Utah GOP changes tactics in its attempts to repeal Prop 4, filing to launch a direct ballot initiative instead

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Republican Party is changing tactics in its attempts to repeal Proposition 4, the citizen-led ballot initiative that banned partisan gerrymandering. Instead, they are filing to launch a ballot initiative so that Utah’s citizens can vote on whether or not to repeal Prop 4.

Previously, the party filed paperwork to run a referendum to repeal Map C and an indirect initiative to ask the legislature to repeal Prop 4.

In a filing obtained by ABC4, the Utah Republican Party has filed to drop their indirect ballot initiative, and they are launching a direct ballot initiative to repeal Prop 4. If the initiative makes it on the ballot, the people of Utah will vote on the issue.

The new plan likely means that the plaintiff’s claim that the indirect initiative violates Utah’s constitution is moot.

If the initiative is successful and Proposition 4 is repealed on the ballot in 2026, then any map drawn under those standards would be void as well. In that case, the legislature would likely have to draw new lines again.

Proposition 4 was a citizen-led ballot initiative passed by Utah’s voters in 2018. It created an independent redistricting commission to draw new boundary lines for Utah’s congressional districts.

The initiative would repeal what’s called the Independent Redistricting Commission and Standards Act, meaning that it would repeal all sections of Utah Code title 20A chapter 19 and Utah Code title 20A chapter 20 — the sections that were put into place by Prop 4.

For the initiative to get on the ballot, republicans will have to gather over 140,000 signatures by April 15. For a statewide initiative, that’s equal to 8% of the number of registered voters in Utah, from at least 26 of the 29 senate districts.

An initiative to the voters requires about double the number of signatures as an initiative to the legislature, which was the GOP’s original plan.

They’re also still running a referendum to repeal Map C, and the party is presumably still gathering signatures for that effort.

ABC 4 is still waiting to connect with the chair of the Utah Republican Party, Rob Axson, for comment.