Utah County Investigates Potential Signature Fraud as Prop 4 Repeal Deadline Looms

Tensions escalate as organizers race to collect signatures before February 15 deadline

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Utah County is investigating allegations of potential signature fraud related to the effort to repeal Proposition 4, a ballot initiative passed eight years ago. The repeal effort, led by the group Utahns for Representative Government, has until February 15 to collect around 141,000 signatures statewide. County clerks have raised concerns about "startling" numbers of allegedly fraudulent signatures, and the lieutenant governor's office is now investigating. Tensions have escalated, with reports of signature gatherers being assaulted and having packets stolen. The group behind the original Prop 4 initiative has also launched a campaign to encourage voters to remove their names from the repeal petition.

Why it matters

The allegations of signature fraud raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Utah. The repeal effort, if successful, would overturn a voter-approved initiative, and allegations of deceptive practices by signature gatherers have further inflamed tensions. The outcome could have significant implications for the state's political landscape.

The details

According to the report, county clerks have identified "multiple counties" with concerns about potential fraud in the signature gathering process. The lieutenant governor's office, which oversees elections in Utah, is now investigating the allegations. Signature gatherers have reported being assaulted and having packets stolen, while the group behind the original Prop 4 initiative has launched a campaign to encourage voters to remove their names from the repeal petition. The repeal effort is being led by the group Utahns for Representative Government, which has until February 15 to collect around 141,000 signatures statewide.

  • The repeal effort has until February 15, 2026 to collect approximately 141,000 signatures statewide.
  • As of Thursday morning, more than 72,000 signatures have been validated, according to the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

The players

Elizabeth Rasmussen

The executive director of Better Boundaries, the group behind the original Proposition 4 initiative.

Lannie Chapman

The Salt Lake County Clerk, who said her office has referred a handful of inconsistencies to the Utah Attorney General's Office for investigation.

Deidre Henderson

The Utah Lieutenant Governor, whose office oversees elections in the state and is investigating the allegations of potential fraud.

Utahns for Representative Government

The group leading the effort to repeal Proposition 4.

Better Boundaries

The group behind the original Proposition 4 initiative, which has launched a campaign to encourage voters to remove their names from the repeal petition.

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What they’re saying

“When you contract with these huge out-of-state companies, and they come in and hire people from out-of-state companies who aren't involved in the issues and they have an incentive to gather a certain amount of signatures, you're bound to encounter that.”

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

“Multiple counties have raised concerns about potential fraud, which we are investigating. We have aggressively pursued bad actors in the past and will continue to do so. We commend the county clerks for their diligent work in identifying these issues. At this time, it would be irresponsible to speculate any further on this matter.”

— Deidre Henderson, Lieutenant Governor of Utah (ksltv.com)

“Yes, they stole something that we're working on, but more importantly, they've stolen the voice of the 30 or 40 or 50 Utahns who had put their name to that petition. That is incredibly inappropriate.”

— Axson, Utahns for Representative Government (ksltv.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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