Utah Supreme Court Bolsters Citizen-Led Initiatives, Curbs Legislative Overreach on Ballot Measures
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a landmark decision, the Utah Supreme Court on Thursday sided decisively with citizen-led grassroots efforts, holding that the state legislature acted unconstitutionally when altering a voter-approved ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. The ruling not only impacts how congressional district maps are drawn but also signifies a broader protection for voter-driven initiatives aimed at governmental reform. The case arose after the 2018 approval of the ballot initiative aimed at curbing gerrymandering was significantly rewritten by Utah’s legislature, a move critics said undermined the will of the voters. … Read more