A recent poll from the Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics, conducted by HarrisX, reveals that three-quarters of Utah voters believe mail-in ballots are both safe and accurate. As the 2024 general election approaches, the poll indicates that 75% of those surveyed are confident that their mail-in votes reflect their true intentions. Specifically, 35% express “very confident” feelings about mail-in voting, while 39% are “somewhat confident.” Conversely, 25% of the respondents express varying levels of doubt about the mail-in voting process, with 16% stating they are “not very confident” and 9% completely unconfident. Notably, Democratic voters displayed the highest confidence levels, with 92% trusting mail-in ballots, while Republican and independent voters showed lower confidence rates at 72%.
The poll also examined voter faith in election integrity based on the nature of elections, particularly contrasting trust in state and local results with presidential election outcomes. While a substantial majority of all party affiliations—82% of Republicans, 84% of independents, and 91% of Democrats—trust state and local elections, Republican and independent confidence plummets regarding presidential elections, with only 59% and 58% respectively expressing faith in those outcomes compared to 91% of Democrats. This significant disparity suggests a potential correlation between political affiliations and perceptions of election integrity, indicating broader partisan divides exist within the realm of electoral trust in Utah.
Ryan Cowley, the director of elections at the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, attributes the high levels of trust in Utah’s mail-in voting system to its gradual implementation and the familiarity voters have developed over time with the voting process. Cowley highlights that Utah has honed its vote-by-mail practices over the last three decades, unlike many states that adopted such methods hastily during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning with pilot programs in certain counties in the 1990s and culminating in a statewide rollout in 2020, Utah’s system has matured, allowing voters the opportunity to thoroughly research candidates and issues before casting their votes. Cowley reassures voters that the state’s voting process, which includes a balanced approach to voter ID verification and robust signature verification procedures, mitigates significant risks of election fraud.
However, recent incidents during the Republican primary for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District have raised questions regarding the reliability of mail-in ballots. Political consultant Greg Powers highlighted how several ballots were discarded due to late postmark issues, despite claims that they had been mailed on time. This led him to suggest that the integrity of the election could be compromised by logistical errors in the postal service, causing voters’ choices to hinge on unanticipated circumstances rather than the democratic process. Moreover, Powers argued for the need for the state to enhance its infrastructure, advocating for an increase in secure drop boxes and the implementation of a scanning system for government-issued IDs when submitting ballots. His observations reflect a critical stance toward the current mail-in voting system, calling for significant reforms to ensure a fair electoral process.
A survey conducted across 27 Utah counties indicates robust participation in the mail-in voting system, with 97% of voters opting for it during the recent June primary elections. This included 41% of votes cast through the U.S. Postal Service and a notable 56% submitted via secure drop boxes. Although this data suggests that voters have generally embraced mail-in voting, the controversies associated with postal service reliability have sparked discussions on alternative measures that could further reinforce the integrity of electoral systems, particularly given recent experiences in specific districts.
Amid ongoing debates about election integrity, Derek Monson from the Sutherland Institute believes that Utah voters remain largely unaffected by national narratives that criticize mail-in voting systems. He argues that voters in Utah have confidence in the existing structure due to the state’s meticulous approach, as evidenced by a lack of significant voter fraud instances within the mail-in system. Monson emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate discussions about election systems based on factual evidence and best practices rather than ideologically driven rhetoric that may undermine public confidence. He urges politicians to engage with the data-driven realities of Utah’s election integrity instead of projecting fears that lack a factual basis, arguing that constructive conversations are vital for both improving systems and upholding voter trust.