A group of conservative Republicans has hired a firm to persuade Utah voters to remove their names from a ballot initiative petition that would cement Utah's candidate nominating system.
Fundraising disclosure forms show Keep My Voice spent $174,000 on the effort. Backer Dave Bateman says that he's heard voters were misled, believing it was for other causes like to get Mitt Romney on the ballot.
Taylor Morgan with Count My Vote denies misleading anyone, and says Keep My Voice may be intimidating people into removing their names.
Count My Vote supports an option for candidates to get on a primary ballot by gathering voter signatures rather than competing at political party's convention. It's often used by more-moderate GOP candidates.
Romney used it to secure his ballot spot despite losing at convention.
