Utah's voter registration lags behind other states
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Only 62.6% of voting-aged Utahns were registered to vote in the last national election, Census data shows.
The intrigue: That puts Utah — an outwardly-patriotic, highly-educated state whose dominant religion strongly encourages civic participation — among the bottom 15 registration rates.
By the numbers: Utah tied with Connecticut for No. 36 in voter registration as of November 2022.
- Nationally, 63.2% of voting-age citizens were registered.
State of play: Utah is overwhelmingly Republican, with every GOP Congressional candidate defeating their challengers by double-digits in 2022.
Between the lines: Some citizens may feel like their vote won't matter in a state where many elections are effectively decided in the primary.
- Utah's gerrymandered election maps may also contribute to low participation.
Caveat: Utah ranked higher nationally for voter turnout in 2022 than for registration, with 49% of voting-age residents casting a ballot, slightly above the national average.
What we're watching: Whether the presidential election drives up turnout here like it typically does in other states.
- In a state that hasn't swung blue in a presidential election for 60 years, former President Trump's victory may seem like a foregone conclusion to voters on both sides.
- Yes, but: Republican Utahns have been famously lukewarm on Trump, which may drive down turnout.
How it works: If you have a valid Utah driver's license or state ID, you can register to vote until Oct. 25.
- You can still register in-person at polling places through Election Day, but you'll need two forms of ID.