Belmont Criticized Thompson Over Voting Legislation

Independent candidate Patrick Belmont challenged incumbent Jason Thompson regarding legislative voting reforms.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of the Utah State Capitol dome, rendered in navy and cream with deep red, representing political policy debate. — Independent House candidate Patrick Belmont has challenged incumbent Representative Jason Thompson over his support for Utah legislation that weakened 2018 voter-backed election reforms. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Independent House District 3 candidate Patrick Belmont has criticized incumbent GOP Representative Jason Thompson for his support of recent Utah voting legislation. Belmont alleges these measures frustrate the will of voters and undermine protections established by the 2018 Proposition 4 ballot initiative.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the Utah Legislature and voter-approved initiatives regarding redistricting and election procedures. Belmont claims that Representative Thompson's legislative record undermines the original intent of the 2018 voter-backed reforms.

An audit of 2 million voter registrations confirmed 99.7 percent were citizens. Meanwhile, House Bill 209 will soon mandate citizenship documentation for unverified voters.

The players

Patrick Belmont

He is an Independent candidate running for a seat in Utah House District 3.

Jason Thompson

He is the incumbent Republican State Representative for Utah House District 3.

The details

Belmont argues that legislative actions, including Senate Bill 1011, weakened Proposition 4 protections and allowed the state to exert control over balloting. The legislature also attempted to enact a partisan map via Senate Bill 1012, which was later struck down by the courts, and passed House Joint Resolution 201 to condemn judicial redistricting decisions.

Voters approved the Proposition 4 ballot initiative in 2018.
Groups initiated a lawsuit against the Utah government in March 2022.
Jason Thompson secured his election to the Legislature in 2024.
Lawmakers passed Senate Bills 1011 and 1012 in 2025.
The state will end automatic mail-in ballots in 2029.

Political Context

Opponents of the current legislative trajectory argue that these bills deliberately bypass the 2018 Proposition 4 ballot initiative. They contend that the legislature is overstepping its authority by centralizing control over electoral maps and ballot security protocols.

Residents in House District 3, which includes areas like Logan, River Heights, Richmond, and Cove, will see these policy debates reflected in their upcoming ballots. Taxpayers should note that new requirements for citizenship documentation may affect voter registration processes for unverified voters.

The takeaway

The race in House District 3 serves as a focal point for the broader struggle between legislative control and voter-approved ballot initiatives. Voters should monitor how these legislative changes affect their personal access to the ballot box and registration requirements.