Election officials strongly urge Utahns to vote by mail
Salt Lake City — (KUTV) Voter turnout is expected to be huge this year and officials are urging Utahns to vote by mail.
Twenty of Utah's 29 counties are participating in vote-by-mail elections this year, including: Cache, Rich, Weber, Morgan, Summit, Davis, Salt Lake, Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah, Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Grand, Beaver, Wayne, San Juan, Iron, Garfield and Kane. Other counties require voters to show up to a polling location or request an absentee ballot.
Registered voters in those counties will receive a ballot in the mail in the next two weeks.
"Last year, 90 percent of all ballots cast in Salt Lake County, Weber County and other counties throughout the state were cast by mail," said Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk. "The number of Utahns who vote by mail this year will likely triple from last year."
Proponents suggest voting by mail allows an individual to spend more time examining the issues and candidates.
"Vote-by-mail results in a more informed and educated voter, by proactively placing the ballot in the voter's hand three weeks prior to election day," said Hatch.
Once a vote by mail ballot is received, county officials will record the unique number provided to each registered voter and count them as "voted," so duplicate voting cannot occur.
"If you like that election day feel, mark the ballot, follow the instructions on the envelope and then walk and drop," said Curtis Koch, Davis County Clerk. "Come in, drop it in the drop box and be on your way."
While more counties are moving to a vote by mail system, each county will continue to offer a physical polling location on election day.
"They may have misplaced their ballot, may not have received a ballot. They may need the amenities offered by the touch screen voting machine," said Sherrie Swensen, Salt Lake County Clerk.
Here are some important dates to remember as the June 28 primary election approaches:
- June 6: ballots mailed out
- June 14-24: early voting at applicable locations
- June 21: Deadline for online voter registration
- June 23: Last day to mail in ballots
- June 28: Election day. Vote centers open 7am - 8pm (Can drop off vote by mail ballots)
For more information visit: vote.utah.gov
