Idaho ballot measure · November 3, 2026
Idaho Advisory Question, explained
Which gun should be the official state gun of Idaho. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.
The official wording
Which of the following guns should be designated as the state gun of Idaho? Please choose only one answer. (a) Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30); (b) Winchester Model 1873 "Gun that Won the West" (.44-40); (c) 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver "Peacemaker" (.45 Colt); (d) M1 Garand rifle (.30-06); (e) Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP); or (f) Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06).
This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.
What it actually means
This is the one question on the Idaho ballot that is not a yes-or-no vote and does not change any law. Voters pick one of six firearms, and the result tells legislators which one Idahoans prefer. Making it official would still require a separate bill in a future session. The measure reached the ballot as House Bill 932, sponsored by Rep. Jason Monks (R-22B), which passed both chambers unanimously and was signed by Gov. Brad Little on April 2, 2026.
If you vote YES
- Choosing one of the six options records a preference: the Winchester Model 1894, the Winchester Model 1873, the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver, the M1 Garand, the Colt M1911 or the Remington Model 700.
- The result is advisory only. Nothing becomes law, and the Legislature would have to pass a separate bill in a future session to designate a state gun.
- Two of the options are already the official gun of another state: the Colt Single Action Army Revolver in Arizona and the M1911 in Utah. Ten states have an official state gun, according to the National Rifle Association.
- The state's official statement of purpose in the voter pamphlet says plainly: "This is a non-binding measure, and the Legislature would have to take action during a future legislative session to officially designate a gun as the Idaho State Gun."
If you vote NO
- There is no "no" option on this question; a voter can simply leave it blank, and a blank does not count toward any option.
- Whatever the result, Idaho has no official state gun today and will not have one unless the Legislature passes a separate law.
- No state law, spending or firearm regulation changes as a result of this question either way.
Why supporters say YES
We found none published in the sources reviewed.
Why opponents say NO
We found none published in the sources reviewed.
What’s genuinely uncertain
- There is no yes-or-no campaign here and no organised side. House Bill 932 passed both chambers unanimously, and Ballotpedia has identified no arguments for or against, so none are presented.
- No fiscal note specific to this question was located; Idaho's ballot measure costs are covered by a biennial appropriation to the Secretary of State.
- The question does not say what weight, if any, the Legislature would give the result, or when it might act.
The bottom line
A non-binding preference vote among six firearms; whichever wins, nothing changes until a future Legislature passes a law, so the only real question is whether to register an opinion.
One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.
Checking it against the official text
The Idaho Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Idaho Secretary of State.
Other measures on the Idaho ballot
Candidates on the same ballot
- U.S. Senate election in Idaho
- Idaho governor's race
- Idaho's 1st congressional district
- Idaho's 2nd congressional district