ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Count my vote gets support from presidents
Utah’s colleges and universities are joining the conversation on Count My Vote, an initiative to put the question of replacing the state’s caucus system on the ballot and replace it with a direct primary.
The Utah Student Association, comprised of all college and university student body presidents in the state, voted to support the measure and gather signatures for the petition at their regular meeting Nov. 13.
“Do I believe that Count My Vote is necessarily the perfect fix for the caucus system? No, but there are definitely problems with the caucus system as it stands,” said Doug Fiefia, president of the USA and president of the USU Student Association. “I believe that we should at least support it to get on the ballot so that all utah voters can decide if this is something that is right.”
Utah is unique in that it has a caucus system to nominate candidates for general elections. The state is divided into precincts that gather on a designated night to nominate delegates, who go to county and state conventions to nominate candidates for their party. A primary election can be held if someone fails to get enough votes.
This is in contrast to primary elections, where people run for their party’s nomination instead of garnering delegate votes.
Sponsors of Count My Vote include former Republican Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and former Utah first lady Norma Matheson, who is a Democrat.
Representatives from Count My Vote gave presentations around the valley this fall, including to the USU/SA Executive Council in November. Fiefia said while the council may not be completely behind the initiative, they support giving voters a chance.
“Overall, I think that everyone is supportive of the idea that we can help support to get it on the ballot and let all Utah voters decide,” he said.
Fiefia said he and other student body presidents have received phone calls from delegates and had people visit them wondering why they supported the measure. The caucus system as it stands creates barriers for students, he said.
“We’ve heard students say, ‘My vote doesn’t count anyways, because without a primary, they’re going to send the Republican through whoever wins the Republican ticket. They’re going to win anyways, and so my voice doesn’t count,'” Fiefia said.
USU student and USU College Republicans member Andy Pierucci said he is concerned about the student government throwing its voice on this issue.
“Regardless of how I feel about the issue, I don’t feel it is appropriate for the student body organization to voice on this issue,” Pierucci said.
By giving weight to the Count My Vote initiative, student leaders are not giving enough balance to educating people on how both sides feel about the issue, Pierucci said.
Pierucci added he is not for Count My Vote, though the caucus system does need reform.
“I just feel Count My Vote goes too far into the extreme,” he said.
As the caucus system stands, it restricts the ability of people to participate in nominating delegates, Fiefia said. The meetings for each precinct are typically held in the evening in the middle of the week, when students could be at work in in classes. People serving in the military or on religious missions also lose the opportunity to vote because they are not in town, he added.
Pierucci said he supports a compromise.
Utah Sen. Curt Bramble announced Nov. 21 he is working on legislation that is a compromise between the demands of Count My Vote and caucus system supporters. According to the Daily Herald, the potential bill would require all political parties to have direct primaries to select candidates unless they fix certain parts of the caucus system, including adding absentee ballots.
Count My Vote petitions will soon be available in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, TSC 326, Fiefia said. Petitions are also at every Larry H. Miller Megaplex in the state. The initiative needs 102,000 signatures by April 15 to get on the November 2014 ballot.
Editor’s note: Andy Pierucci is a columnist for the Utah Statesman.
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