Chicago March 27, 2025
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed a bill that makes significant changes to the state’s mail voting program. The new law removes a grace period for postmarked ballots that arrive after Election Day, requiring voters to ensure their ballots are received by election officials by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Previously, voters had up to two weeks to get their ballots counted if they were postmarked by the day before Election Day. Governor Cox explained that the changes aim to speed up election results, allowing media outlets to call races sooner.
This move is part of a broader effort by Republicans to limit the window for counting mail ballots. Similar laws are being considered in other states, including West Virginia. President Trump has also signed an executive order requiring states to only count ballots received by Election Day, which is expected to face legal challenges.
Proponents of the changes argue that faster election results increase confidence in the electoral process by reducing the time for misinformation to spread. However, critics point out that there is no evidence of widespread fraud in American elections.
