Let’s call it hubris. Our incumbent and mostly Republican officeholders knew that their paths were clear. This past election showed that to be true.
This is what the public heard before Election Day: That Gov. Spencer Cox had a 32% lead, that Rep. John Curtis had a 35% lead, that Derek Brown had a 20% lead.
The League of Women Voters is committed to giving voters timely, factual, and helpful information when going to the polls. To that end, we have published a nationally recognized voter guide, Vote411.org, now in its 18th year. Candidates are asked simple, unbiased questions, and may add their photos, videos and links to websites.
Year after year, we find that Utah incumbents and generally Republicans do not respond. It is not just a League problem. Those same candidates did not respond to questions from The Salt Lake Tribune, either. Voter information on other platforms such as KUER focus on forums or debates and send voters to the lieutenant governor’s website for more information.
While the information is there, it requires hunting and pecking to find anything.
Voter guides are designed to make it easy for the voter by listing all candidates and allowing voters to compare. Questions are designed to give constituents an idea of the policies behind the candidates. When a candidate tells you to go to his or her website, it is an indication that you need no further information — certainly not from opposing candidates.
Sadly, many Utah voters seem to agree or may not want to spend time researching the ballot.
We don’t blame the voter. However, candidates should want their constituents to see all sides of an issue and have faith that their policies will prevail. That they did not in 2024 is by all account hubris.
Katharine Biele, League of Women Voters of Utah president, Salt Lake City
