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Protecting Election 2020 from Covid-19: A Toolkit for Utah Activists

If the Covid-19 pandemic continues into November, we will need to change our election practices to make sure voters don’t have to choose between their health and their right to vote. We have the solutions to make our elections both safe and accessible to all. And with this toolkit, you will know what reforms your state needs and where to focus your efforts.

Last Updated: August 24, 2020
Published: August 24, 2020

This is part of the Brennan Center’s Toolkits for Activists Across the Nation.

Jump to a section: 
Political Context  |  What’s in Place and What’s Needed  |  Key Dates

Administering an election under pandemic conditions requires undertaking steps to keep voting accessible, safe, and secure. The guide below lays out the problems Covid-19 poses, what preparedness measures Utah has, and what changes are still needed. But first, we offer some political context for your advocacy.


Advocacy Focus: Local Reform

Local officials have a lot of responsibility over elections. They are a great place to focus advocacy efforts. Though state officials can make any of the changes in this toolkit, we highlight some examples of changes that local elections officials can also make with this symbol:🔸


Political Context

Below is a list of the relevant officials and information about the legislative session.

Governor: Gary Herbert (R)  

Lieutenant Governor: Spencer Cox (R)

Legislature: House (R) Senate (R)

Legislative Session: Session last adjourned June 18, 2020. Special session called for August 20, 2020. Special sessions may be called by Governor or Legislature.

Local Elections Officials: In Utah, county clerks share responsibilities for administering elections. You can look up individual county clerks here.

What Utah Has and What’s Needed

Three priorities. There are three key areas where we need to shore up our elections systems for success during a pandemic: registration, mail voting, and in-person voting.

Registration

Covid-19 may disrupt the traditional ways Americans register to vote, like get out the vote drives or registering at government agencies. In the crucial weeks before the registration deadline, postal service disruptions may lead many registration forms to arrive at election offices after the deadline.

Preparatory Measures Utah Already Has Taken:

  • Online voter registration
  • Election Day voter registration

Changes Still Needed:

  • Prepare to extend online and mail voter registration deadlines based on conditions in the state

Voting by Mail

Because of Covid-19, long lines and crowds at the polls pose health risks not seen in previous elections. Allowing every citizen to vote by mail reduces the number of people at the polls on Election Day and decreases the exposure risk to Covid-19.

Preparatory Measures Utah Already Has Taken:

  • Mail ballots sent to every active registered voter
  • No notary or witness requirement for return of mail ballot
  • No ID requirement to vote by mail
  • Provides post-election notice and cure opportunity for defects on absentee-ballot envelope, including signature mismatch

Changes Still Needed:

  • Provide pre-paid postage for voting by mail
  • Accept late-arriving ballots postmarked by Election Day
  • Provide post-election notice and cure opportunity for defects on absentee-ballot envelope, including missing signatures

In-Person Voting

Even with expanded mail voting opportunity, states cannot close polling places. To do so may disenfranchise voters without Internet and mail access, or those who do not wish to cast a ballot by mail. In-person voting must be done in accordance with health guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Preparatory Measures Utah Already Has Taken:

  • In-person early voting
  • Vote centers on election day

Changes Still Needed:

  • Ensure sufficient polling places are open and resourced on Election Day🔸
  • Open more in-person early voting locations🔸
  • Take proper public health precautions to ensure safe polling places🔸
  • Hold training sessions for polling-place workers well in advance of Election Day, so that election officials can better anticipate problems with staffing and logistics🔸
  • Increase access to curbside voting at polling locations

Advocacy Focus: Protecting Polling Places

No matter how prepared Utah is as a matter of policy, elections officials and advocates must stay vigilant about ensuring safe, healthy in-person voting is an option for everyone all the way through Election Day. Here are some important things to know about who makes decisions about polling places in Utah and what rules govern the process:

  • Each county must have at least two polling places open for voting at on election day. The assignment and location of common polling places must be done at least 90 days before the election.🔸
  • County clerks shall ensure that the time that a voter spends in line does not exceed 30 minutes, to the extent possible. If a voter has to wait longer than 30 minutes, the Lieutenant Governor can require the County Clerk to submit a line management plan before the next election.🔸
  • There must be a sufficient number of voting booths or devices to accommodate the voters at polling places, including at least one booth or device to accommodate persons with disabilities.🔸

Key Dates for Utah Elections

  • October 20, 2020: In-person early voting begins for the General Election
  • October 23, 2020: Voter registration deadline for General Election (although voters may also register in person at a voting center with proper ID using a provisional ballot after this date)
  • November 3, 2020: General Election Day