Oppose Rushed Legislation Undermining Voter-Approved Redistricting Reform

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the legislation signed by Governor Spencer Cox that prohibits county clerks from accepting signature removal forms mailed with pre-paid postage. This bill was inserted into legislation at 11 p.m. on the final night of the session with almost no public discussion, sent to the governor at 2:16 a.m., and signed less than 12 hours after passage. The timing and process of this legislation are deeply troubling. For over a month, Better Boundaries had been mailing pre-filled signature removal forms with pre-stamped envelopes to voters who signed the petition to repeal Proposition 4. This new law, sponsored by Sen. Brady Brammer and Rep. Karen Peterson, went into effect immediately upon signature, unlike most bills which take effect later in the year. It directly targets this ongoing signature removal effort by requiring voters to now pay for their own stamps or visit county clerks' offices in person. Proposition 4 was approved by Utah voters in 2018 to ban partisan gerrymandering and create an independent redistricting commission with neutral redistricting criteria. The current repeal effort by Utahns for Representative Government seeks to eliminate these protections, allowing the Legislature to redraw maps for the 2028 election without limitations on manipulating boundaries to favor one party. As Better Boundaries executive director Elizabeth Rasmussen stated, "The Legislature has once again changed the rules for their own benefit midway through the process at the expense of everyday Utahns." Changing procedural rules in the middle of a signature gathering process, with virtually no public input or debate, undermines the integrity of Utah's initiative process and disrespects the will of voters who approved anti-gerrymandering protections. I urge you to support legislation that restores fair processes for signature removal and protects the voter-approved redistricting reforms in Proposition 4. Utah voters deserve transparent governance that respects their voice, not midnight rule changes that serve partisan interests.