Initiatives and Referenda

What is an initiative?

An initiative is a petition to propose a new law and submit it to the voters or legislature for their approval or rejection. A local initiative proposes a county, municipal, or metro township law, and a statewide initiative proposes a state law.

What is a referendum?

A referendum is a petition to refer an existing law and submit it to the voters for their approval or rejection. A local referendum refers county, municipal, or metro township laws, and a statewide referendum refers a state law.

How do I conduct an initiative or referendum?

Click on the links below for more information on how to conduct a specific type of initiative or referendum:

How can I find more information about current statewide initiatives and referenda?

Currently, two initiative applications and one referendum application have been filed with the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office. Click on the links below for more information:

What are the current valid signature totals for statewide initiatives?

Initiatives must collect signatures from registered voters in Utah. Below are the number of valid signatures that have been verified by county clerks. Last updated January 13, 2020.

Senate District Required Signatures Clean the Air Carbon Tax Act Unite for Term Limits
1 2,397492 4
2 4,4104,306 11
3 3,4421,665 15
4 5,0123,068 10
5 2,872384 6
6 3,652573 10
7 3,933474 38
8 4,2801,618 93
9 4,5751,377 50
10 5,259798 15
11 4,626741 19
12 3,272348 0
13 5,019512 83
14 4,407581 143
15 3,645659 56
16 3,080998 34
17 4,208393 4
18 3,368613 3
19 3,846791 1
20 3,614443 2
21 3,895603 0
22 4,548954 1
23 4,352857 13
24 3,73991 6
25 3,8011,788 33
26 4,305931 6
27 3,950999 10
28 3,927203 123
29 4,416391 69
Statewide Total 115,86927,651 858
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What are the current valid signature totals for a statewide referendum?

A referendum must collect signatures from registered voters in Utah. Below are the number of valid signatures that have been verified by county clerks. Last updated January 17, 2020.

County Required Signatures Tax Restructuring Revisions Referendum
Beaver 244328
Box Elder 2,0832,034
Cache 4,5601,695
Carbon 796537
Daggett 472
Davis 13,5895,209
Duchesne 693546
Emery 421516
Garfield 219201
Grand 419499
Iron 1,755396
Juab 477108
Kane 323526
Millard 470327
Morgan 512137
Piute 747
Rich 1084
Salt Lake 43,2115,725
San Juan 583446
Sanpete 951335
Sevier 797169
Summit 2,063513
Tooele 2,5381,910
Uintah 1,156575
Utah 21,6084,989
Wasatch 1,275411
Washington 6,3595,550
Wayne 132220
Weber 8,4043,358
Statewide Total 115,86939,428
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