Proposed bill would prevent people from tracking the method voters use to vote

Editor’s note:  Comments from Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson have been added to this article for clarity and balance.

SALT LAKE CITY — During a hearing of the Government Operations Interim Committee, Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Salt Lake City, introduced a bill that would prevent people from looking into the method someone used to cast their ballot.

“So what this bill essentially says is you cannot do a looky-loo at someone’s information for fun,” Gricius told the committee. “And if you don’t have a specific election-related purpose, then you can’t just look up specific individuals.”

She said the bill is a direct response to the recent actions of a county clerk. The clerk reportedly looked into the method used by several state lawmakers to turn in their ballot. He then reportedly released that information to the media. Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, chairs the committee.

“Elections and voting are kind of a big deal to me. I would argue that without getting our elections right, nothing else we do matters. Whether for a noble crusading idea, or whether out of malice or spite is irrelevant, the idea that someone could access that protected sacred right to vote and weaponize it against opponents or enemies, real or perceived is unthinkable.”

He said this isn’t the first time the Government Operations Interim Committee has dealt with this kind of thing.

“I remember when we had law enforcement accessing a healthcare database and prosecuting public employees, firefighters, who were taking prescription drugs due to injuries suffered on duty. We took that very seriously and we shut that down,” Thatcher said.

Thomas Vaughn with the Office of Legislative Research explained the bill creates a policy change.

“The committee I think has seen in the news where there was some information released about the way a certain member of the legislature voted and there was some concern about whether it’s appropriate to release that.”

Davidson explains why he investigated voting methods

Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson said he looked into the method used by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork to turn in his ballot to make a statement.

 

“My political purpose was trying to move it. Move people to use the more safe and secure method. Here’s Michael out there saying, to use the Postal Service and don’t put a stamp on it. And so, he’s advocating for a less safe and secure method.  I call[ed] them out and said, ‘Well, you’re advocating for this and even you didn’t put a stamp on it.’ I think he was chagrined by that.

“And so now he’s using his legislative power to try and counter my argument through legislative edict and saying, ‘Oh, what you did is illegal.’ Well it wasn’t illegal when I did it but they’re trying to make it illegal.”

KSL has confirmed that Sen. McKell is not a member of the Government Operations Interim Committee.

The members of the committee voted unanimously to recommend that the bill get the attention of the full Utah Legislature.

Don Brinkerhoff is a reporter and producer for KSL NewsRadio.  

Related:

• Your Voice Your Vote: How county clerks verify Utah ballots
• Ballot boxes overflow in Salt Lake County

Follow @KSLdbrinkerhoff