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Committee advances measure to give voters wider role filling legislative vacancies
Summary
House Bill 443, which would allow special or aligned elections to fill legislative vacancies rather than delegate-only appointments, passed out of the Government Operations Committee 7-3 after sponsor testimony, extended committee questioning about costs and logistics, and supportive public comment from voting-rights organizations.
Representative Stoddard presented House Bill 443, proposing to change how midterm legislative vacancies are filled by enabling special elections or aligning vacancy fills with existing election dates. Stoddard cited data—28% of current senators and 21% of representatives were initially appointed midterm—and argued the current process gives a small group of delegates outsized influence and an incumbency advantage.
"These seats belong to the voters," said Michelle Quist of the Forward Party of Utah in online…
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