'Deceptive' and 'misleading': Ballot language to limit voters' initiative power thrashed by critics -- including Republic

Groups opposing a constitutional amendment that will ensure the Utah Legislature can repeal or amend any future ballot initiative are outraged by the way the issue will be presented on voters’ ballots in November, calling the language a deceptive “lie” intended to “trick voters” into surrendering their constitutional rights.

As it was written by Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schutlz, the question put before voters is whether or not to “strengthen the initiative process” by prohibiting “foreign influence” on Utah ballot initiatives and “clarifying the voters and legislative bodies’ ability to amend laws.”

It is the description of the amendment “strengthening the initiative process” that has opponents upset, contending it minimizes what they say is actually a power grab by the Legislature that would strip voters of their constitutional right to run ballot initiatives.

The description of the amendment comes as the ballots that will be sent to 1.7 million registered voters are now being printed and as a new study by The Utah Foundation reports that politicians ignoring voters is the second most important issue for residents — surpassed only by the cost of housing in the state.




https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2024/09/04/ballot-language-limit-voters/