More Oregon counties vote to pursue idea of joining Idaho; it's doomed, but shows growing rural-urban political divide

Citizens for Greater Idaho map; star denotes Idaho's capital, Boise. California counties are not part of the current proposal.

Counties on board, sort of (Wikipedia base map)

Voters in seven rural counties in Oregon have approved ballot measures more or less endorsing the idea that they become part of Idaho. Five voted for it Tuesday, following two that had voted earlier. The notion is almost certain to remain a fantasy, since Congress and the states' legislatures would have to agree to it, but it's another illustration of the growing rural-urban divide in American politics, and backers of the idea are already talking about second phase, to take in some Northern California counties.

"This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon," said Citizens for Greater Idaho President Mike McCarter. "If we're allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want."

"Supporters of the plan say extending Idaho's western boundary far into Oregon would benefit people and lawmakers in both states. They say people in rural Oregon have values and economies that more closely align with those in Idaho," reports Bill Chappell of NPR. "The ballot initiatives that were endorsed this week stop short of demanding an immediate departure from Oregon. Voters in Sherman County and Grant County, for instance, backed measures that urge officials to discuss the idea of relocating the border and to promote the plan if it's in the counties' best interests."

Voters in Malheur County were asked: "Shall the County Court meet three times annually to discuss promoting Malheur County's interests regarding relocation of the Oregon-Idaho Border?" The vote in favor was 3,050 to 2,572, the weakest of this week's five counties. Malheur County shares most of Oregon's border with Idaho and is near its capital, Boise, but has a fresh tie to the rest of Oregon: "The county recently saw a spike in tax receipts from the $10 million of cannabis sold there each month," Chappell notes. "Cannabis is legal in Oregon but not in Idaho."