Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox releases 2018 ballot initiative results
SALT LAKE CITY (May 29, 2018) – Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox has released the official results of the 2018 statewide initiative signature gathering process.
According to Utah Code 20A-7-201, in order for a citizens’ initiative to be deemed sufficient to be placed on the general election ballot, sponsors shall obtain legal signatures equal to 10 percent of the cumulative total of all votes cast by voters of the state for all candidates for President of the United States at the last regular general election at which a President of the United States was elected (113,143 per the current process). Additionally, legal signatures equal to 10 percent of the total of all votes cast in a district for all candidates for President of the United States at the last regular general election at which a President of the United States was elected must be collected from each of at least 26 of 29 Utah Senate districts.
County clerks have processed the submitted signatures and the Office of Elections has reviewed and processed each signature removal form. Accordingly, Lt. Governor Cox has declared the following:
NAME
FINAL VALID SIGNATURES
VALID SIGNATURE REMOVALS
VALID DISTRICTS
STATUS
Medical
Cannabis
Act
153,894
1,425
27/29
Sufficient
Independent Redistricting
Commission
150,082
0
26/29
Sufficient
Direct
Primary
Election
131,984
2,951
23/29
Insufficient
Utah Decides
Healthcare Act of
2018
147,280
4
26/29
Sufficient
Freedom of Association
Initiative
39
0
0/29
Insufficient
Additional details can be found at elections.utah.gov, and the official declarations can be found here.
Per statute, the Lt. Governor shall submit the initiatives deemed to be sufficient to a vote of the people at the next regular general election. Due to ongoing litigation, Lt. Governor Cox and the Office of Elections will not offer additional comment at this time.
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Governor appoints Don Torgerson to the Seventh District Court
SALT LAKE CITY (May 29, 2018) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Don M. Torgerson as a judge on the Seventh District Court.
“Don Torgerson’s dedication to the law and to the service of others will make him an excellent addition to the bench,” said Gov. Herbert.
Most recently, Torgerson has worked as a public defender for Grand, Moab, Blanding, Price, Carbon, Emery and San Juan Counties at Torgerson Law Offices, a privately-contracted public defender law firm. He was also a managing partner at Chiara & Torgerson, and president of Torgerson Law Offices. He received his J.D. from the University of Idaho School of Law.
“I appreciate Gov. Herbert's confidence in me to serve the people within the Seventh District,” Torgerson said. “If I am confirmed by the Senate, I commit my best effort to apply the law impartially, independently, and with fidelity to the work of our elected representatives.”
This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
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