The Log Cabin Republicans organization was formed by a group of gay conservatives in 1977 in order to fight the Briggs Initiative, a proposition in California that would have banned homosexuals from teaching in public schools. The group has since expanded to 34 chapters across the U.S.
Rather than speak about his group’s beliefs, Humphreys talked about a current hot topic in politics: the Count My Vote initiative.
“If I tell you the facts, you’ll make the right decision,” Humphreys said about the initiative, which aims to “modernize” Utah’s election process.
Count My Vote claims that Utah’s current process is outdated and unfair, citing what little influence much of Utah’s population has on choosing 4,000 voter delegates. Humphreys, however, believes that Count My Vote is flawed.
“[Count My Vote] ignores those who choose delegates,” he said. “It is intellectually dishonest to say that only 4,000 people make the decision. It has a whole bunch of major mistakes that might be legal, but are inappropriate. Everyone’s voice does count.”
He also said Count My Vote supporters’ complaints could be fixed by choosing to attend voter delegate elections.
Humphreys also cited the petition’s method of gaining signatures. Representatives of Count My Vote often ask people in crowded places who do not have time to read the fine print, which Humphreys believes is corrupt and manipulative.
Michael Zhao, a freshman in math who attended the speech, agrees.
“Advertising by sound bites like ‘Do you want your vote to count?’ is dishonest,” Zhao said, “and asking for a signature in places where people simply want to get through to the football game, i.e. where people will not want to take time to read something as lengthy as a bill, is dishonest.”
Zhao also believes that Count My Vote ignores positive aspects of Utah’s current caucus system, such as how it forces candidates to pay attention to districts with poor voter turnout.
Humphreys said that he is glad that we live in a generation that is paying more attention to their politics and thinks much more about the decisions that they make.
“This country is awake,” he said. “I haven’t seen this country awake since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. If you’re going to make a decision, you should make an informed one. Do what you want, sign what you want, just make sure you know what you’re doing. And always, always, always ask for content.”
Danielbmc • Dec 9, 2013 at 9:19 am
Nobody’s vote matters in Utah. The GOP owns the whole state.
Danielbmc • Dec 9, 2013 at 9:19 am
Nobody’s vote matters in Utah. The GOP owns the whole state.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:10 am
The “bill” Count My Vote, or proposed law is flawed, terribly so. Even some of
the strongest supporters admit the legislature will have to fix it if this mess passes.
We tell public officials to kill these kind of errors in committee, not skip the public hearing, not read the bill and vote to send it to the floor of the legislature to decide if it should pass or not.
That is exactly what Count My Vote is telling people to do. Sign it, unread, and hope everyone realizes next fall it doesn’t deliver. They could have amended it but chose not to and by law, can no longer amend the “bill”.
This proposed law will cost taxpayers millions, $1 Million the first year and almost that every 2 years, with about 1/2 of the unfunded mandate being picked up by the
less populous counties, the ones that the same proposed law will cause to be flyover places where the candidates and elected officials won’t come anymore.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:11 am
When Utah tried a direct primary in 1937 to 1947, it came with a run off primary, so the majority would elect the nominee. When the voting turn out and the cost drove the public and the media to reject that system – a compromise, caucus/convention and run off primary was created. We have that today. Count My Vote not only removes the nominating for general elections using delegates, it removes the run off primary system we have and nominees will no longer be selected out of a 2 person race.
The political royalty sponsors of Count My Vote loved the current system
when the turnout to the neighborhood caucus elections meetings (GOP) was
about 25,000, but when it exceeded 50,000 and 100,000, they no longer
want that system because they no longer have the power. They don’t tell
you that the same delegates, proposed to be elected by closer to 10,000
attendees will still pick nominees such as the replacement for Spencer
Cox.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:12 am
They claim more people will be able to vote. A large percentage of
voters will not affiliate to vote in the GOP primary election and those
same people will not be able to vote in a “GOP” direct primary under
Count My Vote. They will get to pay more as Count My Vote makes sure the parties will not be picking up the tab they currently do, it will be the taxpayers, unaffiliated or not.
Don’t sign, just to vote on it later. Do read it. Do find out more. I
trust if you actually understand what you will get, you will not sign
the Count My Vote / Buy My vote initiative.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:10 am
The “bill” Count My Vote, or proposed law is flawed, terribly so. Even some of
the strongest supporters admit the legislature will have to fix it if this mess passes.
We tell public officials to kill these kind of errors in committee, not skip the public hearing, not read the bill and vote to send it to the floor of the legislature to decide if it should pass or not.
That is exactly what Count My Vote is telling people to do. Sign it, unread, and hope everyone realizes next fall it doesn’t deliver. They could have amended it but chose not to and by law, can no longer amend the “bill”.
This proposed law will cost taxpayers millions, $1 Million the first year and almost that every 2 years, with about 1/2 of the unfunded mandate being picked up by the
less populous counties, the ones that the same proposed law will cause to be flyover places where the candidates and elected officials won’t come anymore.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:11 am
When Utah tried a direct primary in 1937 to 1947, it came with a run off primary, so the majority would elect the nominee. When the voting turn out and the cost drove the public and the media to reject that system – a compromise, caucus/convention and run off primary was created. We have that today. Count My Vote not only removes the nominating for general elections using delegates, it removes the run off primary system we have and nominees will no longer be selected out of a 2 person race.
The political royalty sponsors of Count My Vote loved the current system
when the turnout to the neighborhood caucus elections meetings (GOP) was
about 25,000, but when it exceeded 50,000 and 100,000, they no longer
want that system because they no longer have the power. They don’t tell
you that the same delegates, proposed to be elected by closer to 10,000
attendees will still pick nominees such as the replacement for Spencer
Cox.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:12 am
They claim more people will be able to vote. A large percentage of
voters will not affiliate to vote in the GOP primary election and those
same people will not be able to vote in a “GOP” direct primary under
Count My Vote. They will get to pay more as Count My Vote makes sure the parties will not be picking up the tab they currently do, it will be the taxpayers, unaffiliated or not.
Don’t sign, just to vote on it later. Do read it. Do find out more. I
trust if you actually understand what you will get, you will not sign
the Count My Vote / Buy My vote initiative.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:06 am
The Headline is now not correct. James Humphreys blasts Count My Vote
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:49 am
Thanks for fixing it.
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 7:06 am
The Headline is now not correct. James Humphreys blasts Count My Vote
utah_1 • Dec 9, 2013 at 11:49 am
Thanks for fixing it.