Proposed Constitutional Amendment

The following constitutional amendment was presented to the Executive Committee on March 18^th. The Executive Committee, on April 7^th, approved the amendments for a vote by the delegates at the State Organizing Convention on April 24^th, 2021.

The 2021 Utah Legislature passed House Bill 197, prohibiting voters from changing the party affiliation on their voting registration during the three months prior to a primary election.

Voters, who would otherwise be affiliated with the United Utah Party, but who wished to participate in the primary election of another party would be required to change their party affiliation no later than mid-March during an election year. Under the current constitution, this would disqualify the voter from participating as a UUP delegate during the April Convention.

House Bill 197 can have two effects on politics in Utah.
1) It would discourage voters from affiliating with minority parties.
2) It may also effectively place control over selection of nominees, and indeed elected officials, into the hands of ever fewer voters, more tightly closing primary elections. The United Utah Party has consistently called for open primaries.
This constitutional amendment was drafted as a response to this legislation.

This amendment opens the door to new criteria for qualifying voters to be party delegates, by allowing alternate means of defining “party membership”. The alternative means would be studied and discussed and voted on by members of the United Utah Executive Committee over the next 10 months. A change to the Bylaws would need to pass by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Committee. Without a change in the Bylaws, this amendment changes nothing.

The yellow highlighted text below is new language to be added to the articles and sections noted. Red text is to be deleted.

For comparison, the full text of the United Utah Party Constitution is found on the Party website here.

United Utah Party Constitution 
Article II - Membership
Any registered voter in Utah may join the United Utah Party by affiliating on a Utah voter registration form and submitting it to the State or a County elections office, or by alternate means if stated in the Bylaws. 

Article III - Section 8 - Annual State Convention

c) Any voter who is registered in the State of Utah and is as a member of the United Utah Party by a specified deadline prior to an annual convention, is qualified and may apply to participate as a delegate at that annual convention. The deadline shall be announced as described in the Bylaws. Delegates may be required to provide proof of voter registration and party membership affiliation. 

As Uniters, we are passionate moderates. While that might seem like a contradiction in terms, it’s true, and we’re needed now more than ever! We don’t get excited about extreme political positions; we get energized by the reforms that will bring us together and that will bring the government back to the people.

To Senator Mike Lee of Utah:

The following petition to Speaker Brad Wilson and President Adams is being proposed by the United Utah Party:

As you know, many Utahns have become quite frustrated with the current political atmosphere in Utah and the country as a whole. The tax reform bill, in addition to other policy areas (medical marijuana, Medicaid expansion, education funding, etc.) has demonstrated how out of touch our representatives are with us, their constituents.

We need to replace our legislators with people who will listen. We need representatives who will actually represent. 

Would you be one of those people? We need you to consider running for the state legislature, state school board, or the county commission. 

As an active candidate, you can help us replace those incumbents who are not listening and help us raise awareness for the party as a new moderate alternative. Running may be out of your comfort zone. But we can help train you and provide other services to you as a candidate. 

If you do not have the time to walk and actively campaign, even as a less active candidate, you can help by giving voters another alternative and building support for the party. 

Please email us at [email protected] and let us know if you would be able to help us in one of those capacities. We are seeing increasing support for the UUP. This election will be critical in our growth. Help us provide the new practical alternative Utah voters want. We need your help.

Take this 9-question survey to find out where you fall on Utah's political spectrum!

Proposed amendments to the United Utah Party Platform

Explanatory Note: The Platform Committee met and drafted the following proposed changes to the Platform. The Executive Committee approved the amendment to come before the convention for the vote of delegates.
New language is highlighted in yellow below.
In addition, some of the items that were in the Platform as bullet points were formatted in to complete sentences in paragraph form.
For comparison, you will find the current Platform on the United Utah Party website here.

Preamble

The United Utah Party is focused on good government - the process by which our laws are made and executed. We believe that good government requires transparency, fairness, and a robust and civil debate. We believe that public policy should ultimately reflect the will of the people. Public servants must act with integrity and according to their oaths of office.

We do not require candidates or members to agree on all issues. That is why we do not, as a party, take rigid sides on most issues. Candidates and members can take sides, but the party doesn’t have a litmus test.

The United Utah Party is not ideological. We ask instead that people come to the political process with good will and good faith. Being a Uniter means doing the listening and the hard work required to find common ground. We persuade when we can, extend a hand of friendship when we cannot, and respect the voice of the people either way.

These guidelines set us apart from other political parties. The United Utah Party believes that solutions can be found to the pressing problems of society using a pragmatic approach, finding common ground with others, and encouraging widespread public involvement in the resolution of public policy issues. We believe in the worth of all individuals in a society and assert that engagement by all is the best means for operating a democratic republic.

This platform is a statement of the principles that unite us, not necessarily an enumeration of policy positions.

Government Reform

Increase transparency

All proposed bills should be open to meaningful public review. Legislative caucus meetings should also be open. We need ethics reforms that make it easier to identify and eliminate conflicts of interest.

Expand participation and limit the influence of partisan insiders

We support more non-partisan elections for positions such as city and county councils, school boards, sheriffs, and attorneys general. Publicly funded primaries should not be restricted to party members. We need to reduce barriers to registration and make it easier for all citizens to vote. We need to strengthen our independent redistricting commission. We seek to expand access to alternative voting systems (such as Ranked Choice, STAR, or Approval voting methods) that reduce costs, encourage civility, and better reflect public will.

Increased government accountability

We support term limits that will reduce incumbent advantages. We support campaign finance laws that will limit the influence of moneyed special interests.

Fiscal Responsibility

Balanced Budgets

We support sound fiscal policies that create viable, long-term balance between government revenues and expenditures for the benefit of current and future generations.

Economic Growth

We support preservation of the free market system as the engine for future economic growth. This growth must “raise all boats”; public policy must promote economic opportunity for all, regardless of social and economic class, including the poor and needy.

Education

We support increased funding for public education as a vehicle for sustained economic growth, an engaged citizenry, and to equip students for a rapidly changing world . Promote policies that balance the empowerment of teachers with accountability to ensure that funds are used effectively.

Environmental Stewardship

We advocate for stewardship for Utah’s natural resources over the long term. We promote policies that protect our air, water, and land to provide quality of life and economic benefits for the many and across generations.

Taxes and Regulations

We support a more efficient tax system that minimizes loopholes, reduces negative effects on working families, and ensures a fair contribution from all. Review regulations and policies to continually assess their value in a changing economy.

Sound Public Policy

Equal Opportunity

We support laws that provide protection against discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Every individual is of inherent worth, has a right to be respected, and deserves to fully participate in our shared political and economic life.

Faith

We support protection of religious belief and its role in public life, as well as the constitutional right to free exercise of religious expression for all.

Family

We support the family as the basic unit of society and uphold the sanctity of human life including opposition to abortion except in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal deformities, or serious jeopardy to the life or health of the mother.

Healthcare

We promote reforms that extend healthcare, including mental healthcare, to more people. Reforms should also seek to reduce costs, improve outcomes, and the quality of care.

Immigration

We endorse policy reforms that respect the dignity of individuals and the unity of families. We advocate for a healthy immigration system that includes fair, enforceable laws and that promote the economic benefits of immigration.

Second Amendment

We support the right of Utahns to possess firearms, while recognizing the need for safeguards to keep them out of the hands of those who would use them irresponsibly.