The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 19, 2025

Utah adopted universal mail-in voting in 2013, with no widespread misuse in its 12 years.  March 6th, the GOP-dominated Utah legislature approved an amended bill to end it in 2029, despite 76% of state voters supporting it. 

HB 300 was even more draconian just weeks ago, requiring voters to return  their ballot in person so ID could be shown.  Such a move would have ended the convenience voters like about mail-in voting, and created a burden for rural and Native American voters, who might live hours from a polling place.

The Utah News Dispatch reports the amended bill phases out universal mail-in voting in 2029, rather than immediately.  But in the interim, voters must obtain state-issued voting ID by 2026, and provide four digits from that ID, with signature matching as a backup.  The voting ID would be free only to those proving they can’t afford it.  

In 2029, voters can opt-in to a semi-permanent 8-year vote-by-mail list, and election officials would rely only on the voting ID number for identification.   Voters could opt in at the DMV, polling places, or the state’s voter portal.  The bill also extends the ballot return deadline to 8 pm on election day.

Replacing universal mail-in voting is expected to cost taxpayers $6 million dollars annually.  Gov. Spencer Cox is likely to sign it. 

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Utah News Dispatch – (2024) Deep red Utah wants to keep voting by mail
Utah News Dispatch – Utah Legislature approves bill to require voter ID, phase out automatic voting by mail by 2029
Salt Lake Tribune – Universal vote by mail is popular in Utah. GOP lawmakers continue to move away from it in a revised bill.
Associated Press – Deep-red Utah embraced voting by mail. Then came 2020.
Deseret News – (2024) New poll: Three-quarters of Utah voters confident in vote by mail system
Utah House of Representatives – Fiscal Note – HB 300 

Groups Taking Action:

Rural Utah Project, League of Women Votes UT

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Utah #VotebyMail  #HB300

The post Utah Legislature Passes 2029 End to Its Popular Universal Mail-In Voting System, Replacing it With an Opt-In List & More ID appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report and Podcast for November 3, 2022

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources
National Conference of State Legislatures – State Early Voting Dates
USA.gov – Find My State or Local Election Office Website
Vote.org –  Find Early Voting Locations Near You
Connecticut Mirror – Early voting is on the ballot in CT, a key issue for Black and Latino residents
Pew Trust – ‘Chaos and Confusion’: The Campaign to Stamp Out Ballot Drop Boxes

Groups Taking Action –
National Vote at Home Institute, Hispanic Federation,  Asian & Pacific Islanders Vote, When We All Vote

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

If you’re planning to do early voting in your state, listen up!  This American Democracy Minute is an interactive one, because early voting deadlines vary widely from state to state.  To make sure your vote is cast on time,  whether it’s in person early voting or absentee, or dropped off, or by mail, you’ll need to look up your state’s information.

Get out your device, and key \in “End of Early Voting in Oklahoma,” or whatever your state is.   Oklahoma’s early voting period ends at 2 pm this Saturday, November 5, along with 12 other states which end their early voting Thursday, Friday or Saturday.   While you’re there, find out what the rules are, and your location for early voting, which is sometimes different from your usual polling place.   If you’re dropping off an absentee ballot, look up the hours and location where that can be done, because drop boxes have been restricted or eliminated  in many states.   In Oklahoma, your absentee deadline is Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 pm.

Nineteen states end early voting on Sunday or Monday.  New York ends its early voting on Sunday, but you’ll need to check your county’s hours and locations.   In Ohio, in person early voting ends at 2 pm Monday, Nov. 7th, but its absentee ballot deadline is 7:30 pm on Election night, November 8th.  

The takeaway is to check your deadlines today for your state.  Still confused?  Contact your local election officials!

We have resources to help you at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post Early Voting Windows Are Closing. Check Your State’s Deadlines appeared first on American Democracy Minute.