Utah's low primary turnouts assailed
But little is being done to correct problem, election observers say
Research by the Utah Elections Office shows that since a high turnout of nearly 50 percent in a September primary in 1992, and since the Legislature's move from a September to a June primary, no primary election across the state has seen more than a 20 percent turnout.
The June 27 primary this year saw 13.39 percent of voters participate across the state, the state elections office found. In some locales, turnout was better, although turnout was poor in Wasatch Front counties.
For some political analysts, like Hinckley Institute of Politics executive director Kirk Jowers, the low primary turnout is a scandal — and one that should be addressed by the Legislature.
But for others, like Utah Democratic Party executive director Todd Taylor, the primary turnout in many cases "is just bad, bad math" and few changes are needed. "Garfield County had nearly 50 percent turnout in this year's primary," Taylor noted.
Still, Utahns don't much like the current June primary, according to a new Dan Jones & Associates poll of 900 registered voters, conducted for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.
So, around 40 percent of primary-election skippers didn't cast a ballot because the primary was held in June, or they didn't want to declare themselves Republicans to get a primary GOP ballot.
Thirty-eight percent told Jones they just were not interested in the primary candidates so didn't bother to vote. And 28 percent gave other excuses on why they didn't vote in the primary, Jones found.
"Isn't it sad that 38 percent said they weren't interested in the primary races," said Gigi Brandt, president of the Utah League of Women Voters. One of the league's goals is greater participation in elections.
"We opposed the switch from the September primary to a June primary, and we continue to oppose the June primary today," said Brandt. "The political party (bosses) may like a June primary because it helps their particular candidates. But taxpayers pay for these primary elections. And what's good for a political party may not be good for citizens."
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