1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to you as a deeply concerned and morally outraged citizen of Utah, compelled to voice my strong opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment that would grant the legislature the power to alter or repeal voter-initiated ballot initiatives. This proposal strikes at the very heart of our democratic principles and raises serious ethical questions about the integrity of our legislative process. How can it be justified to strip away the power of the people in favor of legislative control? Ballot initiatives are one of the few remaining avenues where citizens can directly influence the laws that govern them, particularly when they feel their elected representatives have failed to act in their best interest. Is it ethical for the legislature to seize this power, undermining the will of the people in the process? The proposed amendment suggests that the legislature is more concerned with consolidating its own power than with listening to the voices of Utah’s citizens. If the legislature truly values the input of the people it serves, then why is it seeking to override the very decisions that voters have made through these initiatives? This move reeks of a power grab, plain and simple, and it raises the troubling question of whether our legislators are more interested in maintaining their own authority than in respecting the democratic process. Research has repeatedly shown that when legislatures disregard or alter citizen-driven initiatives, voter trust in government plummets. A study by the Pew Research Center found that voter confidence is significantly eroded when their decisions are overturned by the very representatives who are supposed to serve them. How can we expect citizens to continue participating in the democratic process when their voices are so easily dismissed? The recent Utah Supreme Court ruling that upholds the sanctity of voter initiatives should serve as a wake-up call. The court recognized the importance of these initiatives as a check on legislative power, not something to be undermined or dismissed. Yet, this proposed amendment would do exactly that, opening the door for the legislature to reshape or completely discard the will of the people. I implore you to consider the ethical implications of this amendment. Our democracy is built on the principle that the government derives its power from the consent of the governed. When that consent is ignored, democracy itself is at risk. Are you willing to sacrifice the trust and confidence of the people in favor of greater legislative control? It is your duty as a legislator to protect the democratic process, not to weaken it. Shame on you, for putting your power and control over individual liberty and freedom! The people of Utah deserve to have their voices heard and respected, not silenced by the very representatives they elected.