Huntsman said he is looking more toward putting the issue on the Feb.5, 2008 ballot, which would be during the Western States Presidential Primary, if the Lieutenant Governor finds 92,000 valid petition signatures within the more than 131,000 submitted.
However, Huntsman also said there is still a chance he would consider a referendum election for November at the earliest, but with plans to call a special session to change state law to allow for a February vote.
State Senator Dan Eastman said the February 2008 Presidential Primary would be the nearest fully-funded election, and therefore, a good time to present the voucher issue.
"The February election is already funded, so if a special election was held for this particular issue at any other time, it would cost the state $3.5 million," he said.
"Just this last legislative session we funded enough money to finance the election in February for the Presidential Primary. With a statewide election there would be no further expenses to put vouchers on the ballot, and in the off-year there would be no statewide offices being voted on."
Huntsman had originally wanted a vote to happen as quickly as possible until it was found that a special June election would cost taxpayers more than $3 million. Besides funding, some of the other concerns cited by Huntsman for pushing back the date are turnout, timing and the lawmakers and advocates involved.
After the petition drive's sufficiency is declared, an official election date is scheduled to be announced by Huntsman April 30.
dradunich@davisclipper.com
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