Ballot Initiatives

What is the voter’s place in Utah’s Democracy? It wasn't really an out loud question until the Utah Supreme Court stirred up a hornet's nest over citizen-led ballot initiatives.

Even though Amendment D will remain on the ballot, no votes cast will count after the Utah Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision to void it from the November election.

GOP leaders have derided recent decisions as the work of activist judges or “policymaking from the bench.” That has some in the supermajority toying with the idea of judicial reform.

While Gov. Spencer Cox supports the removal of the earmark on public education funding, the Utah teachers’ union has asked a judge to keep the question, Amendment A, off the ballot.

The first of Utah's general election debates featured Gov. Spencer Cox, Rep. Brian King, his Democratic challenger, and Libertarian Robert Latham.

Judge Dianna Gibson’s order says ballots can be printed as certified, but Amendment D is void and won’t be counted. The state could still appeal to the Utah Supreme Court.

Everyday Utahns KUER spoke with commonly thought the amendment uplifted voters based on the ballot language. That changed later on, though.

Groups including the League of Women Voters and Mormon Women for Ethical Government say in their court filing that lawmakers are using deception to get voters to surrender their constitutional rights with Amendment D.

The campaign, organized by Better Boundaries, urges Utahns to vote against a constitutional amendment to give lawmakers the power to alter and repeal voter-approved ballot initiatives.

Lawmakers called a special session following a Utah Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the ability of voter-approved ballot initiatives to reform the government without interference.

The initiative is asking voters to take the pricing and distribution of liquor, beer and wine out of state hands and privatize the industry.

The Orem City Council recently passed resolutions taking a stand on two ballot propositions dealing with the Alpine School District. Some residents believe it was a misuse of public funds.