Summit County to mail primary ballots June 2, election is June 23

Missing the June 12 deadline could cost Summit County voters a mailed primary ballot, and the new return rule leaves even more room for trouble for people who split time between homes or travel in the final days before Election Day. Ballots for the June 23 primary will begin going out June 2, but they must be received by 8 p.m. that night, not merely postmarked.

The Summit County Clerk’s Office says active registered voters in parties holding a primary will get ballots automatically. Republicans will receive Republican ballots and Democrats will receive Democratic ballots. Unaffiliated voters, and voters registered with other parties, must request a ballot to take part. Voters who are not Democrats but want a Democratic ballot must ask by 5 p.m. June 12, the same deadline for registering in time to receive a mail ballot in the primary.

That makes timing especially important for second-home owners, frequent travelers and anyone who may not be at their Summit County mailing address when ballots arrive. The county says eligible voters who miss the registration deadline may still be able to vote provisionally in person during early voting or on Election Day, but those voters will be dealing with a narrower and more complicated path to participation than households that receive ballots automatically.

The deadline reflects a major shift in Utah election law. Under H.B. 300, ballots now have to be received by Election Day, a change from the old postmark rule. Summit County says ballots should be returned by mail or drop box, and voters who wait until the last minute will not have the same cushion they once had. County officials also note that 2029 will be the first year voters must opt in to vote by mail.

For voters concerned about privacy or safety, the clerk’s office allows at-risk voter designation for people who are, or live with, victims or threatened victims of domestic or intimate partner violence, law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces, public figures, and people protected by court order. Those protections matter in a county where local elections can turn on small margins and where a missed ballot can shut out a voter from a consequential primary.

Summit County’s 2024 primary timeline gives a local benchmark: ballots were mailed June 4 and expected to begin arriving around June 7. This year, the clerk’s office says mailing begins June 2. Voters can reach the office at 435-336-3040 or elections@summitcountyutah.gov, and ballots or forms can be returned by email, mailed to the Coalville clerk’s office, or delivered in person to 60 North Main Street in Coalville.