A wave of disapproval has swelled among several organizations and individuals in Utah who are attributing the language used in Amendment D, slated for inclusion on the state’s November ballot as deceitful, according to legal documentation filed recently. The plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, allege that the proposed ballot summary is designed with the intent to trick voters into relinquishing their constitutional rights, as obtained by ABC4.
Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at a Campaign Legal Center, articulated a sentiment of frustration with state politicians, as reported by KSL. Gaber accuses these politicians of a pattern of overruling popular will, first by reversing Prop 4, and now by attempting to push a contentious constitutional amendment with misleading ballot language. "Utah politicians refuse to accept any check on their power," said Gaber.
Furthering the controversy, a legal motion was filed requesting a preliminary injunction to remove the proposed amendment from the general election ballot. The argument brought to the fore is the inconsistency between the proposed amendment's actual text and its purported aim described on the ballot, potentially misleading voters about its true implications on the initiative process. This concern was echoed by Better Boundaries, a group backing a 2018 ballot initiative on redistricting, which reinforced the lawsuit’s intention to preserve Utahns' ability to be heard through the ballot initiative process, as noted by KSL.
However, defenders of Amendment D, like Senator Kirk Cullimore R-Draper, maintain the stance that the amendment could fortify initiatives, allowing the legislature to refine laws established by citizens to address potential constitutional conflicts or budgetary constraints.
