As ballots hit Utah mailboxes this election season, you’re about to stumble upon two amendments that are dead on arrival. Yep, you’ll see Amendments A and D listed there like they’re something you’re supposed to care about—but don’t be fooled. These two are officially meaningless. So how did we end up in this political dumpster fire? It’s the result of a legislature that pushed too far, broke the rules, and hoped you wouldn’t notice. Spoiler alert: we noticed.
Amendment D: A Ballot Ghost
Let’s start with Amendment D, which proposed giving the Utah Legislature the ability to repeal or amend voter-approved initiatives. In other words, it would allow lawmakers to override decisions made by the public, effectively nullifying the voice of the people. The amendment also threw in a ban on foreign contributions to ballot initiatives, likely as a distraction from its real intention—a blatant power grab that would have given the legislature a final veto over any future ballot initiatives (KUER) (Better Utah Institute)
But here’s the kicker: your vote won’t even be counted. Thanks to a court ruling that found the amendment unconstitutional, the voting software has been programmed to ignore it entirely. It’s like a magic trick—presto, your vote disappears into thin air.
This isn’t just about deadlines or reprogramming software. The court ruling wasn’t about missing deadlines or procedural screw-ups—it’s about constitutional violations. The legislature knew this was shaky ground but plowed ahead anyway, wasting time, money, and your attention. It’s as if they threw out a lifeline made of toilet paper, knowing full well it wouldn’t hold.
Amendment A: Counted but Hidden
Now, Amendment A is where things get even more bizarre. This amendment would have allowed the state to use income tax revenue, traditionally earmarked for public and higher education, for other purposes, like government programs. To sweeten the deal, the legislature promised to cut the sales tax on food if it passed (Hoodline) Sound important? Well, too bad, because you’ll never know the outcome.
The court threw this one out too, but because the decision came late in the election process, the voting machines couldn’t be reprogrammed in time. That means if you vote on Amendment A, your vote will be counted, but the results are going into a legal black hole thanks to a permanent injunction. So we’re left with an absurd situation where you can vote, but your vote is destined for some bureaucratic graveyard where no one will ever see it (KUER)
Now, you’d think the legislature would fight back, maybe appeal the ruling, right? Nope. They didn’t even bother. Why? Because they knew they’d lose. And more than that, they knew the optics were terrible. Can you imagine trying to appeal a court ruling on something you know was shady to begin with, right as voters are filling out their ballots? They couldn’t risk turning an already skeptical public against them. But make no mistake—this was a battle they chose to walk away from because they knew they were wrong.
Legislative Overreach: A Classic Case of Too Much Power and Too Little Accountability
So how did we end up with this dumpster fire of dead amendments? Well, it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t about missing deadlines or some minor technical error. This is what happens when lawmakers get too greedy. Utah’s legislature recently decided to change the law that required non-partisan ballot language. Instead, they allowed their party leadership to write the descriptions. What did they do with that power? They loaded the language with partisan nonsense to trick voters into siding with them.
But here’s the part that should make you sit up and pay attention: even the conservative courts in Utah—the same courts that usually bend over backward for the legislature—said, “Whoa, hold up, this is too much.” That’s when you know it’s bad. When even the courts that generally have your back tell you to pump the brakes, you’ve gone way past the line.
The Real Lesson Here: They Overplayed Their Hand
This mess isn’t just about two amendments that failed to make the cut. It’s a giant flashing neon sign that says, “Your lawmakers are getting too comfortable.” They tried to push their luck, to consolidate more power, and it blew up in their faces. They could’ve played by the rules, but the temptation to manipulate the system was too great. So they overreached, they got caught, and now we’re left with a ballot full of nonsense that nobody asked for.
Here’s the real kicker: this could’ve been avoided. The legislature knew they were walking a fine line, but they didn’t care. Instead of taking a step back, they leaned in and broke the system, hoping we wouldn’t notice. Well, guess what? The courts noticed, and now they’re scrambling to save face.
The Bottom Line: Utah Voters Deserve Better (And We’re Paying Attention)
Look, Utahns aren’t easily fooled. We’ve seen our share of political games, but this one takes the cake. They tried to manipulate us, they got caught, and now they’re hoping we’ll just go along like nothing happened. But here’s the deal: we’re not just going to let them get away with this. We’re paying attention now, and we’re not going to let this happen again.
The courts did their job this time, but we can’t always rely on them to catch every dirty trick. That’s where we come in. It’s up to us, the voters, to demand better from our elected officials. If the legislature can’t play by the rules, we’ll find leaders who can. And if they think they can keep pulling stunts like this without consequence, they’re in for a rude awakening.
So here’s the message to the Utah Legislature: we’re watching. We saw what you tried to pull this time, and we won’t forget. Next time you think about overstepping your bounds, remember this—you work for us, and we have the final say. Don’t make us remind you again.