In a rare Sunday afternoon press conference, Count My Vote officially announced that it would no longer be pursuing its statewide petition drive.

“We announce today historic legislation that will significantly modernize the Utah election system,” said Rich McKeown, Executive Chair of Count My Vote. “When you see the legislation, when you get acquainted with what it does, you are going to see that this is an elegant solution that significantly enhances the capacity for participation for all Utah voters. We are extremely pleased with all the work that has gone into this. There are some people who are disappointed, there are people disappointed on both sides of the issue… [but] there is a lot for everyone to appreciate. [We will offer] people the opportunity for an explanation.”

“This is a win for voter participation and engagement,” Wayne Niederhauser, president of the Senate, stated at the start of the press conference. This sentiment was echoed by Gail Miller, co-chair of Count My Vote.

Norma Matheson, another Count My Vote co-chair, added that the compromise was the “production of a lot of work and effort.” That being said, she did not ignore the work of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands who have signed the Count My Vote initiative. “This watershed legislation [happened because of you],” she said. “Without signatures and volunteers, this point would never have happened.” Before stepping away from the podium, Matheson also noted Utah’s historically low voter turn out, and said “We hope this will encourage more people to participate in the process.”

Former Governor Mike Leavitt, co-chair of Count My Vote, added by phone that the compromise allows alternative candidates to get on the ballot and provides unaffiliated voters a means to participate. “[The compromise] accomplishes the mission of Count My Vote, specifically a direct primary election… this has been achieved without the expense of a general election campaign in the fall. That money and that energy can now be put to work electing good candidates from both parties. Allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections was not part of the Count My Vote initiative, but we believe that it is an important change.” Leavitt also noted that legislation could have usurped the efforts of Count My Vote, noting that “the possibility that Senate Bill 54 might nullify the impact of the initiative process was a material risk.”

Senator Curt Bramble (Republican – Provo) called the process a journey and highlighted that his goal was to create a “principled compromise where we would put forward legislation recognizing and respecting the voice of the people through not only through the initiative process, but the voice and vote of the people that elected the 104 members of the legislature, and the governor. Both play a critical role in the legislative landscape in the State of Utah.”

Bramble then noted that a substitute to his controversial SB 54 would be presented on Monday morning for full inspection by the public.

“This piece of legislation will give working families portals so that they can run, and they can vote in the state,” Senator Karen Mayne (Democrat – Kearns) added.

Representative Dan McKay, who intends to carry SB 54 in the House, noted that “compromise is difficult, and this compromise is no exception. There are deep feelings on both sides of this issue. There are people who are frustrated about a perceived loss on one part or another – but what I feel people need to recognize is that this is an important part of the process.”

Representative Brad Dee, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, gave a passionate speech outlining the legislature’s general opinion. “One thing we understand… is that we must listen to the people of Utah. And so you see in front of you today members of leadership in support of a compromise with dialogue and deliberation. This was important to those of us that are products of a caucus system in the State of Utah that has produced, I believe, in the legislature and in every other elected official in the State of Utah, the greatest state government in the United States, because of the system we have been working with. But we understand, also, about inclusion… we want to be able to say, as a caucus and as a party, that we listen and we want them to come to us, and we welcome them to the process.”

Dee concluded by stating that “…the responsibility today shifts. It shifts to the public, it shifts to the voters of the State of Utah. It is imperative that they grasp this opportunity to be heard and be part of the elective process in the State of Utah. You can longer sit back and let somebody else do it, you must take advantage of this opportunity.”

Despite questions that the Count My Vote / SB 54 deal was a backroom deal, McKeown noted that the process was “as transparent as it could have been.” Senator Bramble followed up by noting that he has been working with Count My Vote since October of 2013 and that the current legislative process requires seven rounds of debate before it finally becomes law.

Presuming SB 54 becomes law, it would take effect January 1, 2015 and would be in place for the November 2016 election. Though the traditional method of going through a party process would not change under the bill, SB 54 would require both parties to accept unaffiliated voters to the primary election ballot. Those who do not wish to affiliate with a party that follows these conditions would require candidates to collect 28,000 signatures for statewide races, 7,000 for congressional districts, 2,000 for Senate races, and 1,000 for House races.

McKeown also informed the media that “Count My Vote has established a bit of a brand, and we would like to continue being involved… in issues related to voter participation.”

The group has proven its ability to raise funds, gathering nearly $700,000 in contributions. In a prepared statement, Count My Vote added that they “will continue to lead other activities that improve voter participation.” They will, however, “…suspend signature gathering and the initiative petition once SB 54 is passed and signed by the governor.”