Utah GOP gathers enough signatures in push to legalize partisan gerrymanders
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/utah-gop-gathers-enough-signatures-in-push-to-legalize-partisan-gerrymanders/
Utah Republicans working to repeal the states ban on partisan gerrymandering have ostensibly gathered enough signatures to put their measure on the November ballot, but its still too soon to know whether that will actually happen.
The signature drive comes after Utah courts struck down the states previous electoral map, which will likely allow Democrats to win one of the states four congressional seats. Unhappy with that result, the GOP now wants to ask voters to make blatantly partisan gerrymanders legal again.
As of Tuesday morning, the GOP effort had logged more than 163,000 signatures, clearing the statewide signature requirement. It also gathered enough signatures in 26 out of 29 state senate districts meeting the district-level hurdle, as well.
But the Republican referendum effort isnt a done deal, because thousands of Utahns have been submitting paperwork to remove their signatures from the petition.