Elections
2023 PRIMARY ELECTION
Overview
The 2023 Municipal Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023. All active, registered voters will be mailed a ballot on August 15th and are encouraged to vote and return that ballot in a timely manner so that it may be counted. Election Day Vote centers are also available for voters who prefer to vote in person.
A municipal election is an opportunity for voters to elect candidates to office in their city or local service district. In addition to the municipal election this year, there will also be a special election to fill the congressional seat in Congressional District 2.
Only active registered voters with a contest that pertains to their precinct will receive a ballot. For voters living in Congressional District 2, you must be affiliated with the Republican party for that contest to appear on your ballot. If you did not receive a ballot and believe you should have, please contact our office.
For deadlines and other important information, please visit the links to the right. Answers to frequently asked questions are below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a Congressional Race this year?
A special election will take place this year in Congressional District 2 (CD2) to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Christ Stewart. While there are many candidates in the CD2 race, only the Republican party required a primary to select its CD2 candidate. To see a full list of all the candidates for CD2, please refer to the Lieutenant Governor’s website. Only registered Republican voters living in CD2 will receive a ballot to vote in the congressional primary election. To view your congressional district, please use our precinct lookup tool.
When will my ballot be mailed?
Ballots will be mailed out August 15th to all active registered voters. As voters update their addresses or register to vote, ballots will be mailed through August 29th.
Why didn't I receive a ballot?
Only active, registered voters living in a district with a primary election will receive a ballot. If you meet these criteria and did not receive a ballot, please contact our office. You can see a list of contests in the 2023 Primary Election here.
I got the wrong ballot / Not the ballot I expected
Ballots are sent to voters based on their home address, which determines your voting district. If you didn't receive the ballot you expected, please contact our office.
What should I do if I make a mistake on my ballot?
If you make a mistake on your ballot or decide to change your vote, you can draw a line through the oval and candidate name you do not want, and then fill in the oval for the correct one. When the ballots are scanned the change will be noted. If the ballot gets damaged or it is not possible to clearly indicate your choice, please contact our office and we will cancel the old ballot and send you a new one. (A replacement ballot cannot be ordered after August 29th.)
Who should I vote for?
The Salt Lake County Clerk's office is an apolitical office and we do not make voting recommendations. Who you vote for is a personal choice. We strongly encourage every voter to research candidates and issues and make informed choices on their ballot.
How can I learn about the candidates?
A list of candidates with their contact information is available on our Candidates page or, you can visit the webpage for the relevant municipality.
What contests will be on my ballot?
A list of contests and candidates in the 2023 Primary Election is available here. You may also view a sample of your ballot, by using our Voter Information Lookup Tool.
Why do the contests and candidates on my ballot look different than in the past?
As a result of the statewide redistricting process, which occurs every ten years after the completion of the census, you may see candidates for new districts on your ballot. The 2023 Primary Election gives you the opportunity to elect officials who will take office in January, 2024 for the redrawn districts. If you have questions about the contests on your ballot or your new voting districts, please contact our office.
Where can I see which contests pertain to me?
You can look up your voter registration and see your sample ballot, including contests that pertain to you, by using our Voter Information Lookup Tool.
How can I return my mail-in ballot?
You may return your mail-in ballot one of three ways: 1) By dropping it in any of the ballot drop boxes located throughout Salt Lake County. Ballots may be deposited until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day; 2) By dropping it off at any in-person vote center on Election Day until 8:00 p.m.; 3) By mailing it via USPS mail using the postage paid return envelope. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day.
Can I get a new mail-in ballot?
If your ballot is lost or damaged, you may request a new one by emailing or calling the Election Division no later than August 29th.
I am leaving town on vacation. Can I get my ballot early?
By law mail-in ballots cannot be sent out earlier than 21 days before an election. Early voting locations are available for in-person voting starting two weeks before the election.
Can I return a ballot for a friend or family member?
By law you are allowed to return a voted ballot for another person who needs assistance based on age, illness, or disability. You may also return a voted ballot for an individual who resides in your household. Returning ballots for individuals who don't meet these criteria can result in penalties. See §20A-3a-501-5a
How can I check my ballot status?
You can view the status of your mail-in ballot by visiting the State of Utah's website.
You may also sign up to receive electronic notifications of your ballot status by visiting the BallotTrax website.
Where can I vote in person?
Follow these links to view the locations of all Early Voting and Election Day Vote Centers.
What ID do I need to vote in person?
You can see a list of valid forms of identification here.
Can I still vote if I'm not registered?
If you would like to vote in the current election, but are not currently registered, you may register during polling hours at an Election Day vote center and cast a provisional ballot. To register and vote on Election Day, you must visit an Election Day vote center during polling hours and bring valid photo ID and proof of residency. A poll worker will assist you in registering to vote and casting a provisional ballot on an electronic voting machine.
How can I register to vote?
You may register to vote online, by returning a paper voter registration form to the Election Division, or you may register in-person at a vote center. More details are available on our Voter Registration page. State law requires that residents must have resided in the state of Utah for 30 day prior to registering.
How often do I need to register?
Once you have registered to vote in the State of Utah, you don't need to re-register unless your registration status changes. If you have moved outside of the state and returned, or your name has changed, or your registration has lapsed by not voting in the last two presidential elections you will need to re-register.
How can I change my address?
If you are moving within the county, you may change your voter registration address by calling or emailing our office and providing us with the updated address. If you are moving into Salt Lake County from another state or county, you will need to submit a new voter registration form.
Am I eligible to vote in Utah?
To register you must: 1) be a citizen of the United States; 2) reside in Utah for at least 30 days immediately before the next election; 3) be at least 18 years old on or before the General Election. (Note: a 17-year-old may vote in a Primary Election if they will turn 18 years old on or before the date of the General Election.)
How can I become a poll watcher?
Any registered voter is welcome to observe the ballot counting process. To do so, you must check in at the Elections Office in room S1-200 at the Salt Lake County Government Center and have your voter registration verified. The ballot processing schedule indicates when processing will be taking place and which activities you will be able to observe.
Why aren’t any local candidates affiliated with political parties?
All odd-year, municipal elections in Utah are non-partisan. Candidates for office are not permitted to list their preferred political party on the ballot. You can find candidate information on our website.
2023 Primary Election Contests and Candidates
Office | Candidate |
---|---|
Republican for U.S House 2 |
Celeste Maloy Becky Edwards Bruce R Hough |
Bluffdale Council At-Large |
Kelly Ryan Mower Tony Elegante Brian James Ostler Billy Hesterman Mark Hales Eric R. Hawker Alan W. Lord Gregory D. Wilding Ulises Flynn Steve Austin Erik Swanson Kelsi Schouten |
Brighton Council At-Large |
Heidi Westfall Gavan Ganung Adrienne Aldous Jeffery S. Bossard Lise Sorenson Brunhart |
Cottonwood Heights Council District 2 |
Sharon Daurelle Suzanne Hyland Scott Bracken |
Draper City Council At-Large |
Jordan Davis Fred Lowry Danita Rouzer Cal Roberts Lucky T. Bovo Terry Smith Bryn Heather Johnson
|
Murray City Council District 1 |
Paul Pickett Aaron Thompson David W. Rodgers |
Murray City Council District 3 |
Leann Parker-Reed Rosalba Dominguez Scott Goodman Clark Bullen Jim Brass (Withdrew) Janice Strobell |
Sandy City Council At-Large |
Aaron Dekeyzer Matthew Ostrander Paul Z. Ford Brooke Christensen Jim Bennett Cyndi Sharkey |
Sandy City Council 4 |
Scott Earl Marci Houseman Terri Tap Hrechkosy |
City of West Jordan Council 2 |
John Price Gary Leany Kat Whiting Bob Bedore Kevin Seal |
City of West Jordan Council 4 |
David F. Pack Alfredo S. Gonzalez Gloria Vindas Kent Shelton |
West Valley City Council-At-Large |
Sophia Hawes-Tingey Steve Rose Darrell R Curtis Don Christensen Jim Vesock Jesús R. Jimenez-Vivanco |
West Valley City Council 1 |
Richard Nowak Tom Huynh Marni Lefevre |
West Valley City Council 3 |
Will Whetstone Heidi Roggenbuck James (Jack) Fenn Jacob Gonzalez |