Utah Senate Defeats Bill to Restore Old Caucus System

On February 24, the Utah Senate voted against SB 43 by a vote of 19-9. Utah has been the only state in which it is impossible for anyone to get on a primary ballot unless he or she does well at a party caucus prior to the primary. In 2014 the legislature passed a law saying anyone can petition on to a primary ballot, regardless of what the caucus thought of that person.

SB 43 would have suspended the law passed in 2014. See this story, which says that the bill lost because it seemed unfair to undo the 2014 legislation, even temporarily. The reason it seemed unfair is that the 2014 bill passed in the face of a proposed initiative to make the same change. The initiative proponents withdrew their petition because the 2014 legislature made the change.


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