SALT LAKE CITY — While early numbers may appear to show the struggle to pass a state referendum allowing voters a say in a new Utah state flag, organizers say they'll meet the requirements to get the question on the ballot.
After the Utah State Legislature approved the new flag on March 2, a group filed a referendum that would leave it up to voters to decide whether they wanted the flag or not.
Getting the referendum on the ballot for a vote later this year requires more than 134,000 signatures by April 12. However, as of 9 a.m. Monday, the group had only acquired 2,291 signatures, or .017% of those needed to get the question on the ballot, according to the State of Utah.
But Chad Saunders, the group's leader, claims the state's numbers don't reflect the true number of signatures already collected and have yet to be turned in or counted.
"Our numbers that we have internally are showing that we're much further ahead than what is being reported, and I don't blame the Lt. Governor's Office or the county clerks for it," he said. "It takes a lot of work and they've got to go through it and make sure every "I" is dotted and every "T," we get that."
Saunders says the group has between 75-80,000 signatures already gathered with several big events coming up where they expect to collect even more ahead of next week's deadline. He believes the final total won't be known until weeks after the deadline.
"What I'm seeing out of the communities that we're working with is real natural enthusiasm. I mean, none of this is contrived," he said.
Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill and executive order late last month to make the new flag official. The old flag, or "historic state flag" as it will now be known, won't be going away as it will continue to flown above the Capitol.
While Saunders agrees that there more important issues than a new flag, he says the referendum is about making sure the people have a voice.
"It's about more than the flag," said Saunders. "I think the flag is something easy for people to attach to because it's black or white, there's two flags, but I think there's a lot of frustration.
"I think people don't feel they're being listened to."
As of now, the state will move to the new flag on March 9, 2024.
