In Salt Lake City, a recent legislative move in Utah seeks to alter the state’s current electoral process regarding vote-by-mail ballots. As the 2025 legislative session concluded, the Republican-majority Legislature passed a proposal requiring voters to actively choose to receive their ballots via mail. If Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, signs the bill into law, voters wishing to return ballots by mail or drop box must write the last four digits of their driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security number on their ballot return envelope.
This proposal also introduces a new requirement for in-person voting, starting in 2029, mandating voters to show valid identification. Passing this bill would remove Utah from the list of eight states—all with Democrat-led governments—that conduct all elections by mail without requiring voters to opt in.
Governor Cox, expressing support for the legislation, noted the necessity of restoring public trust in the state’s electoral process. Despite his strong confidence in Utah’s election security, he endorses the changes to expedite the vote-tallying process, aiming to reduce the time frame which presently allows for suspicions and rumors of election fraud.
Currently, ballots postmarked by the day before Election Day are counted within two weeks following the election. The new proposal shifts this deadline, requiring the county clerk to have all ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The legislative discussion saw pointed remarks and differing opinions, with recent audits showing no significant voter fraud but listing inefficiencies, such as the delay in removing deceased individuals from voter rolls.
While Democrats argued that the proposed changes make voting unnecessarily difficult, some Republicans insisted on additional security measures, driven by issues like slowly updated voter rolls. Key quotes from the chamber include one from Sen. Mike McKell, who expressed confidence in mail-in voting’s integrity but articulated the need for enhanced security alongside voting accessibility.
Despite Democratic opposition and some Republican dissent, the bill cleared both legislative houses, obtaining veto-proof margins in the House but falling just short by one vote in the Senate. Senator Nate Blouin suggested that the Republican-backed measure caters to unfounded fears about election security fostered by false narratives.
Reflecting on the larger political context, Republicans have historically sent mixed messages about mail-in voting. Former President Donald Trump’s claims of mail-in voting fraud during the 2020 election fueled distrust, even as the Republican National Committee urges its base to utilize mail ballots in future elections.
Significantly, the voting population in Utah predominantly opts for mail or drop-box ballot submissions. Earlier iterations of this bill faced significant opposition from Utah’s county clerks. Although clerks have since removed their opposition, there remain concerns that the legislation might compromise election security. Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch cautioned that the focus on ID number verification over signatures could increase the risk of voter fraud, reiterating the challenge of protecting voter integrity.
The legislation, however, includes provisions to accept tribal IDs for voting, addressing fears of disenfranchisement among Native American communities in the state, who were last to gain access to voting rights.