A new election law, H.B. 300, recently passed in the Utah House and introduced many changes to improve election integrity in the state. However, this bill sparked debate among lawmakers and constituents alike, with many arguing that this bill does not go far enough in improving voting procedures in the state.
Utah has faced criticism in the past over its surprising lack of election integrity, with The Heritage Foundation’s Election Integrity Report Card specifically highlighting faults in the state’s election system. Issues such as lax mail-in ballot security and weak voter ID requirements have placed Utah’s election safeguards under increasing scrutiny—pressure that has seemingly led to the creation of H.B. 300.
Lindsay Aerts shared the graphic below, which briefly explains the major changes the bill provides for Utah elections:
Lindsay’s post quickly prompted responses from Senator Mike Lee and Dan Hauser, pointing out one glaring issue with this bill: it does not require photo ID for all voting methods.
Dan Hauser stated on X:
“What good is a voter ID bill without photo ID”
Why is the UT legislature watering down our ability to secure elections?
Reach out to your legislators right now— here on X, email or call— and let them know you expect them to secure our elections with photo ID.”
Senator Mike Lee chimed in as well:
“Utahns want secure elections—with laws requiring a photo ID
So why isn’t the Utah legislature requiring one?”
So, why does this bill not require photo ID? Dan observed that the bill allows voters to use utility bills as identification and permits online registration for permanent absentee voting without requiring a photo ID. Furthermore, mail-in ballots can still be submitted without presenting an official government-issued photo ID.
Representative Trevor Lee provided further context on X, adding that the bill had to be “watered down” in order to pass in the Senate.
So, is the bill a bust? Is Utah destined to have voter ID laws that lack, well, requirements for voter ID? Despite its “watered-down” state, Trevor remained optimistic about the impact this election reform bill can have on the State’s elections.
The Cougar Chronicle reached out to Rep. Trevor Lee for his thoughts on the bill and received the following statement:
“HB300S3 is a massive improvement to Utah Elections. It encourages voting in person as the primary method with ID. It preserves the vote by mail (VBM) option, but requires ‘Opt-in’, and it further requires ID to be included in the VBM materials, to include the last four digits of the DL; State ID card; or SSN. It requires a signature as an affidavit attesting to the fact that you are the registered voter under penalty of law. For those who cannot afford an official State ID Card, this bill provides a free card for those who cannot afford but qualify as a voter.”
So, while this bill lacks crucial components for proper photo ID requirements, it remains a good and necessary move in the right direction for election integrity in Utah. This bill renews voter confidence in Utah elections by providing more secure elections. Utahns should advocate for strict photo ID law requirements to be put into practice with further legislation. Reach out and engage with your representatives and share your concerns and desires for this reform to push for better election security in the state.
Written by: Jax McKinney
Senior Contributor and Social Media Director at the Cougar Chronicle
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cover photo: https://www.reaveley.com/projects/utah-state-capitol-seismic-base-isolation-historic-renovation
