Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2026)

Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Redistricting policy
Status Cleared for signature gathering
Type Initiated 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.

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.

Support

Utahns for Representative Government is leading the campaign in support of the initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• President Donald Trump (R)
• Utah Attorney General Derek Brown (R)

Former Officials

• Former U.S. Rep. Robert Bishop (R)

Political Parties

• Republican Party of Utah

Organizations

• Securing American Greatness Inc.

Individuals

• Robert Axson - Utah Republican Party Chair
• Brad Bonham (R) - Republican National Committeeman
• Donald Trump Jr. - Executive VP of the Trump Organization

Arguments

• Utah Republican Party: "The clock is ticking. Our constitutional right to fair and accountable representation is under attack, and we are in a high-stakes legal and political battle to save it. The integrity of our electoral process—and the ability for the Legislature to draw maps as the Constitution requires—hangs in the balance. We need to act decisively and immediately."
• President Donald Trump: "Utahns deserve Maps drawn by those they elect, not Rogue Judges or Leftwing Activists who never faced the Voters, and, therefore, I encourage all Patriotic Utahns, Republicans, and MAGA Supporters who love their Great State and Country to sign this initiative, ASAP."
• Utahns for Representative Government: "Utah is facing a direct threat to its constitutional balance. Outside interests and activist judges have worked to strip the Legislature—Utah’s elected representatives—of their authority to draw congressional districts. This effort began with Proposition 4 (“Better Boundaries”), a measure funded by out-of-state groups seeking to impose their will on Utah voters. Now, flawed court rulings are attempting to rewrite our state constitution, creating confusion and undermining Utah’s system of representative, accountable government. If left unchallenged, these actions will allow unelected judges and special interests to determine Utah’s political future."

Opposition

Protect Utah Voters is leading the campaign in opposition to the measure.

Opponents

Former Officials

• Former State Rep. Brian King (D)

Organizations

• ACLU of Utah
• Better Boundaries

Arguments

• ACLU of Utah: "Utahns deserve fair maps and fair representation, not political tricks. This isn't fairness - it's politicians protecting their own power. Utahns deserve leaders who follow the law and respect the will of the people, not insiders rewriting the rules to benefit themselves."
• Protect Utah Voters: "Proposition 4 was written by Utahns for Utahns. It created clear rules and a more open process so redistricting couldn’t be used for political advantage. The new petition would undo those reforms. No matter what party we belong to, most of us agree that politicians shouldn’t get to choose their voters."

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls and 2026 ballot measure polls

Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2026)

Poll	Dates	Sample size	Margin of error	Support	Oppose	Undecided	Sponsor
Embold Research Question "In 2018, Utah voters passed Proposition 4, a ballot initiative that established the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission and included a set of neutral criteria that all redistricting maps in Utah must follow. Prop 4 also banned the manipulation of election district maps to unfairly benefit one political party (“gerrymandering”). Do you support or oppose Prop 4?"	Jan. 12, 2026–Jan. 15, 2026	1,731 RV	± 2.50%	64.0%	19.0%	18.0%	Better Boundaries
Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Path to the ballot

Process in Utah

See also: Laws governing the initiative 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• November 3, 2025: Public hearings for the initiative were held. After the completion of the public hearings, the initiative was cleared to begin gathering signatures.
• February 10, 2026: As of this date, the Lt. Governor had verified 78,374 signatures.

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.

How to vote in Utah

Poll times

Utah is an all-mail voting state that offers vote centers for voters that choose to vote in person. All vote centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Utah voters are able to vote in person at any vote center. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Utah, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Utah for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the next general election. Pre-registration is available for 16- and 17-year-olds. 17-year-olds may vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the general election. Registration can be completed online or by mailing in a form. The deadline to register online or by mail is 11 days before Election Day. After this deadline, voters may register in person at a vote center by casting a provisional ballot and providing two forms of identification.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Utah does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Utah has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Utah allows same-day voter registration at polling places during the 10 days preceding and on Election Day.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must be residents of the state for at least 30 days before the election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Utah does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a person who commits fraudulent registration is "guilty of a class A misdemeanor" under Utah Code 20A-2-401.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Utah lieutenant governor’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Utah requires in-person voters to present non-photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Utah statute defining accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

"Valid voter identification" means: a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may include: a currently valid Utah driver license; a currently valid identification card issued under Title 53, Chapter 3, Part 8, Identification Card Act; a currently valid identification card that is issued by: the state; or a branch, department, or agency of the United States; a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon; a currently valid United States passport; or a currently valid United States military identification card; one of the following identification cards, regardless of whether the card includes a photograph of the voter: a valid tribal identification card; a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or a tribal treaty card; or two forms of identification not listed under Subsection (79)(a) or (b) but that bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct, which may include: before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a current utility bill, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election; before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a bank or other financial account statement, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election; a certified birth certificate; a valid social security card; an original or copy of a check issued by the state or the federal government, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election; an original or copy of a paycheck from the voter's employer, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election; a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license; certified naturalization documentation; a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States; a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change; a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card; a currently valid identification card issued by: a local government within the state; an employer for an employee; or a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the state; or a current Utah vehicle registration.

”

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Utah.

• 2026 ballot measures
• Utah 2026 ballot measures
• Utah elections, 2026

Utah ballot measures

Explore Utah's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.

• List of Utah ballot measures
• Utah Historical Ballot Measures Factbook
• Redistricting policy ballot measures
• Utah State Legislature

Initiative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Laws governing the initiative process in Utah
• Initiated state statute
• Utah Constitution

External links

• Full Text of Initiative
• Utah Initiatives and Referenda

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