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Voters, particularly Democrats, unaffiliated voters and those who describe themselves as less religious think politicians ignore them, according to the Utah Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns feel ignored by politicians. One Democratic Representative agrees

Politicians not listening to voters is a top concern for Utahns, and one Utah Democratic representative agrees with that sentiment. Rep. Jennifer …

More than three in five Utah voters think Utah is on the wrong track - the largest share observed since 2004, according to The Utah Foundation. (Erich Sacco/Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite partisan politics, Utahns agree on several priorities

Utahns aren't immune from partisan politics and the divisions it can lead to, but a new report shines a light on the issues voters in the Beehive …

There are just over 1.7 million active voters in Utah as of August 26, 2024 according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

Could Utah be the next swing state? Polling shows it's unlikely

More than 200 staffers and aides from four previous Republican presidential nominees, including Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have endorsed Vice …

The Utah State Legislature got a controversial constitutional amendment on the ballot by calling an emergency special session and holding a vote. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

UT legislature puts critical constitutional amendment on the ballot

Utah voters will decide on a critical constitutional amendment this fall. They'll choose whether or not the state legislature can alter or repeal …

UT governor calls for unity following attempted Trump assassination

Gov. Spencer Cox is calling for unity as well as the condemnation of political violence in light of the assassination attempt on former President …

Some 60% of Black eligible voters are under age 50, compared with 52% of all U.S. eligible voters, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Many Black Utah residents unable to vote

Black Americans account for 14% of eligible voters in the U.S., a figure which has slowly risen over the years but Utah is home to one of the …

Housing affordability was the most important issue to Utahns in a new Utah Foundation survey, while earning enough to pay for non-housing needs came in third. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cost of living, government dysfunction rank as top issues for Utahns

More than three in five Utahns believe the state is on the wrong track and their quality of life is worse today than it was five years ago. A new …

Half of Americans expect misinformation spread by AI to impact who wins the 2024 election, according to an Axios-Morning Consult poll. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns around AI ramp up as 2024 election approaches

As we inch closer to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, experts are discussing the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and disinformation …

If Senate Bill 131 is enacted, violators could be charged up to a felony and fined more than $1,000.(Adobe Stock)

Proposed UT bill targets AI in political ads

One Utah lawmaker wants to regulate artificial intelligence in political ads. Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, is behind Senate Bill 131, which …

According to the Rural Utah Project, 94% of Utahns vote by mail. (David Gales / Adobe Stock)

A number of bills could change the way Utahns vote

The Utah legislature has been in session for almost two weeks and one group said there have been more than 10 pieces of legislation introduced they ca…

Utah women and girls experience disproportionate exposure to adverse childhood experiences, with 18.3% of females reporting four or more, compared with 13.9% of males. (Jose Manuel/Adobe Stock)

Research sheds light on current status of Utah women, girls

New research spotlights the status of women and girls in Utah, in five areas of focus. At Utah State University, Susan Madsen, founding director of …

Members of the Rural Utah Project identified about 5,600 potential structures across San Juan County in their efforts to distribute 'plus codes.' (Adobe Stock)

Technology, ingenuity deliver addresses to UT residents of Navajo Nation

By Peter Yeung for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Alex Gonzalez for Utah News Connection reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

Earlier this year, a total of 74 cases had been filed challenging congressional and legislative maps in 27 states, including Utah, as racially discriminatory or partisan gerrymanders. (Adobe Stock)

Report: UT gets 'C minus' grade for redistricting policies

A new report rates how states are managing their redistricting policies, and the State of Utah didn't fare so well. The national watchdog group …

Almost nine of 10 voters who used ranked choice voting said they were confident their ballot would be counted accurately, according to Utah Ranked Choice Voting. (Adobe Stock)

Multiple Utah cities set to use ranked-choice voting in next election

Across Utah, 10 cities will be using ranked choice voting in the general election in November. In 2018, Utah passed a bill to establish a pilot …

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis are leading the Disagree Better initiative. (Adobe Stock)

'Disagree Better': Utah Gov Leads Initiative to Ease Hyper-Partisanship

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants people to learn to disagree. As the elected chair of the National Governors Association, he is leading a campaign …

Since 2022, nearly a quarter of Utah mayors are women, an almost 15% increase from 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Female Representation in UT Government Trails National Averages

Research explored Utah's female representation in Congress, the Legislature and concluded the state's executive branch is not where it should be…

The survey demonstrates that despite inflationary pressures and interest-rate hikes, small businesses expect to create jobs in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 70% of Small Businesses Give Government Programs Grade of 'C' or Below

A Goldman Sachs survey finds that 70% of small business owners give the federal government a grade of "C or below" for the effectiveness of programs…

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall was one of many mayors in attendance at the conference who lead cities with a population of 30,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

UT Mayor Aims to Lead by Example Following Mayors' Conference

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the prime opportunity for local leaders to connect with colleagues about shared challenges they face, but also …

According to Tabron, The National Day of Racial Healing is centered around experiences in truth-telling. (Adobe Stock)

UT Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

Utah is one of only eight states where registered voters receive a mail-in ballot for all elections, with more limited mail-in options available in 33 other states. (Laura Images/Adobe Stock)

Mail-In Ballots Remain Popular Among Utah Voters

Election Day is November 8, and Utah elections officials say it isn't too early for voters to start making a plan for casting their ballots. For many…

Survey Ranks Utah Last Among States for Women's Equality

In the 1960s, women were told in ad campaigns, "You've come a long way, baby." But in Utah, that may not be the case. Women's Equality Day is this …

Utah officials advise voters to double-check their ballot location after state redistricting officials changed several precinct boundaries earlier this year. (New China/Adobe Stock)

Senior Vote is Critical for Tuesday's Utah Primaries

Democrats, Republicans and other political parties in Utah hold primary elections Tuesday, and advocates for older voters are promoting the …

Since the National Association of Letter Carriers began participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion pounds of food for families in need. (Andrii/Adobe stock)

UT Letter Carriers Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' with Food Collections

Utahns can expect their mail to be delivered as usual this Saturday but with a catch. Your letter carrier will be asking for something in return - a …

Extremist groups are trying to undercut the 30x30 Initiative in President Joe Biden's America the Beautiful Program. (JoPanuwat/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Call Out Extremist Group for Dispensing Disinformation

Disinformation has sadly become a part of American political discourse, but one environmental organization is calling out a group of anti-government …

Members of the Rural Utah Project have assisted thousands of voters with registration and helped hundreds of tribal families become officially

Utah Legislation Targets Registration Drives, Mail-In Ballots

By almost any measure, Utah's 2020 elections were among the most successful in state history, with record turnout and no evidence of voting …

Five people died as a result of pro-Trump protesters storming the U.S. Capitol complex in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. (Brett Davis/Flickr)

Report: Utah Cities Should Prepare to Counter Political Extremism, Violence

A new report outlines ways local government officials in Utah and elsewhere can push back on threats from the type of anti-democratic radical groups t…

The once-a-decade process of redrawing a state's political boundaries based on U.S. census results can have a profound effect on the outcome of elections. (vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

Backers of Independent Panel Cry Foul Over Utah Redistricting Maps

SALT LAKE CITY - Backers of Utah's Independent Redistricting Commission are crying foul over the Republican-controlled Legislature's approval of what …

Using data from the 2020 Census, Utah will draw new legislative districts for the 2022 midterm elections and the rest of the decade. (WScottMcGill/Adobe Stock)

Two Panels to Produce Maps for Utah Redistricting Process

SALT LAKE CITY -- Now that the Census figures are out, the once-a-decade redistricting process begins in earnest in Utah. It will be different this …

Many voting-rights advocates believe Utah's election system works well in terms of efficiency and fairness, but they're also concerned recent court rulings could prompt changes. (Popov/Adobe Stock)

Utahns Concerned Over High Court Ruling on AZ Election Laws

SALT LAKE CITY -- In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a pair of Arizona "election security" laws that many experts believe will …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SALT LAKE CITY -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

The COVID-19 virus has disrupted millions of lives across Utah, but some state legislators are proposing a law that would allow them to determine when the pandemic is over. (Thaut Images/Adobe Stock)

Are We Done Yet? UT Lawmakers Ponder Bill to End Pandemic

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah legislators are working on a bill that would allow them to decide when the COVID-19 pandemic is officially over - or at least…

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., could be the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary if she is confirmed to lead the Department of the Interior. (Wikimedia Commons)

Haaland on Track to be First Native American Cabinet Secretary

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Biden administration's nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., to head the U.S. Interior Department is seen as a momentous …

Public health officials in Utah and elsewhere are discouraging large gatherings to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, to avoid the spread of COVID-19. (deagreez/Adobe Stock)

Online Tool Helps Assess COVID Risk at Holiday Gatherings

SALT LAKE CITY - Public health officials continue to discourage large gatherings for this Thanksgiving, but it's hard to tell how big is too big…

County elections officials across Utah must wait to begin counting mail-in ballots until Election Day, but the final vote tally may not be available for a week or two. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Utah Officials: Don't Expect Complete Vote Counts on Election Night

SALT LAKE CITY - While they expect voting to go smoothly on Tuesday, Utah elections officials don't expect to see complete results on Election Night -…

When the Utah Legislature meets this week, the State Capitol will be mostly empty, as lawmakers in the House and Senate participate in the special session remotely, online. (Oksana/Adobe Stock)

Will Utah Online Legislative Session Limit Transparency?

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah lawmakers open their special session this week, but there's a wrinkle: All their meetings will be in cyberspace. As they deal …

$A group of Kanab citizens believed a planned fracking sand mine in the sandstone hills near the town would destroy the local environment. (spiritofamerica/AdobeStock)$

Developer Abandons Plan to Mine Fracking Sand Near Kanab

KANAB, Utah -- A group of activists in the southern Utah town of Kanab have convinced a developer to abandon its plans to mine sand for oil and gas …

A bipartisan group of volunteers is gathering signatures across the state to put a referendum on the November ballot to negate a tax reform package approved by the Utah Legislature. (mokee81/Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Group Seeks Referendum to Halt Utah Tax Bill

SALT LAKE CITY - A grassroots group of Utah voters is under a tight deadline to put a referendum on the ballot to nullify a tax-reform package approve…

Congress has allocated $425 million to shore up election security ahead of the 2020 presidential election. (roibu/Adobe Stock)

$4.6 Million for Utah in Federal Ballot Security Funding

SALT LAKE CITY -- Tucked inside the trillion-dollar budget approved by Congress last week is a measure allocating $425 million to states for election …

The Dixie National Forest, which covers about 3,000 square miles in southwest Utah, is one of the largest of six national forests in the state. (U.S. Forest Service)

Groups Object to Proposed Forest Service Rule Changes

CEDAR CITY, Utah – Conservation groups are challenging the Trump administration over proposed changes to U.S. Forest Service rules to allow …

Utah legislators made significant changes last year to Proposition 2, a citizen-approved ballot initiative that legalized the use of medical marijuana in Utah. (roxxyphotos/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Thwart Legislators' Changes to Utah Citizen Initiatives

SALT LAKE CITY — A medical cannabis advocate and a former state senator are behind a proposal that would make it tougher for Utah legislators to…

Robert M. Pennoyer, now and at age 19, on the U.S.S. Pensacola at Iwo Jima in 1944 (Courtesy: Robert M. Pennoyer)

WWII Veteran: Ignorance, Indifference Greatest Threats to America

NEW YORK – Seventy-four years after he saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima, a World War II veteran has an Independence Day message for America: The …

A mountain biker surveys the terrain on the Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail in southern Utah. (Wikimedia Commons)

Poll: Utahns Say Protecting Public Lands a Priority

GREEN RIVER, Utah — Utah voters expressed strong opinions in a new poll on issues such as climate change, protecting public lands and outdoor …

Utah lawmakers ignored the results of a statewide proposition on medical marijuana and recently rewrote the bill the way they wanted it. (Twenty20)

Utah Legislature Overrides Voter-Approved Medical Marijuana Law

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah voters on Nov. 6 approved Proposition 2 to allow medical marijuana to be dispensed in the state. But that didn't stop some of …

Only two of eight county voting offices contacted by the ACLU of Utah had posted information about Election Day registration online. (Marg Johnson/Twenty20)

Election Day Registration is the New Rule; Is Utah Prepared?

SALT LAKE CITY – This year's election in November will be the first in which all of Utah's 29 counties offer Election Day registration at the po…

More than 600 Rise for Climate events are planned around the world for Saturday. (Takver/Flickr)

Utah Climate Groups Team Up for Voter Registration

SALT LAKE CITY – Some Utah communities will be part of this Saturday's worldwide call for attention to climate change with rallies and marches…

Voters in Utah will decide whether to expand Medicaid health coverage to people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $16,750 a year. (Morgan/Flickr)

As UT Awaits Medicaid-Plan Approval, Voters Could Make the Call

SALT LAKE CITY - It probably will be November before Utahns know if or how much Medicaid will be expanded in the state. The Trump administration …

Supporters of gun reform rallied at March for Our Lives events around the country in March. This summer's Road to Change tour aims to keep up momentum around the issue. (Mathais Wasik/Flickr)

Parkland Shooting Survivors to Hold Town Hall Event in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Students from Parkland, Florida, who led the March for Our Lives in Washington this spring are now heading to Utah. Parkland …

Communities United registered about 600 people to vote ahead of the 2016 election. This year the group has set a higher goal. (Erik Hersman/Flickr)

Midterms Approaching, Advocates Reach Out to UT Latino Voters

SALT LAKE CITY – Voters in Utah head to the polls Tuesday for the state's primary election. And voter advocates are working to boost …

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UT: Civic Engagement & Voting