Count My Vote supporters are reportedly preparing to re-launch their petition drive to move Utah’s nominating process to a direct primary, eliminating the caucus and convention system.
In fact, some members of the group say the effort could start as early as next week. State Representative Val Potter, R-District 3, says he has held state and local offices for many years and feels good about the way the caucus-convention system works.
He says those against it are very well funded and opponents of Count My Vote need to be cautious about the way they work, and perhaps come up with some kind of negotiation.
“The issue I’ve got is that if we don’t negotiate and work with this group that wants to undo that,” says Potter, “and come up with a means to maintain the caucus and convention, then we will do away with it.
“I believe they have the support state wide, with their campaign and their money, to get people to undo the caucus and convention. Then we’ll just have the primary, only, and that will be the only means to get people on the ballot.”
Potter says he feels there are things the governor and legislature could do to help but if that doesn’t happen he feels that Count My Vote could be an initiative that passes if it goes on the ballot in 2018.