December 23, 2021 3:55 a.m.

The Greater Idaho movement has submitted enough valid signatures to get on the ballot for next year’s May Primary, in Douglas County.

County Clerk Daniel Loomis said on Monday his office verified 3,003 valid signatures out of 3,614 that were submitted on December 7th. Loomis said he informed the chief petitioners, Michael McCarter and Valerie Gottschalk, via email and certified letters. The petition titled Expand the Idaho State border to include Douglas County achieved the minimum required 2,922 valid signatures and is now certified.

McCarter said this ballot measure would amend a 1997 ordinance that authorizes county officers and employees to advocate for Oregon legislation that would affect the county. McCarter said it would allow advocacy for Idaho legislation, including any legislation to move the Oregon/Idaho border.

Loomis said the previous Idaho border ballot question, was a non-binding Advisory Question on the November 2020 countywide ballot. It failed by a vote of 57 percent to 43 percent.

McCarter said his group is hoping to spend at least $40,000 on the local election so voters will understand, “…how much better Idaho’s low-tax, conservative governance is than Oregon’s governance”. He said, “If southwest Oregon wants to be included in this border relocation, then Douglas County needs to prove it with their vote. Otherwise, state legislatures might settle for just eastern Oregon”.

Last week, the Klamath County Clerk announced that the movement’s initiative had qualified for the May 2022 ballot in that county.

For more information, go to: https://www.greateridaho.org/