On November 7, 2007, the voters of Utah decisively rejected the will of the Utah Legislature and Governor, and defeated what would have been the  United States most comprehensive voucher program. The citizens of Utah soundly rejected the proposals imposed upon them in all twenty nine counties as well as overall - 62.2%^to 37.8 %.

The actual voting figures were:  against 309,623 and for 188,120.

The voucher law itself passed by a single vote in the Utah legislature but voucher opponents, led by the Utah Education Association and the Teachers' Unions  gathered 124,000 signatures in order to force the voucher proposal to a referendum.

The resulting public opinion campaign included thousands of TV and radio spots and burned through $ 8.5 million for a program that the State estimated would cost $5.5 million in its first year. Most of the opposition's $4.4 million campaign came from the National Education Association and State Teachers Unions from Florida to Alaska.

 Voucher supporters countered with a campaign costing more than $4 million. Nearly three quarters of that funding came from Patrick Byrne, an Overstock Chief Executive who bankrolled the voucher effort.

After the vote, the  National Schools Board Association applauded the people of Utah who have joined a long line of voters before them in decisively rejecting private school vouchers.

'Once again', they said,

'Voters have seen through the false promises and recognised the negative repercussions of vouchers, and stood squarely in support of public schools and students. It is encouraging to see that despite rhetoric and propaganda, voters are still rejecting vouchers, seven years after the historic rejection of vouchers in California and Michigan. Voters still know a bad idea when they see it. No matter the State, no matter the specifics of the plan, school vouchers remain an unpopular and unproven policy... the Utah vote marks the eleventh time in eleven referenda in recent decades that voters have decisively rejected school vouchers for tuition tax credits. Law makers nation wide should listen to the message being sent over and over by voters and not be swayed by  the small, vocal lobby that continues to press for vouchers in States across the country. The public wants its elected representatives to avoid the distraction and diversion of vouchers and focus on supporting effective strategies for improving our public schools.

Strong Group of United States Public School Supporters

The group which fought the voucher battle was known as Utahns for Public Schools. They represented parents, teachers and others interested in the quality of education provided to Utah children. They enjoyed bi-partisan support of many current and former elected officials. In addition to the thousands of individuals the following organisations pledged their support to the group:

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