A recent Utah Supreme Court Ruling on Citizen Ballot Initiatives, could bolster a New Group's Plans to get a Question before Voters that could upend State Politics.
"People 4 Utah" is planning a 2026 Citizen Ballot Initiative to create an "Open Primary" system.
"In Utah, if you’re an independent voter? You are excluded from a decision in 81% of legislative races," Barbara Stallone, People 4 Utah's Executive Director, said on Friday.
The Open Primary Ballot would put All Candidates on a Single Ballot. Every Registered Voter would receive a Ballot. The Top Two Winners would then advance to the November General Election.
Stallone argues that moving to this System would give All Voters, a bigger say in how Candidates are Elected, as well as forcing Candidates to actually have to talk to Constituents.
She believes it would also advance Third-Parties, who have typically been Blocked from getting more Attention. "What we’re looking to do is re-enfranchise the almost 600,000 unaffiliated voters in Utah," Stallone said.
"We support citizen-led ballot initiatives, though we do not typically take positions on specific ballot questions," the Utah Democratic Party said in a Statement.
United Utah Party Chair Ladd Johnson said He likes the idea, but Disagrees with the Concept of only the Top Two Candidates advancing. Instead, He said He would prefer the Top Three or Four Candidates going to the November Ballot. "Open primaries are an improvement over where we are for sure," He said.
Stallone said the Initiative is still being worked on. The Group hopes to launch Signature gathering in early 2025.
The Group got a significant Boost from the recent Utah Supreme Court Ruling on Citizen Ballot Initiatives. In a Lawsuit over the Utah State Legislature replacing a Citizen Initiative creating an Independent Redistricting Commission with its own Legislation, the State's Top Court declared that Lawmakers Overstepped their Authority on Ballot Questions that Reform Government.
Open Primaries may Not be the only Citizen Ballot Initiatives under consideration for 2026. Emboldened by the Utah Supreme Court's Ruling, Various Groups are contemplating their own Initiatives for Liquor Privatization, Abortion Rights, and a Carbon Tax.
But Republican Legislative Leaders on Utah's Capitol Hill, blasted the Court's Ruling. It is possible the 2025 Legislative Session sees Bills raising Thresholds to Pass a Citizen Ballot Initiative in the future.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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