On March 6, the Utah Senate Government Operations & Political Subdivisions Committee defeated HB 349 by 3-3. On a tie, bills do not advance. The bill would have established instant runoff voting in Utah primaries and general elections, for virtually all office. It had passed the House last week.
The bill would not have taken effect until 2019 anyway. Proponents are optimistic that the bill will pass next year.
The committee has six Republicans and two Democrats. Both Democrats voted for the bill. One of the Republicans voted for the bill; three voted against; and two did not vote. The Republican who voted for the bill is Senator Don Ipson of St. George. The three Republicans who voted against the bill are Margaret Dayton, David Hinkins, and Daniel Thatcher. Senator Dayton is the author of the bill that passed earlier this year moving the petition deadline for new parties from February of election years to November of the year before the election.
Those two republicans are feel so oblivous purposedly didnt vote as means this bill defeated.
So Senator Dayton is an enemy of ballot access? There’s one in every state, and sadly usually a lot more than one.