Utah Supreme Court blocks ballot measure amendment this November

The Utah Supreme Court ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment, which aimed to give lawmakers more control over ballot measures, would not be presented to voters this November. This decision upheld a lower court's finding that the amendment's ballot language was misleading and did not clearly inform voters of the implications of ceding power to the legislature. The court noted that the summary voters would see failed to adequately disclose the extent of authority lawmakers would gain, labeling it 'counterfactual.' Additionally, the court found that the Legislature did not meet the necessary requirements for publishing the ballot question in newspapers within the mandated timeframe. Although the text of the amendment will still appear on the ballots, any votes cast will not be counted due to the court's ruling. Legislative leaders expressed disappointment, arguing that the court's decision undermined the voting rights of Utah citizens. Republican Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged the compelling nature of the lower court's opinion but refrained from labeling the ballot question as misleading. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that voters have a clear understanding of any future proposals regarding legislative power over citizen initiatives. The amendment was seen as a response to a previous ruling by the Utah Supreme Court that limited the legislature's ability to alter laws approved by citizen initiatives. This situation has sparked a debate over the balance of power between lawmakers and voters in Utah, with some viewing the amendment as a necessary adjustment and others as an overreach of legislative authority.