Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson sparked a controversy when he publicly disclosed the voting method of a lawmaker, leading to calls for him to recuse himself from the election cycle. Some mail-in voters are now questioning whether their ballots will be counted. Davidson admitted to tracking public officials’ votes and even provided names, prompting criticism from officials and voters. Davidson defended his actions, stating that voting methods are not private information. However, his actions have led to an investigation by the County Attorney’s Office.
Despite the controversy, Davidson assured voters that ballots without postage would still be counted, but advised residents to pay for the stamp for convenience. Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner criticized this distinction, stating that all voters should have the right to vote regardless of their ability to pay for postage. Powers Gardner and lawmaker Mike McKell advised voters to track their ballots to ensure they were counted.
The controversy has raised concerns about Davidson’s neutrality, as he previously posted a letter on social media calling for prosecution of a lieutenant governor candidate. McKell and Powers Gardner have called for Davidson to recuse himself from his duties to ensure a non-political and neutral election process. With Election Day looming, voters in Utah County are worried about the integrity of the election and whether their votes will be counted properly.
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