Utah voter registration guide: How to check voter registration status, options to vote, what to know
Utah is poised to get plenty of attention in the 2024 election season, with the Beehive State set to serve as an early litmus test in the presidential primary and identify new members of Congress for seats long held by political mainstays like Chris Stewart and Mitt Romney.
In addition, voters can expect to see three statewide ballot measures to consider, including a proposal to end the state's practice of dedicating all revenue from income taxes support education systems.
Election dates to remember in Utah
A potential presidential primary would be held on Tuesday, March 5, and the state's all-important primary elections would be held on June 25. Primary elections determine each qualified party's nomination of candidates for federal offices, as well as state and county offices.
Party candidates who win the primaries qualify to appear on the General Election ballot in November.
The general election is scheduled for the first Tuesday in November, Nov. 5.
Registration dates for each of those elections varies, though.
How to register to vote in Utah
To be eligible to register to vote in Utah, you must meet the following three criteria: be a United States citizen, live in the state for at least 30 days before the election, and be at least 18 years on or before the day of the election. Sixteen-year-olds and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote and will be registered automatically when they turn 18.
Registration must be done in advance of the actual election date in most cases. Voters can register at voting locations but they must present two forms of identification.
Paper registration forms are available at county clerks' offices. Prospective voters can also email or scan a copy or register online at voter.utah.gov. Information on county clerks can also be found via a link at the voter.utah.gov website.
More on the 2024 election: Who are the 2024 presidential candidates? These are the Republicans and Democrats running.
The first deadline to register is ahead of the March 5 presidential primary. Registration must be received by county elections officers by Feb. 23.
For the June 25 primary, registration must be received by June 14.
How to vote in Utah
Utah elections officials have opened up various ways of voting over the years, moving away from the traditional in-person voting done at a polling precinct and moving toward vote-by-mail.
Most counties now conduct elections by mail, with select places opened up for early voting and Election Day in-person voting for those who prefer to cast their ballots by hand.
Vote early in-person
Early voting is held in the two weeks before each election, beginning with the presidential primary, where in-person voting will be allowed as soon as Feb. 20.
In most counties, early voting is held each day, although some polling places close on weekends or on Sundays. Hours can vary, so voters should check the schedules before heading to their polling location.
No excuse is required to vote early. To find your specific polling location, visit the "Voter Search" website maintained by the state lieutenant governor's office at votesearch.utah.gov.
Request a mail-in/absentee ballot
Active registered voters in most places should receive their ballots by mail automatically. In 2024, the first would arrive between February 13 and February 27 for the presidential primary.
Anyone who isn't already registered or who does not receive their ballots on time should contact individual county clerks offices, since county clerks are in charge of running the elections in their areas.
Return your completed ballot
Ballots must be postmarked on or before the date of the election in Utah, which in the case of the first race, the presidential primary, would be March 4.
Voters can also drop ballots off at county clerks' offices, at in-person polling locations or at ballot drop boxes available at various locations in each county. Individual county clerks maintain lists of addresses where polling locations and drop box addresses are listed.
Voting in-person on Election Day
Voting on Election Day is also possible, with polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. the day of the election. To vote in person, voters must remember to bring a valid form of identification.
The number of locations can be limited though, as in-person voting locations are typically meant to assist voters who need to replace their ballots, or did not receive a mail ballot or need to use a voting machine that offers features like an audio ballot.
More on the 2024 election The 2024 Senate elections are fast approaching. These are the seats up for re-election.
Most voters are encouraged to skip the lines and vote by mail, making sure to postmark the ballot by the date of the election or depositing it at an official drop box location.
Political parties and primary election rules
In Utah, there are different rules for participating in the primary election, depending on the political party.
Most notably, only voters registered with the Republican Party may vote in that party's primary races, and only those registered with the Democratic Party or unaffiliated voters may vote in its primary.
Races for non-partisan races such as school board elections are open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Utah voter registration guide: How to check voter registration status
