Thousands of people in five eastern Oregon counties voted Tuesday for their elected officials to consider moving to join Idaho.
Voters in Sherman, Lake, Grant, Baker and Malheur counties all voted for ballot measures that would move the Idaho border to include their counties.
Though President Joe Biden won the state of Oregon by 16 points in the 2020 election, voters in those five rural areas gave between 69 and 79 percent of their vote to Donald Trump, according to the Hill.
“This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon. If Oregon really believes in liberal values such as self-determination, the Legislature won’t hold our counties captive against our will,” Mike McCarter, a conservative activist in charge of the group leading the effort said. “If we’re allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well.”
These five counties join two others, Union and Jefferson who had already voted in favor of joining Idaho last year during the November election.
Voters in Harney and Douglas counties are expected to vote on a similar measure in future elections.
Even though Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little said he supports incorporating more Oregonians within his state’s borders, such a move is unlikely. To move state lines the Democratic-controlled Oregon legislature would have to vote to support the measure. Furthermore, Oregon and Idaho would have to strike a formal deal, which would then need to be ratified by the U.S. Congress.
