Are Utah's Signature Thresholds Too High?
In 2014, Count My Vote, an organization dedicated to reforming Utah’s election system, launched a movement to increase voter participation and create a more inclusive electoral process. Their initiative promoted direct primary elections, challenging the traditional caucus-convention system, which was seen as exclusive and limiting voter participation. This initiative aimed to give voters a more direct role in selecting candidates, opposing the party-driven nomination process. However, the proposal faced resistance from political parties that valued the caucus system for engaging committed party members in candidate selection.
In response to the tension between Count My Vote supporters and defenders of the caucus system, Utah lawmakers introduced SB54 in 2014 as a compromise. This bill aimed to balance preserving the caucus-convention system and addressing concerns about inclusivity. SB54 allowed candidates to secure a spot on the primary ballot through the traditional caucus-convention route or by gathering a certain number of signatures from voters in their district. This hybrid approach was seen as a way to maintain party influence while broadening access to the primary ballot.
However, the implementation of SB54 faced legal challenges. Utah courts ruled that political parties could not be compelled to hold open primaries, thereby maintaining their autonomy in determining their nomination processes. This ruling significantly impacted the signature-gathering process, especially for Republican primaries. With closed primaries, only registered Republicans could sign nomination petitions for Republican candidates, making it challenging for candidates without substantial financial backing to meet signature thresholds.
The Problems with Utah's Signature Thresholds
- Partisan Interference: The Republican state and county parties have been actively working against their status as a qualified party by trying to defeat signature-gathering candidates from the primary. They do this by using party resources for unofficial party nominees who won at convention, donating thousands of dollars to those candidates and providing hundreds of volunteer hours, while cutting off signature-gathering candidates from resources. This practice allows incumbency and machine politics to control the narrative, undermining the democratic process and limiting voter choice.
- High Signature Thresholds: The current signature thresholds in Utah are too high, especially given the state’s harsh winter conditions from January to April; (the statutory dates during which signatures can be gathered.) These conditions limit volunteer engagement, making it nearly impossible to meet the thresholds without paid canvassing. To ensure more volunteer action and keep money out of our political system, signature thresholds should be reduced.
- Exclusive Signature Counts: Unlike other states, a voter can only sign for a single candidate in a race, which further necessitates a reduction in thresholds. In some districts, only one signature-gathering candidate can make it onto the ballot due to Utah’s race duplicate structure. This is unfair because signatures are not votes for a candidate but rather a way to grant them access to the ballot, where the public can directly decide who they want to represent them. Additionally, it forces candidates to campaign to their entire district rather than solely to delegates.
- Partisan Interference: The Republican state and county parties have been actively working against their status as a qualified party by trying to defeat signature-gathering candidates from the primary. They do this by using party resources for unofficial party nominees who won at convention, donating thousands of dollars to those candidates and providing hundreds of volunteer hours, while cutting off signature-gathering candidates from resources. This practice allows incumbency and machine politics to control the narrative, undermining the democratic process and limiting voter choice.
Moving Towards a Fairer System
By fostering competition and encouraging candidates to appeal to a wider spectrum of constituents, a top-two open primary system facilitates the election of officials who reflect the diverse interests and values of the electorate, ultimately leading to a more balanced and representative government.
Moreover, Utah’s current signature thresholds are 150-470% higher than those in comparable states. This disparity raises questions about whether the signature requirements are too stringent and inhibit potential candidates from participating in the electoral process. Lowering these thresholds could make it easier for candidates to get on the ballot, thereby increasing voter choice and promoting a more inclusive democracy.
Conclusion
While SB54 was a step towards balancing the traditional caucus system with broader access to the primary ballot, it has not fully addressed issues of inclusivity and representation. Reevaluating the signature thresholds and considering the adoption of a top-two open primary system could enhance voter participation and ensure that Utah’s elections are more representative of its diverse population. Reducing signature thresholds would also encourage more volunteer action, reduce the influence of money in politics, and allow for a fairer and more democratic process.