Cities Push Changes in Utah Elections

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Cities and towns across the state are planning to press the Utah Legislature for permission to hold their primary elections earlier in the year. Lincoln Shurtz of the Utah League of Cities and Towns says new early voting laws mean the current four-week window between the two elections is too short:

"Currently the primary for municipal elections is in early October," says Shurtz. "It doesn't give us enough time - if there is any question about the outcome of the election - to have results figured and ready for early voting in the General Election."

Cities will ask the Legislature to move the municipal primary election dates to September. They also want assurance they will not be required to use electronic voting machines. Shurtz says the touch-screen machines are too costly for many cities.

"We've been receiving quotes from the counties to contract for their electronic voting equipment - it's about a three-fold increase in the cost of running a municipal election," says Shurtz.

A clarification of the law would allow cities to use either paper or optical scan ballots similar to a standardized test form.

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