Candidates planning to run in Utah have a few days left to file
Jan 3, 2024, 2:30 PM | Updated: Jan 4, 2024, 10:46 am
FILE: Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson helps announce their state budget proposal in West Haven on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The filing deadline to run for office in Utah is the end of the business day on Jan. 8, 2024.
The deadline pertains to partisan candidates for federal, statewide, county, and local races.
The exception is independent presidential candidates, made after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sued Utah elections officials. Kennedy claimed the date in early January violated the rights of voters. Now, independent presidential candidates will have until March 5, 2024, to file their candidacy in Utah.
So far 90 candidates have filed to run for federal, state, legislative and state school board races.
See candidates for those offices at the link below. Check your county clerk’s website to find out who’s filed for local government races.
🇺🇸🗳️🐝https://t.co/WrbNkPFg1i#utpol pic.twitter.com/uysnXcor5i— Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson (@LGHendersonUtah) January 3, 2024
The election schedule changed when S.B. 170 was signed into law in February of 2022. Namely, the deadline to file was moved up from Aug. 15 to Jan. 8.
KSL.com reported that Kennedy claimed the new date in January would disenfranchise voters who might want to vote for an independent candidate, but couldn’t because the state’s deadline hampered a campaign’s ability to gather and validate the necessary signatures.
More info at https://t.co/jYavxtQIxb#Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/6hfPXOCc57
— Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson (@LGHendersonUtah) January 2, 2024
Henderson said those who wish to run for office in Utah can file in her office or the office of their county clerk. Utah holds primary elections on June 25. Election Day is Nov. 5.
Simone Seikaly contributed.
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