Legislators consider allowing early voting

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS    17 June 2005

SALT LAKE CITY Legislators are considering allowing early voting up to two weeks before Election Day, and also may allow voting at grocery stores and malls.

One proposal would allow county clerks to consolidate dozens of voting precincts into one or more large central voting areas, such as at malls or sporting event halls. 
 
The changes would be more convenient for voters, Michael Cragun, state elections director, told a legislative committee Wednesday.

The changes also are seen as a way to save money.

Utah is getting $26 million to buy federally mandated electronic voting machines. That will buy about 7,500 machines, but many more will be needed for voters to avoid long lines on Election Day.

However, not as many machines would be needed if residents could vote up to two weeks before Election Day and if they could do it anywhere in the county.

Steve MacDonald, deputy elections director, used himself as an example.

He lives in Draper but works on Capitol Hill.

Under the proposals, he could vote during a lunch hour in a central voting area, such as the Delta Center, up to two weeks before Election Day. His Draper city ballot would be stored along with all other Salt Lake County jurisdictions in the electronic voting machine.

Members of the Government Operations Interim Committee decided to draft legislation that would allow the election changes.

Over the past two years, several legislative committees have refused to endorse early voting. One reason is that it would make some campaigns especially low-budget legislative campaigns change tactics.

Legislators would not be able to count on doing their traditional literature s the weekend before Election Day, because up to half the voters might have already voted.

Cragun said numerous studies in states with early voting show that the process doesn't favor one political party over another, doesn't necessarily favor one candidate over another, doesn't affect voter turnout by much and is greatly liked by voters.