Northwoods Reporter

A recent statement from the Iron County GOP Executive Committee highlights concerns over uncounted ballots in Utah's Primary Election. Over 400 ballots from Iron County residents were not counted because they were postmarked on or after June 25th, the day of the Primary Election. Commissioner Paul Cozzens noted that some ballots were postmarked a day earlier, yet remained ineligible due to their arrival with later-postmarked ballots.

Iron County Clerk Jon Whittaker explained that while some voters claimed to have mailed their ballots on time, delays at a Las Vegas sorting station may have affected the postmark date. The mail-in voting system requires out-of-state processing, raising questions about accountability and transparency.

In 2022, similar issues arose when thousands of ballots failed to reach voters' homes. These incidents fuel skepticism about universal mail-in balloting as a secure election method. A voter reported her ballot was invalidated due to a signature mismatch caused by arthritis; she received notice too late to rectify it.

The statement argues for same-day, in-person voting with government-issued photo ID as a more reliable alternative for Utah residents. It criticizes reliance on the United States Postal System for determining election outcomes and calls for legislative changes to prioritize in-person voting.

The Iron County GOP supports Utah House Representative Rex Shipp's efforts to make in-person voting primary and encourages public backing during the 2025 Legislative Session.

The committee also endorses Phil Lyman for governor following his victory at the Utah Republican State Convention.