A group seeking term limits in Utah says they're abandoning a ballot initiative after elections officials denied the proposal.

Utah Term Limits Now has been fighting a ruling from Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox's office that the initiative was unconstitutional. The group said Thursday that the state Supreme Court won't consider the issue until December. The group says a court ruling in December won't give them enough time to gather signatures next spring in order to make it on the November 2016 ballot.

The proposal would have limited the terms of those appointed by the governor to serve on boards and commissions. Cox's office says that would violate the governor's constitutional authority to make appointments.

Utah Term Limits Now says it may try to run the initiative again in the future.