More residents of Eastern Oregon have voted to overwhelmingly approve a non-binding measure to join the “Greater Idaho” movement.
As of Wednesday morning, 63 percent of votes submitted in Harney County supported Measure 13-18, the only county-wide vote there for Election 2021. Harney County is one of Oregon’s least populated. At time of publish, 2,484 total votes had been tallied by elections officials in the county for the measure.
A truck loaded with hay bales leaves Harney County, Oregon on Dec. 13, 2019.
Emily Cureton / OPB
The “Greater Idaho” movement seeks to add several Oregon counties to the state of Idaho, by shifting the border westward. In full, the proposed map of “Greater Idaho” would absorb about three-quarters of Oregon’s land as well as a portion of Northern California. Supporters of the campaign in Oregon say Idaho’s more conservative politics and values are more in line with their own.
The plan is unlikely, as both state legislatures and the U.S. Congress would need to sign off on changing the state line.
Once passed, Measure 13-18 in Harney County requires the county court to begin holding meetings regarding border relocation.
In addition to Harney County, seven other counties of Oregon’s 36 total have already passed similar “Greater Idaho” measures. According to the movement, it already has enough signatures to get on ballots in Douglas and Klamath counties in May 2022.
