By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“Similarities in the handwriting and voter information raised a credible concern that prior voter information may have been used to create purported signatures. The office has referred this matter and other isolated complaints to the Idaho State Police for review and potential criminal investigation under applicable law. A referral is not a finding of criminal liability, and this letter does not prejudge any investigation or prosecution.” — Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane on issues with the medical marijuana ballot initiative
A proposed ballot initiative seeking to legalize medical cannabis failed to qualify for Idaho's November 2026 general election. (File photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
ELECTION 2026
Medical cannabis initiative fails to qualify for Idaho’s general election ballot
By Clark Corbin
A proposed ballot initiative seeking to legalize medical cannabis in Idaho failed to meet the legal signature-gathering requirements set out in state law and will not appear on Idaho’s general election ballot in November, the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office announced Tuesday.
Voters cast their ballots during the May 19, 2026, primary election at The Waterfront in Idaho Falls. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
ELECTION 2026
‘Stop threatening your friends’: Idaho Attorney General’s Office lawyer blasts Justice Department
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
In response to one of the Trump administration’s latest attempts to intervene in state election processes, a high-ranking Idaho state government lawyer representing the state’s top election official sent the U.S. Justice Department a stern letter.
Early last week, the Justice Department sent Idaho — and apparently all 50 states — a letter threatening to criminally prosecute local and state election officials if they let noncitizens vote in the 2026 midterm elections. The letter ratcheted up the Trump administration’s push to eradicate noncitizen voting, a crime that experts say is rare in Idaho and across the country.
In Idaho — which is politically controlled by Republicans, and in recent years publicly promoted its audit of all registered voters in search of noncitizens — the Trump administration’s letter wasn’t well received.
The Boise National Forest covers more than 2.5 million acres and includes more than 500 trails. More than 60% of Idaho is federal public land. (Photo by Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)
ENVIRONMENT
Idaho U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher seeks input on federal land management in survey
By Laura Guido
Idaho Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher is seeking Idahoans’ input in a survey on management and use of the state’s federal lands.
Nearly two-thirds of Idaho’s land is federal public land. Fulcher has previously supported selling or transferring large swaths of federal land to local control.
MORE FROM US
Idaho reports first parasitic diarrhea infection amid nationwide outbreak | Kyle Pfannenstiel
MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US
Salad greens scrutinized as cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads | Anna Claire Vollers
ICYMI
Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting
Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall
Thanks for reading The Sunrise. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.