Official English on the Ballot in Idaho

In the upcoming November 3rd midterm elections, Idaho voters will have the opportunity to vote on HJR 6, a constitutional amendment that would codify English as the official language in the state’s constitution.  As we reported earlier this year, this constitutional amendment only needs a simple majority to pass.

Idaho already has a state statute declaring English the official language of Idaho, but this does not have the same strength as a constitutional amendment. The current statute includes multiple exceptions for public safety, education, tourism, and more, whereas HJR 6 would mandate English in public proceedings, acts, and documents.

It’s also important to note that a statute is easy to eliminate or adjust, whereas a constitutional amendment would require another constitutional amendment to be passed to change it.

Idaho would not be the first state to include English as the official language in its constitution. Currently, 11 other states have constitutional provisions for official languages, with the majority only including English. Three (Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota) also include indigenous languages.

At ProEnglish, we believe that Official English policies will save money on costly translation services and are essential for fostering a greater sense of unity. We encourage all Idaho voters to support HJR 6, and hope that other states will follow Idaho’s lead in strengthening their official English laws.