Attorneys for the Utah elections office have indicated they want to put a freeze on the lawsuit Holland v Cox, 4:18cv-74. This is the case that challenges the 2016 Utah law that says independent candidates must have this label on the ballot: “This candidate is not affiliated with, or does not qualify to be listed on the ballot as affiliated with a political party.” The purpose of freezing the lawsuit would be to allow the legislature a chance to repeal the law when it convenes early next year.

The lawsuit had been filed in 2018 by the state’s only independent candidate for any federal or state office, Marsha Holland. She learned that many voters, on seeing the label on the ballot next to her name, felt the ballot was saying that she was not qualified.