New election law in effect for Utah’s municipal Election Day Tuesday

SALT LAKE CITY – There’s less than 24 hours left before Election Day in the Beehive State.

Utahns are prepared to decide mayoral, city council, school board and other municipal races. But some of Utah’s election laws have been changed since the 2024 presidential election, one of which will be in effect for this election cycle.

Under Utah HB300, which was passed by the state Legislature and Gov. Spencer Cox earlier this year, mail-in ballots now need to be in the hands of county clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Night. Any ballots received after that time cannot be counted.

Up until last year, ballots would be counted so long as they were postmarked by Election Day, even if the county clerk received them after 8 p.m. on Election night. Not anymore.

This bill also requires voters to add the last four digits of their Social Security number or driver’s license number on a designated place on their ballot. That starts in 2026.

Then, starting in 2029, Utah voters will have to opt in to receive a mail-in ballot, instead of receiving one automatically as a registered voter.

Given the new deadline for mail-in ballots, Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman told KSL NewsRadio it’s currently too late for people to send their ballots back through the U.S. Postal Service.

Chapman said it’s best to take it to a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election night to make sure people’s voices are heard.

“The mayors, our city council people are directly representative of us…and the best way to make sure that happens is by participating in these elections,” Chapman said.

Utahns who are registered to vote can also vote in person through 8 p.m. Tuesday. Those who haven’t registered yet can register to vote at an in-person voting location with two valid forms of ID.

For other questions and information, head to Utah’s official elections website.

Related: Election day food drives to be held at polling centers in Utah County cities

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