Utah Audit Reveals Flaws in Election System

Recent legislative audits in Utah have raised significant concerns regarding the state’s mail-in voting process and voter roll maintenance, revealing that over 1,400 deceased voters remained on the rolls, with two casting ballots in the November 2023 elections. Lawmakers, particularly Republican House Speaker Mike Schultz, expressed alarm over the findings, calling into question the security of mail-in voting compared to in-person voting. However, House Minority Leader Angela Romero cautioned that eliminating mail-in voting could discourage voter participation. The audits also highlighted issues with county clerks' compliance in conducting post-election audits and maintaining ballot security. Although the auditors did not find widespread fraud, they recommended improvements to ensure the integrity of Utah's election system. The Lieutenant Governor's Office acknowledged the recommendations and indicated ongoing efforts to address these issues, including better monitoring of voter rolls.