New audit highlights areas of improvement in Utah’s election system, focusing on deceased voters and ballot security
Utah’s latest election audit reveals no significant fraud but raises serious concerns over the maintenance of voter rolls. The report, released on Monday, uncovers issues that could impact the integrity of the state’s election system. Legislative auditors have urged lawmakers to address these problems before the next election cycle.
The audit, conducted ahead of the 2025 legislative session, revealed several issues within Utah’s election system, including outdated voter rolls with over 1,400 deceased voters still listed. Despite these concerns, the auditors did not find evidence of widespread election fraud. However, their findings have prompted calls for changes to improve the system’s reliability.
Deceased Voters: A Troubling Finding
One of the audit’s most troubling findings is the presence of 1,400 deceased individuals on Utah’s voter rolls. Of these, nearly 700 were still marked as “active” voters. This is especially concerning given that auditors previously recommended that the Lt. Governor’s Office keep the rolls up to date to avoid such discrepancies.
While the number of deceased voters is small relative to the state’s over 2 million registered voters, the failure to remove them from the rolls represents a significant lapse in voter list maintenance. Legislative auditors were particularly alarmed by the discovery that two of these deceased individuals had cast ballots in the November 2023 elections.
Rep. Mike Schultz, the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, expressed frustration during a committee meeting, asking how deceased individuals could even cast a vote. The auditors clarified that although it would be difficult for a deceased person to vote in person, there is a possibility of impersonation fraud.
Currently, the state is investigating these ballots for potential criminal charges. This incident has raised concerns about the robustness of election security, particularly in Salt Lake County, where the issue was found.
Data Gaps Contributing to the Problem
The audit also pointed to a “data gap” as a key reason for the issue with deceased voters. Ryan Cowley, the state elections director, explained that the Utah Department of Technology Services had initially refused to provide updated death records from the Department of Vital Statistics to the Lt. Governor’s Office. This refusal made it difficult to match death records with voter registration data, which ultimately allowed deceased individuals to remain on the rolls.
To remedy the situation, Cowley suggested that the Legislature require the death records to be sent to the Lt. Governor’s Office at least 120 days before elections or on-demand. Without this data, the Lt. Governor’s Office cannot conduct the necessary audits to ensure the accuracy of voter rolls.
Despite these challenges, Cowley maintained that the elections office did the best they could with the resources available, noting that the problem stemmed more from a lack of proper tools than any deliberate oversight.
Calls for Reform and Debate Over Vote-By-Mail
The audit’s findings are likely to spur debate in the upcoming legislative session, particularly regarding Utah’s vote-by-mail system. Utah is one of several states that automatically sends mail-in ballots to all active registered voters, a practice that has been credited with increasing voter turnout.
However, Speaker Mike Schultz questioned the security of this system in light of the findings, asking how citizens could have confidence in vote-by-mail if deceased voters remain on the rolls. This concern has raised alarm among some lawmakers, especially Republicans, who are considering changes to the system to address these issues.
On the other hand, Democrats, including House Minority Leader Angela Romero and Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, cautioned against using the audit as a pretext to eliminate vote-by-mail altogether. They argued that the real issue is not the method of voting itself, but the execution of safeguards already in place to prevent fraud.
Escamilla emphasized that improving the implementation of these safeguards is the key, rather than scrapping vote-by-mail, which has proven essential for increasing voter accessibility, particularly for those who may not be able to vote in person.
Recommendations for Improvement
Although the audit did not find significant fraud, it did highlight several areas where Utah’s election system could be improved. The auditors provided a list of recommendations aimed at ensuring the integrity of future elections, including:
- Improving voter roll maintenance: Ensuring that deceased voters are promptly removed from the rolls to prevent potential fraud.
- Enhancing ballot security: Addressing weaknesses in ballot custody and handling procedures to safeguard against errors and potential manipulation.
- Strengthening post-election audits: Ensuring that clerks properly conduct audits after elections to confirm the accuracy and legitimacy of results.
The auditors also noted that, despite these areas for improvement, there have been significant strides made in some counties, with clerks working diligently to run accurate and timely elections. These positive developments offer hope that, with proper reforms, Utah can continue to maintain a fair and reliable electoral process.
Legislative Action on the Horizon?
The findings of this audit will likely be front and center when Utah’s Republican-controlled Legislature convenes in January. While the audit did not suggest any major overhaul of Utah’s election system, the concerns raised about voter rolls and security could lead to significant reforms in how elections are conducted.
With calls for stronger voter roll maintenance, better data sharing between state agencies, and enhanced security measures, lawmakers will have to decide whether to take action to address these findings. The debate over vote-by-mail could also take center stage, with some pushing for reforms to improve its security, while others defend its role in increasing voter participation.
For now, the focus will remain on the next steps to improve Utah’s election system. The hope is that these changes will ensure that future elections are secure, transparent, and trusted by all voters.
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