Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2026)
| Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative | |
|---|---|
| Election date November 3, 2026 | |
| Topic Redistricting policy | |
| Status Pending official review | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative may appear on the ballot in Utah as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
The initiative would repeal Proposition 4, which passed in 2018, thereby eliminating the seven-member non-politician redistricting commission known as the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission.[1]
Text of measure
Full text
The full text of the ballot initiative is available here.
Fiscal impact statement
The fiscal impact statement, prepared by the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, is available here.
Path to the ballot
Process in Utah
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Utah, the number of required signatures is tied to the number of active voters as of January 1 following the most recent regular general election. For directly initiated statutes, proponents must gather signatures equal to 8 percent of the total number of active voters. For directly initiated state statutes, signatures must be collected from each of at least 26 of the 29 Utah State Senate districts equal to 8 percent of active voters in the state as of January 1 of the year following the last regular general election.
State law establishes a final signature deadline for direct initiated state statutes as either 316 days after the initial initiative application was filed or February 15 of the election year, whichever is earlier. Moreover, signature petition sheet packets for direct initiatives must be submitted to county clerks on a rolling basis no more than 30 days after the first signature is added to the packet.
The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures: 140,748 valid signatures are required.
- Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures is February 15, 2026. An initiative also has a specific deadline 316 days following the initial application.
Stages of this ballot initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:[2]
- October 14, 2025: The initiative was filed by Robert Axson, chairperson of the Utah Republican Party, and is pending official review by the secretary of state.[3]
- October 24, 2025: Sponsors of the initiative repealed the initial version and filed a second version of the measure. This changed the type of measure from an indirectly initiated state statute to a directly initiated state statute.[4][5]
- November 3, 2025: Public hearings for the initiative were held.[6]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Utah
See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Utah.
See also
View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Utah.
Explore Utah's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.
Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ https://vote.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Repeal-of-Independent-Redistricting-Commission-Direct-Initiative_Final.pdf Vote.Utah.gov, "Full text of Repeal of Independent Redistricting Commission Direct Initiative," accessed October 27, 2025]
- ↑ Vote.Utah.gov, "Initiatives and Referenda," accessed October 16, 2025
- ↑ Utah attorney general backs GOP initiative to repeal redistricting laws, "DeseretNews," accessed October 16, 2025]
- ↑ Vote.Utah.gov, "Formal withdrawal of indirect initiative email," accessed October 27, 2025
- ↑ Facebook, "Post by Utah Republican Party," accessed October 27, 2025
- ↑ Utah Initiatives and Referenda, "Public Hearings Round 2 Schedule," accessed October 31, 2025
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, “Utah Code 20A-1-302. Opening and closing of polls on election day.” accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Utah State Legislature, “Utah Code 20A-2-101. Eligibility for registration.” accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Utah Lieutenant Governor, “Welcome to the Utah Voter Registration Website,” accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Utah State Legislature, “20A-2-207. Registration by provisional ballot.” accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, “Utah Code 20A-2-401. Fraudulent registration -- Penalty.” accessed May 13, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Utah State Legislature, "Utah Code 20A-1-102. Definitions." accessed October 9, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.