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.

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