Utah Foundation recently released The 2012 Utah Priorities Survey, which provides a summary of the findings of a statewide Dan Jones & Associates survey assessing which issues are most important this election year and how voters feel about Utah’s economy, society and politics. For the first time, Utah Foundation also requested that the gubernatorial candidates complete part of this survey. All of the Republican and Democratic candidates and two of three third-party candidates completed the survey.
The candidates were asked to complete two main sections from the 2012 Utah Priorities Survey. The first gauged their feelings on quality of life in Utah, and the second asked them to prioritize 19 policy issues that were previously identified by voters as important in the upcoming election. This allowed Utah Foundation to not only compare the views of voters to candidates, but the priorities of each as well. This report is not an endorsement of any party or candidate, but is merely provided to educate and inform voters and the delegates to each party’s state nominating convention.
About the Utah Priorities Project
During this important election year, Utah Foundation is working to focus political dialogue on the issues that matter most to Utah voters. This is a project Utah Foundation undertakes during each gubernatorial election year. It begins with a survey of voters to rank the major issues and set the agenda for Utah Foundation’s research and other activities this year. Through outreach to many media outlets and a partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics, this project will also feature issue forums, candidate debates, candidate profiles, and other coverage of these issues.