County clerk voices concern with bill changing Utah’s vote by mail system
Mar 10, 2025, 2:00 PM | Updated: Mar 11, 2025, 8:20 am
FILE- An employee at the Utah County Election office puts mail-in ballots into a container to register the vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 6, 2018 in Provo, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images)
(George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — A local county clerk is voicing concern with a bill that would make huge changes to Utah’s vote by mail system.
The Utah Legislature passed HB300 last week, which would make several changes by 2029, including:
- Require voters to opt-in for mail-in voting.
- Require people to write the last four digits of their drivers’ license number, social security number or state ID on their ballots.
- Change the Utah postmark deadline for mail-in ballots.
Utah currently requires mail-in ballots to be postmarked the day before Election Day to count, even if the ballot doesn’t reach the county clerk’s office until after Election Day.
This bill would require all mail-in ballots to be in the hands of the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Vote by mail changes to be signed into law
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is expected to sign the bill into law.
He told the Associated Press and other media members Friday night, “I’m very supportive of it. I think it’s a brilliant bill.”
Cox also told those reporters, “Lots of people wrongly believe that we have mass fraud in our elections, and it’s just not true, but we need to restore trust to them as well.”
Concerns about the changes
Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman told KSL NewsRadio, “I absolutely agree,” with the governor’s sentiments on the current state of Utah’s election security. But, she also voiced concerns with some of the changes the bill would make.
“I absolutely have concerns because we’ve been doing it one way for over a decade and now we’re switching it. And we’re not just switching little things.”
Chapman said they’re now going to have to re-educate thousands of people on how the vote by mail system works.
The bill would require people to write the last four digits of their driver’s license or social security numbers on their ballots. Chapman thinks this will lead to poll workers having to cure or fix more ballot mistakes by the time the changes are implemented.
Despite the concern, Chapman said she’s hopeful for a smooth transition.
“My job is to make sure our voters understand their rights, understand what they need to do to be able to continue to have their voices heard in our elections.”
Related: Utah’s legislative session has come to an end. Here’s what your lawmakers did
