We’ve already raised $2,370 towards our goal of $25,000, which is a great start! Donate today so we can take full advantage of this opportunity to raise $50,000 towards our policy programs!

Hey there John,

Greg here with a reminder that from now til the end of the year, Stewardship Utah has the chance to start 2025 strong, thanks to the generosity of a donor in our community, John Miller of Salt Lake City. Every donation will be matched up to $25,000. That means your $25 donation becomes $50 and so on, for a total of $50,000 that goes directly to our time at the legislative session, working to pass the impactful policy Stewardship Utah has developed for our land, air, water, and rights to vote. Speaking of voting rights, this has been a busy year for our Democracy Policy Associate, Nat Williams. 

2024 has been jam-packed for the fate of Utah's democracy! We saw the Utah Supreme Court unanimously affirm our right to reform our government through the ballot initiative process. In response, the legislature called an "emergency" special session to amend that right out of the Utah constitution in an outrageous power grab (you may know this as Constitutional Amendment D). However, the legislature made several mistakes and failed to meet the constitutional requirements of public notice in their rushed process. They wrote false and misleading language within the proposal that was later to be ruled unconstitutional by the Utah Supreme Court, and importantly, they underestimated the opposition they faced from Utah voters across the political spectrum. Ultimately, what was Constitutional Amendment D was unanimously voided by the courts and did not appear on the ballot–a monumental win for democracy! 

Help us reach our goal to raise $50,000 before December 31st to start 2025 off strong!

Nat Williams, Democracy Policy Associate (left), and Lenise Peterman, Rural Director (right), speaking with Senator Hinkins (center).

Thanks to the decision from our courts on Amendment D, we’re preparing for an exciting and unique opportunity to run a ballot initiative to positively reform our government, assured of the power of Utahns to have the final say. It's a reform we believe Utahns would approve, but most legislators wouldn't allow. Additionally, we anticipate retaliation from the legislature against our right to ballot initiatives and the independence of our judiciary. We will defend both to ensure a healthy and fair democracy. Lastly, we know that certain legislators will attack what works in our electoral system as they do every year. We have already seen an interim bill threatening to roll back vital aspects of our vote-by-mail system. Stewardship Utah is facing these challenges head-on, and with your support, we know we can win.

Please consider donating before 12/31 to double your impact and keep our staff prepared for the challenges we face as voters in Utah. We need your help to be at the capitol every day, fighting for our democracy and the power of Utahns to self-govern. We would not have had such success in 2024 without you. Thank you, and here’s to ensuring our democracy continues for generations to come.

Gratefully,

Greg Yerkes,

Development Associate

[email protected]

www.stewardshiputah.org