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Talks Underway on Count My Vote Compromise

Utah State Senate
State Senator John Valentine (R-Orem)

The backers of the Count My Vote ballot initiative are talking with legislative leaders and the governor’s office about a compromise that could potentially end the push to get the issue on the ballot this fall.

If the initiative still makes it to the ballot and voters approve, it would replace Utah’s caucus-convention system for nominating political party candidates with a direct primary election.

Neither side is talking much about the details.  Republican State Senator John Valentine says he’s been part of the talks, but there’s no deal yet.

“I can confirm that negotiations are still ongoing," Valentine told reporters at the state capitol today.  "They are tenuous, but we cannot talk about things that we’re still negotiating until we have all the terms worked out.  So, hopefully, we’ll have some terms, but we are discussing it and we hope we can work out something.”

A statement issued by the Count My Vote campaign confirms the discussions are happening, but it also says the campaign to gather more than 102-thousand signatures is still underway.  The statement says the group won’t stop until Utah voters have a direct primary election.

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