Watchdogs ask judge to remove from Utah ballots a measure that would boost lawmakers’ power

Watchdogs ask judge to remove from Utah ballots a measure that would boost lawmakers' power

AP
Published7 Sep 2024, 01:03 AM IST
Watchdogs ask judge to remove from Utah ballots a measure that would boost lawmakers' power
Watchdogs ask judge to remove from Utah ballots a measure that would boost lawmakers’ power

Government watchdog groups in Utah are asking a judge to remove from November's ballot a measure that would bolster lawmakers' power.

The question would amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers to change citizen-initiated ballot measures after they have passed. It would also give citizen initiative efforts more time to gather signatures and bar foreign influence on ballot measures.

The legal filing is the latest episode in a long-running tug-of-war over control of the legislative and congressional maps but could have implications for other areas covered by citizen-initiated ballot measures, too. The issue is a glimpse into a pattern of state lawmakers trying to subvert the will of voters when it comes to control of political maps.

The League of Women Voters, Mormon Women for Ethical Government and other plaintiffs in a long-running lawsuit say lawmakers changed election deadlines to rush to the ballot a measure to undermine the say of voters. They also say the language that voters will see on ballots does not describe what the measure would do.

“Instead, it seeks through deception to mislead Utah voters into surrendering their constitutional rights,” they say in the legal filing, The plaintiffs, represented by the Campaign Legal Center, say that the ballot language makes it sound like the measure is protecting voters' rights but doesn't mention where it would roll them back.

“The text of the Amendment — in sweeping language — wholesale exempts the Legislature from complying with any constitutional provision when it acts to amend, repeal, or enact laws in relation to voter-approved initiatives,” the filing says.

The groups are calling on a federal court to remove the measure from the ballot quickly, as ballots are to be sent to overseas and miliary voters starting Sept. 20.

This part of the legal dispute was years in the making. In 2018, voters approved a ballot measure that created an independent commission to draw legislative districts every decade. The commission would send its recommendation to the Legislature, which could approve those maps or redraw them. The measure also barred drawing districts lines to protect incumbents or favor a political party, a practice known as gerrymandering. Lawmakers removed that provision in 2020.

And lawmakers ended up ignoring the commission's congressional map and passing its own, splitting relatively liberal Salt Lake City into four districts — each of which is now represented by a Republican.

In July, the Utah Supreme Court — with all five of its justices appointed by Republicans — ruled that the GOP had overstepped its bounds by undoing the ban on political gerrymandering.

Lawmakers responded by holding a special session in August to add a measure to November's ballot to ask voters to grant them a power that the state's top court held they did not have.

State Sen. Kirk Cullimore, a Republican and sponsor of the proposal, said at the time that the court ruling made ballot initiatives into “super laws” that would not be subject to the same revisions as those passed by the Legislature. Cullimore did not return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

Changes to the political mapmaking process have been the impetus for attempts to change the state constitution in other states, too.

Missouri voters approved a redistricting process in 2018 intended to create “partisan fairness” in voting districts. Lawmakers promptly placed a new amendment on the ballot to undo some of the key elements, and voters agreed to the new version in 2020.

In 2022, Arizona lawmakers placed on the ballot a proposal that would allow them to amend or repeal entire voter-approved measures if any portion of them is found unconstitutional or illegal by the state or federal Supreme Court. Voters defeated it.

This year, an advocacy group has won a spot on the ballot in Ohio for a measure that would appoint a new commission to draw legislative and congressional maps. State Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, objected twice to the ballot measure language.

Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

MoreLess
First Published:7 Sep 2024, 01:03 AM IST
Business NewsNewsWatchdogs ask judge to remove from Utah ballots a measure that would boost lawmakers’ power

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Tata Steel share price

    163.70
    02:38 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -3.05 (-1.83%)

    Axis Bank share price

    1,146.75
    02:38 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -30.75 (-2.61%)

    Tata Power share price

    440.95
    02:38 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -25.75 (-5.52%)

    Bharat Electronics share price

    266.10
    02:38 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -11.1 (-4%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Eclerx Services share price

    3,107.95
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    84.9 (2.81%)

    Coforge share price

    7,210.00
    02:32 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    86.85 (1.22%)

    Vijaya Diagnostic Centre share price

    987.20
    02:33 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -1.75 (-0.18%)

    Dr. Lal Pathlabs share price

    3,456.00
    02:33 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -38.25 (-1.09%)
    More from 52 Week High

    Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation share price

    2,523.55
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -241.7 (-8.74%)

    Jubilant Ingrevia share price

    732.10
    02:33 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -62.15 (-7.82%)

    Railtel Corporation Of India share price

    398.00
    02:33 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -33.55 (-7.77%)

    VIP Industries share price

    520.25
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    -43.6 (-7.73%)
    More from Top Losers

    Astrazeneca Pharma India share price

    8,016.65
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    584.15 (7.86%)

    Finolex Industries share price

    289.50
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    17.85 (6.57%)

    CG Power & Industrial Solutions share price

    751.20
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    32.4 (4.51%)

    Natco Pharma share price

    1,397.00
    02:34 PM | 7 OCT 2024
    42.35 (3.13%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      77,675.00-10.00
      Chennai
      77,681.00-10.00
      Delhi
      77,833.00-10.00
      Kolkata
      77,685.00-10.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.86/L0.00
      Chennai
      100.75/L0.00
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.72/L0.00

      Popular in News

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts