General election · Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026
Amendments & ballot measures
Utah's two proposed constitutional amendments and the Salt Lake County bond question, with the official ballot text, a plain summary, how they got on the ballot, and the arguments printed in the official pamphlets. This guide takes no position on any measure.
- Constitutional Amendment A (Statewide)
- Constitutional Amendment B (Statewide)
- Salt Lake County Special Bond Election (parks, open space and trails) (Salt Lake County)
No statewide citizen initiatives or referendums qualified for 2026 (Lt. Governor certification).
Constitutional Amendment A (Statewide)
Ballot question: Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to change how proposed constitutional amendments are published, requiring publication for 60 days immediately before the general election in a manner established by state law instead of in newspapers?
For / Against · Source: official certification
What a For vote does: The Constitution would no longer require newspaper publication of proposed amendments; they would be published for the 60 days before the election in a way set by state law (under H.B. 481, online on the Utah Public Notice Website and the Lt. Governor's website).
What an Against vote does: The Constitution would keep requiring proposed amendments to be printed in at least one newspaper in every county for two months before the election.
Plain summary of the official ballot text and pamphlet · official pamphlet
Official plain-language summary (paraphrased): Today the Constitution requires proposed amendments to be printed in a newspaper in every county for two months before the election. Amendment A would instead require publication for the 60 days before the election in a way set by state law. If it passes, H.B. 481 (2025) has the Lt. Governor post the full text on the Utah Public Notice Website and the Lt. Governor's website. It does not change how amendments are proposed or approved. Fiscal note: could cut state costs by up to $1.4 million every two years. pamphlet
Placed on the ballot by: H.J.R. 10 (2025 General Session), Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Publication Amendments
- House, Feb 26, 2025: 70 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent · roll call
- Senate, Mar 7, 2025: 29 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent · roll call
Arguments from the official voter pamphlet
Argument for (Rep. Anthony Loubet, Sen. Daniel McCay): Most Utahns now get information online, not from print newspapers; posting notices online keeps voters informed and saves about $800,000 in publication costs while keeping the 60-day notice period.
Rebuttal to argument for: None submitted. The pamphlet says that because the Legislature adopted Amendment A unanimously, no rebuttal was filed.
Argument against: None submitted. The pamphlet says that because the Legislature adopted Amendment A unanimously, no argument against was filed.
Rebuttal to argument against: None (no argument against was filed).
Source: voter information pamphlet
Constitutional Amendment B (Statewide)
Ballot question: Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to require that citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes compared to existing law be approved by at least 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority?
For / Against · Source: official certification
What a For vote does: Statewide citizen initiatives voted on after Nov 1, 2026 that create a new tax, expand a tax, raise a tax rate, or shrink a property-tax-rate decrease would need at least 60% of the vote to pass.
What an Against vote does: Those initiatives would keep passing with a simple majority, as other initiatives do today.
Plain summary of the official ballot text and pamphlet · official pamphlet
Official plain-language summary (paraphrased): Today most statewide citizen initiatives pass with a simple majority (initiatives on taking wildlife need two-thirds). Amendment B would require at least 60% voter approval for statewide initiatives voted on after Nov 1, 2026 that create a new tax, expand an existing tax, raise a tax rate, or shrink a property-tax-rate decrease that existing law would produce. Other initiatives are unchanged. Fiscal note: likely no material effect on state revenue or spending. pamphlet
Placed on the ballot by: S.J.R. 2 (2025 General Session), Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Statewide Initiatives
- Senate, Feb 5, 2025: 21 yea, 8 nay, 0 absent · roll call
- House, Mar 6, 2025: 55 yea, 17 nay, 3 absent · roll call
Arguments from the official voter pamphlet
Argument for (Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, Rep. Jason Kyle): Tax increases affect every Utahn, so tax-raising initiatives should show broad support; initiatives are drafted only by their proponents and are hard to revise once passed, while legislators who raise taxes face voters. The 60% bar is achievable and does not block initiatives.
Rebuttal to argument for (Sen. Luz Escamilla, Rep. Angela Romero): Voters already weigh costs and benefits; a 60% rule holds voters to a stricter standard than legislators, who raise taxes by simple majority. Initiatives involve extensive public organizing, and singling out one policy area could set a precedent for limiting others.
Argument against (Sen. Luz Escamilla, Rep. Angela Romero): The initiative process lets citizens act when government does not; requiring 60% for some initiatives makes that right harder to use and holds voters to a different standard than the Legislature.
Rebuttal to argument against (Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, Rep. Jason Kyle): The amendment keeps the initiative process and only sets a higher bar for tax increases; initiatives bypass the normal legislative process and are hard to undo, so a higher threshold is justified, citing other states' experience.
Source: voter information pamphlet
Salt Lake County Special Bond Election (parks, open space and trails) (Salt Lake County)
Ballot question: Shall Salt Lake County be authorized to issue general obligation bonds not to exceed $128,000,000, maturing within 11 years, to repair, complete, acquire, construct or renovate open space, natural habitat, parks, community trails and recreational facilities? The County's notice estimates $16.39 a year in property tax on a primary residence of the County average value ($658,000) over 10 years.
For / Against the issuance of bonds · Source: official certification
What a For vote does: The County could issue up to $128 million in general obligation bonds, repaid from property taxes over about 10 years, for the listed parks, trails, open space and recreation projects. The County estimates $16.39 a year on a primary residence of the County average value ($658,000).
What an Against vote does: The County could not issue these bonds, and the property tax to repay them would not be levied.
Plain summary of the official ballot text and pamphlet · official pamphlet
Amount: Up to $128,000,000 in general obligation bonds, maturing within 11 years (planned as about 2 issues over 5 years, each about 10 years). The pamphlet lists 30 projects totaling $119.2 million plus an $8.8 million contingency.
Estimated tax impact: Official estimate: $16.39 a year ($1.37 a month) on a primary residence of the County average value ($658,000) and $29.80 a year on a business or secondary residence of the same value, for about 10 years. Counting County bonds being paid off, the County estimates a net property-tax increase of $0 a year. official notice
Arguments from the official voter pamphlet
Argument for (Salt Lake County Council members and Mayor Jenny Wilson (8 council members signed)): Parks, trails and recreation centers are central to quality of life; as older bonds are paid off the County can reinvest for about $1.37 a month for the average home, funding repairs, completion of regional parks and trails, and new facilities countywide.
Argument against: None submitted, according to the County's pamphlet.
Source: voter information pamphlet