Idaho election reform clears Senate

BOISE – Senate Republicans passed a $5.6 million plan to limit most elections to two days a year, down from many dates now.

Tuesday’s largely party-line vote was 27-8. The measure has cleared the House and now goes to Gov. Butch Otter.

The bill would limit most elections to May and November, but public schools could schedule levy and bond elections in March and August. Voters wouldn’t see any changes until 2011.

The state would provide $4.1 million annually to pay for elections, with counties getting another $1.5 million to buy new election equipment.