Prop. 4 repeal push losing hundreds of signatures as voters have their names removed
The Republican-led push to repeal Prop. 4, the 2018 anti-gerrymandering measure that created an independent redistricting commission, is suddenly bleeding signatures. Over the last four days, 254 voters have asked to pull their name from the petition, including an eye-popping 194 in the last day.
An analysis conducted by Utah Political Watch of signature totals from the Utah Lt. Governor’s Office from Jan. 23 to Feb. 11 shows 556 voters had their signatures removed from the petition. The uptick lines up with the launch of a campaign by Better Boundaries urging people who signed the petition to remove their names.
While the signature removal campaign won’t make much of a dent in the campaign’s overall progress toward the statewide goal of 140,748 signatures, the real danger is at the district level. To get on the ballot, organizers need both the statewide total and minimum signatures in 26 of Utah’s 29 Senate districts. Losing names inside those districts can blow up those thresholds even if the statewide number looks fine.
Updated signature totals released Wednesday morning show two Senate districts reporting fewer signatures than the day before. District 3 had 13 fewer signatures, and District 5 dropped by one.
Organizers cleared the district threshold in a fourth Senate district, SD26, on Wednesday; they still need 22 more districts to qualify for the ballot.
The biggest drops are in GOP-held seats across northern Utah:
- SD4 - Sen. Cal Musselman: 72 signatures removed
- SD5 - Sen. Ann Millner: 69 signatures removed
- SD3 - Sen. John Johnson: 56 signatures removed
- SD2 - Sen. Chris Wilson: 55 signatures removed
- SD6 - Sen. Jerry Stevenson: 49 signatures removed
Statewide, the Prop. 4 repeal campaign sits at 58.14% of the 140,748-signature target. The deadline for collecting and submitting signatures is Sunday. They need 58,921 more verified signatures.
Comments