By Secretary of State Phil McGrane
Highlights from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office
October 2, 2026
What It Takes to Reach 850,000 Idaho Households
Remember when the back of the cereal box was our morning entertainment as we inhaled spoonfuls of milk-covered breakfast? There were puzzles, trivia, colorful pictures, and always something that kept you reading until it was time to head out the door.
This year, as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we brought a little of that spirit to Idaho’s Voter Pamphlet. Along with the official information on the measures appearing on November’s ballot, you’ll find important election dates and useful voting information, mixed in with historical trivia, fun facts, and a few other things to keep you turning the page.
There is a lot packed into those 20 pages, and even more happening behind the scenes.
Producing 850,000 copies for households across Idaho is a months-long undertaking that begins as soon as we know what measures will appear on the November ballot.
Idaho law dictates much of what we include. For ballot propositions, that means the short title you’ll see on your ballot, a longer title explaining the measure, the fiscal impact, and arguments for and against, along with rebuttals. For constitutional amendments, we include the proposed constitutional language, a statement of purpose from Legislative Council, the question you’ll see on your ballot, arguments for and against, and the full text of the legislation.
This year we also have something different: an advisory question. November’s question involves the selection of a state gun, and the pamphlet includes pictures of the choices (which won’t appear on your ballot). Unlike an initiative or constitutional amendment, an advisory question is non-binding. It gives Idaho voters an opportunity to express their preference to the Legislature as lawmakers consider possible future legislation.
Then comes the printing.
Eight hundred and fifty thousand 20-page pamphlets require a LOT of paper. Our printer has to order that much paper well in advance, and the presses run at full capacity to get everything printed and mailed on time.
After months of work, all 850,000 pamphlets have begun making their way across Idaho and arriving quietly in your mailbox.
When yours does, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to look through it. There is a lot of work behind those pages, but more importantly, there is a lot of useful information inside them.
And I still think we can do more.
Since taking office, I’ve worked with legislative partners on legislation to create a full voter guide with everything in the pamphlet, plus information from the candidates themselves. We haven’t gotten it across the finish line yet, but I’m not giving up. I believe having more information in one place helps all of us be better prepared to vote.
In the meantime, watch your mailbox. And when the pamphlet arrives, give it a read.
Yes, even the back.
Phil McGrane
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About Phil McGrane
Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022. McGrane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.
