Utah lawmakers approved a vote-by-mail reform bill, HB300, that will no longer require in-person voters to show photo ID to return a ballot. Instead, voters will need to request a mail-in ballot every eight years starting in 2029 and use a state ID number for verification. The bill also allows for the use of the final four digits of a driver’s license or Social Security number on return envelopes.
Initially, the bill required ballots to be returned in person with photo ID, but this provision was removed in the latest version. The bill aims to enhance voter identification while preserving the mail-in voting system that Utah already has in place. However, some county clerks have expressed concerns about the bill’s requirements, stating that it could double the time needed to administer elections and disenfranchise some voters.
The new version of the bill includes provisions for remote voting options for those with disabilities or long-term absences from the state. It also sets a deadline for requesting mail-in ballots and includes processes for obtaining state IDs. Additionally, HB300 would require mail-in ballots to be received by county clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Overall, the bill aims to streamline the voting process, enhance voter identification, and make mail-in voting more secure. The changes in the latest version address some of the concerns raised by county clerks, but challenges still remain in implementing the new requirements. The bill represents a compromise between legislators, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, and county clerks to improve Utah’s election process.
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