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We are professors of political science sharing academic research relevant to Utah. Posts are not peer reviewed and may discuss work in progress that is subject to future revision. Learn more. Each post reflects only its author’s views.
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Category Archives: Everything
The closest votes in the 2015 Utah Legislature
The Legislature governs by consensus. Most bills pass overwhelmingly, with Democrats and Republicans voting together. But close votes do happen. Because 84% of Utah’s legislators are Republicans, the closest votes arise when Republicans are divided among themselves. Among other matters, this year’s … Continue reading
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Tagged consensus, legislature, roll call votes
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The closest votes in the 2015 Utah Legislature
The 2015 Legislature passed 528 bills in 45 days
Though there were 87 more bills introduced in 2015 than 2008 overall, there were 84 fewer introductions within the first two weeks. By the time the Utah Legislature concluded its seven-week General Session last Thursday, legislators had passed 528 bills (including resolutions). I’ve … Continue reading
King v. Burwell: What Should Utah Do If the Plaintiffs Win?
Though the public is split on whether the solution should come from Congress or from the state, most Utah voters clearly prefer some sort of action to preserve access to health insurance subsidies. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear … Continue reading
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Tagged legislature, obamacare, orrin hatch, U.S. Supreme Court
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King v. Burwell: What Should Utah Do If the Plaintiffs Win?
Utahns like Herbert and non-discrimination; they don’t like Senators and clocks
Utahns overwhelmingly support “a statewide law to protect Utahns against employment and housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” with 72% in favor Newly released polling data shows that Utahns approval strongly of Gary Herbert’s performance as governor (74% … Continue reading
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Tagged Count My Vote, gary herbert, greg hughes, legislature, mike lee, mormons, non-discrimination, orrin hatch, polls, sean reyes, utah voter poll
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Should we invite them to the party?
Fifty-six percent say that political parties are public institutions and can be regulated by the state, while 44% say that they are private associations and cannot be regulated. The author would like to thank Professors Mike Barber and Chris Karpowitz … Continue reading
What do Mike Lee and Elizabeth Warren have in common?
Senator Lee has the distinction of being the most ideologically extreme senator in the 113th Congress. At first glance, it may seem as though Utah’s Tea Party Senator, Mike Lee, and Massachusetts’ liberal firebrand, Elizabeth Warren, may not have much … Continue reading
“And then depression set in:” Why don’t Utahns turn out to vote?
When we asked respondents to the recent UVP why they believed individuals did not turn out to vote, the overwhelming reason related to one-party dominance. Professors Quin Monson and Michael Barber contributed to this post. In the movie “Stripes,” Bill … Continue reading
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Tagged democracy, polls, turnout, voting
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“And then depression set in:” Why don’t Utahns turn out to vote?
Pretty much nobody likes the Zion Curtain
Democrats (81%), Republicans (51%), Mormons (51%), other religious adherents (87%), and the non-religious (99%) all agree that restaurants should be allowed to remove these barriers. Utah law requires restaurants to prepare alcoholic drinks out of sight of customers, either in a … Continue reading
Posted in Everything
Tagged alcohol, democrat, legislature, mormons, polls, religion, republican, utah voter poll, zion curtain
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Pretty much nobody likes the Zion Curtain
Update: The 2015 Legislature will be Utah’s 2nd most Republican since the Depression
The 2015 Legislature has the second largest Republican majority in 88 years, since the 96.8% majority of 1927. Two weeks ago, preliminary results showed Democrats picking up one seat in the Utah House and holding steady in the Utah Senate. … Continue reading
Posted in Everything
Tagged democrat, legislature, partisanship, rankings, republican, voting
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Update: The 2015 Legislature will be Utah’s 2nd most Republican since the Depression
Voter turnout in Utah just got worse
In 2014, Utah was one of only 4 states with turnout below 29%. This post is based on preliminary turnout figures from the various states. These findings may need to be revised as provisional and absentee ballots are counted nationwide. … Continue reading