FILE: This sample ballot from FairVote.org demonstrates what a ranked-choice ballot would look like. (FairVote.org)
SALT LAKE CITY — Several Utah cities will hold their municipal primary elections next week, but 23 will instead give ranked choice voting a try this fall, skipping the primary in favor of the new method.
According to Utah’s elections website, “The following 23 municipalities have indicated their intent to participate in the Alternative Voting Methods Pilot Project: South Salt Lake, Magna, Bluffdale, Draper, Lehi, Payson, Riverton, Springville, Vineyard, Goshen, Newton, Woodland Hills, Genola, Sandy, Nibley City, Millcreek, Moab, River Heights City, Cottonwood Heights, Elk Ridge, Salt Lake City, Midvale, and Heber City.”
If you live in one of those areas and are wondering why you didn’t get your mail-in ballot for the primary yet, that’s why.
In the meantime, the following locations will proceed with municipal primary elections on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021.
There are 112 people running for public office in Davis County.
Bountiful, Centerville, Clearfield, Clinton, Farmington, South Weber, Syracuse, and West Point all have mayoral primaries. Several cities also have city council primaries.
Alpine, Orem, Provo, and Santaquin will all hold mayoral primaries next week.
Several cities city council seats also have primaries. Find the full list here.
Coalville and Park City will hold mayoral primaries. Several cities also have city council seats open, including Coalville, Oakley and Park City. The South Summit Fire District will also hold a primary for a new board member.
There are primaries for two North Ogden City Council seats. Ogden City Council has two seats available, and so does Washington Terrace. Additionally, voters will choose a new mayor of West Haven.
The Weber County Elections Office says ballots went out to all active registered voters in these cities. They should have arrived in voters’ mailboxes by July 27.
For those without a ballot, the county will also hold in-person early voting at the Weber Center at 2380 Washington Boulevard in Ogden. Stop in from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and next Monday.