Majority of Idahoans support proposed ballot measure on abortion, BSU poll says
Results from an annual Boise State University survey on public policy show that Idaho residents appear to be in favor of a proposed ballot initiative that would ask voters to restore access to abortion and protect reproductive health care rights.
Boise State released the results of the survey, which covered topics from the economy to education to energy, on Friday. Researchers asked respondents about a ballot initiative effort led by Idahoans United for Women and Families, a nonprofit that formed in the wake of Idaho’s strict restrictions on abortion, which went into effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Half of respondents were asked whether they would support the ballot measure on their November 2026 ballot, and given a description of the initiative and the ballot title: “Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.” Half were asked whether they would support the ballot measure, but given only the description of the initiative.
The proposed legislation would carve out individual rights to “make personal decisions” regarding abortion, childbirth care, contraception, fertility care, miscarriage care and more. That would include legalizing abortion up to the point of fetal viability — typically around 24 weeks’ gestation.
Roughly 60% of survey respondents said they would support the ballot measure, either “strongly” or “somewhat,” regardless of how they were asked, according to the survey.
About 20% of respondents said they would “strongly oppose” the ballot measure regardless of whether they were told the title of the proposed legislation. Around 8% said they “somewhat oppose” the measure, but that number increased to around 11% when respondents were told the name of the measure.
In contrast, opposition to the measure decreased slightly when given the bill title among respondents who said they unsure whether they would support the measure, from 11.9 to 9.6%.
Boise State researchers said there was little difference in response between male and female survey respondents, but a stark rift when it came to political preference. Around 45% of Republicans said they would support the ballot measure, but that number rose to 60-66% for Independents and more than 90% for Democrats.
The survey results also noted that longtime Idaho residents were more likely to be in favor of the proposed ballot measure than newcomers.
Melanie Folwell, spokesperson for Idahoans United, said in a statement that the survey “confirms what we’ve always known” about Idaho residents’ support for the initiative. The nonprofit conducted its own polling in 2022 that reflected the results of the Boise State survey. A 2022 Idaho Statesman poll on abortion also returned similar results.
“Radical lobbyists and politicians imposed an extreme ban on every Idahoan, but most Idahoans simply don’t agree,” Folwell’s statement said.
Abortion is illegal in Idaho except under narrow circumstances, including for ectopic and molar pregnancies, when the life or health of the mother is at risk, and in cases of incest or rape that have been reported to police.
Organizers have been gathering signatures in support of the proposed measure for months. For a proposal to make the ballot, organizers must gather signatures from 6% of the total registered voters at the time of the last general election — around 70,700 signatures. Those must be distributed from around the state and include at least 6% of voters in 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.
Folwell’s statement said Idahoans United has gathered 65,000 signatures statewide with less than 100 days left to collect them, and likely met the 6% qualification in eight districts, including several in the Boise area, as well as in Moscow, Pocatello and the Hailey area.
Idahoans United said the group is close to reaching the required number of signatures in districts that include Twin Falls, Mountain Home, McCall, Idaho City and Stanley.
