Better Boundaries launches campaign to disrupt GOP Prop 4 repeal

The nonprofit group sent thousands of letters encouraging voters to remove their signatures from the Republican petition to reverse Utah's redistricting law.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The group behind Utah's Proposition 4 redistricting law announced a campaign to encourage voters to remove their signatures from the Republican petition to repeal the law. Better Boundaries said it has sent thousands of letters to voters who signed on to the Utah GOP's effort, arguing that signature gatherers are mischaracterizing what the ballot initiative would do.

Why it matters

Utahns narrowly passed Prop 4 in 2018, showing their desire to prevent the GOP-controlled state Legislature from gerrymandering. The Better Boundaries signature removal campaign could disrupt the GOP effort to repeal Prop 4 before the February 15 deadline to submit 141,000 verified signatures.

The details

The nonprofit group behind Utah's Proposition 4 redistricting law announced a campaign to encourage voters to remove their signatures from the Republican petition to reverse the law. Better Boundaries said it has sent thousands of letters to voters who signed on to the Utah GOP's effort, arguing that signature gatherers are mischaracterizing what the ballot initiative would do - eliminate the state's redistricting commission and rules for drawing congressional district maps.

  • The GOP has until February 15 to submit 141,000 verified signatures to county clerks.
  • Clerks have until March 7 to verify the signatures.
  • Voters have 90 days to remove their name from a petition if their signature was submitted before December 1, and 45 days if submitted after December 1.

The players

Better Boundaries

The nonprofit group behind Utah's Proposition 4 redistricting law.

Utahns for Representative Government

The GOP's political interest committee leading the effort to repeal Prop 4.

Elizabeth Rasmussen

The executive director of Better Boundaries.

Rob Axson

The chair of the Utah GOP.

Shane Landon

A West Valley resident who says signature gatherers misled him about the Prop 4 repeal effort.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Utahns should know exactly what they're signing, and if a repeal effort can't win on the facts, it shouldn't try to win through misleading petition practices.”

— Elizabeth Rasmussen, Executive Director, Better Boundaries (Deseret.com)

“Every signature page in a petition book clearly states what is being signed, and every book contains a copy of the proposed language repealing Prop 4. Utahns know how to read and know what they signed.”

— Rob Axson, Chair, Utah GOP (Deseret.com)

“I looked up Prop 4, and it's the exact opposite of what they just had me sign. So they lied to me.”

— Shane Landon, West Valley Resident (Deseret.com)

What’s next

The Utah Legislature is considering a bill that would require signature gatherers to undergo government training on what they must tell voters, and create an alternative signature packet that is more accessible. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to move signature gathering to a digital process and require paid signature removal gatherers to disclose that doing so could prevent the initiative from appearing on the ballot.

The takeaway

This signature removal campaign highlights the ongoing battle over redistricting in Utah, with the nonprofit group Better Boundaries seeking to protect the state's Proposition 4 law from a Republican-led effort to repeal it. The case raises questions about transparency and honesty in the petition process, as well as the role of the courts in drawing electoral boundaries.