initiative, a pregnancy that would result in the loss of the woman's life, place the health of the woman in serious danger, cause the serious impairment of the patient's bodily function, or cause the dysfunction of any organ or part of the patient's body would be considered a medical emergency that could allow for an abortion.
Support for the measure
Back to Idaho, organized by Idahoans United for Women and Families, is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. A statement on their website says, “This initiative would restore the personal liberty to make one’s own reproductive healthcare decisions—including birth control, IVF, regulated abortion access, and more—with their doctor WITHOUT undue government overreach. It’s the standard we had in Idaho for nearly 50 years (also known as the “Roe Standard”) and means decriminalized abortion up to fetal viability and past that in cases of medical emergency or fatal fetal diagnosis.”
Additionally, the initiative has been endorsed by the Democratic Party of Idaho. Concerning the measure, the party stated, “Idaho’s current abortion laws are cruel, dangerous, and out of touch.” They also said that current laws have resulted in, “women denied critical treatment, families forced to flee the state for urgent care, and Idaho now ranked dead last in the nation for access to maternal health providers."
Opposition to the measure
Idaho Chooses Life, Right to Life Idaho, and the Idaho Family Policy Center oppose the initiative.
Megan Wold, an attorney for Right to Life Idaho, said, “[The initiative] would allow abortion for any reason up until the moment that a baby can survive outside of its mother's womb on its own. That is far more extreme than even Roe vs. Wade allowed.”
Additionally, she said that the wording of the initiative would “make transgender hormones and surgeries available to minors without parental notification or consent. That would have drastic ramifications for our healthcare system, affecting health insurance costs and taxpayers.”
A statement on Idaho Chooses Life’s website states, “The Liberal Media blames babies for Idaho’s doctor and nursing shortage. But the fact is … Idaho has had a shortage for many decades — throughout all the years of Roe v. Wade. Killing more babies will not bring more doctors to Idaho. But better pay, education and better working conditions will.”
Other 2026 abortion policy ballot measures
Voters in three other states will decide ballot measures related to abortion policy in 2026. One, in Missouri, has the support of organizations that describe themselves as pro-life. Two, in Nevada and Virginia, have the support of organizations that describe themselves and pro-choice.
Missouri Amendment 3 would repeal the state’s constitutional right to reproductive freedom (which was ratified by voters in 2024). Amendment 3 would prohibit abortions except in cases of "medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest," and permit abortions in cases of rape or incest only through 12 weeks of gestation. Additionally, Amendment 3 would prohibit certain medical procedures for transgender minors, as well as the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to minors.
In Nevada, Question 6 would create a state constitutional right to an abortion, while allowing the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, defined as when, “there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.” Voters approved Question 6 in 2024, but constitutional amendments must be approved by voters twice before they are ratified.
In Virginia, voters will decide a constitutional amendment that would establish a right to reproductive freedom, defined as, “the right to make and effectuate one's own decisions about all matters related to one's pregnancy.”
Other Idaho ballot initiatives
Supporters of another ballot initiative submitted signature petition sheets on May 1. The initiative would legalize the use of marijuana for individuals diagnosed with a substantial health condition. It would allow individuals to receive a medical cannabis card and production companies to receive a medical cannabis production license.
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