Series 12411
Governor Bangerter Opinion ballots
Dates: 1989-1992.
3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
These opinion ballots convey constituents' views on topics of the day, including insurance, education, DUI (driving under the influence) penalties, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) testing, surplus funds, hazardous waste, abortion, flag desecration, wilderness designation, winter olympics, taxation, transportation, and the environment. The ballot forms were created by a for-profit, Texas company-National "Write Your Congressman" Inc. This company encourages and assists individuals in writing public officials, offers pro and con issue information, tracks voting records, etc. As part of an individual's membership dues, the company provides a number of publications. One of these publications is the monthly Voters Voice which includes a state opinion ballot for every state in the union: These are the state opinion ballots for Utah.
Utah members received these forms, completed them, and mailed them to the Governor's office to register their opinions on state issues. The ballots provide an agree/disagree/undecided check list for three or four important issues; spaces for comments; and blanks for the sender's name, address, and occupation. Until late 1990, the Governor's office sent out a form letter in response thanking individuals for their interest; after that date, there is no indication a response was made.
Arrangement
Chronological by year and month.
Related Records
Office correspondence from the Governor Bangerter, Series 85075, contain occasional ballots, particularly those the Governor's office chose to answer.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public.
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Processing Note
The office began transferring this series to the records center in 1991. Initially scheduled to be destroyed a year after Governor Bangerter's last term, the State Records Committee opted to preserve the records on film as a gauge of public opinion during the administration.
Indexing Terms
- Public opinion—Utah.
- Public opinion polls.
- Issues management—Utah.
- Utah—Politics and government.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.