Utah Election Integrity Network Calls for Independent Audit of State Voter Rolls

Contact:
Utah Election Integrity Network (Utah EIN)
Email: utahelectionintegritynetwork@gmail.com

Statement: 

Free and fair elections are the foundation of self-government. A 2024 Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found that roughly one in four Utah voters lacks full confidence in Utah’s election system.

The Utah Election Integrity Network (Utah EIN) is a nonpartisan coalition of Utah citizens dedicated to strengthening election integrity and increasing public confidence in Utah’s elections. Utah EIN is affiliated with the broader Election Integrity Network, a national organization that promotes election transparency, voter confidence, and best practices through citizen engagement, education, and policy recommendations.

Utah EIN commends the Utah Legislature for its ongoing efforts to strengthen election integrity through audits, reviews, and oversight measures. These initiatives help identify vulnerabilities, improve election administration, and play an important role in building public trust.

Utah EIN also recognizes the State’s recent review of voter rolls for citizenship verification. The review cross-referenced more than two million voter records against Driver License Division and SAVE data, resulting in the removal of 27 confirmed noncitizens from Utah’s voter rolls. This represents meaningful progress toward ensuring accurate voter registration records.

However, the central issue is not whether a review occurred, but whether it was conducted independently. Because the review was performed by the office responsible for maintaining the voter rolls, it cannot provide the same level of transparency and public confidence as an independent audit.

While the review may provide useful information, the lack of county-level data limits the ability of citizens, legislators, and stakeholders to fully evaluate potential vulnerabilities and understand the impact on closely contested races. In recent years, Utah has seen elections decided by extremely narrow margins, including a congressional race decided by 176 votes and a state House race decided by just seven votes.

National election integrity best practices recognize that independent oversight is essential to strengthening public confidence. To build greater trust in Utah’s election system, Utah EIN respectfully urges the Utah Legislature to authorize an independent audit that includes:

• Release of raw voter registration data at the county level, consistent with voter privacy protections;
• Oversight by a diverse, nonpartisan review committee
• Comprehensive verification procedures conducted independently of the offices being reviewed.

“Independence in auditing elections and election systems is critical to instilling trust in outcomes,” said Utah EIN co-founder Kim Coleman. “An independent audit would provide the verification Utah voters deserve while safeguarding the rights of every eligible citizen.”

Drawing from the U.S. Citizens Elections Bill of Rights and nationally recognized election integrity model policies, Utah EIN will advocate for practical reforms that help ensure every vote is cast by an eligible voter, accurately counted, and transparently reported.

Utah EIN stands ready to collaborate with legislators, county clerks, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, and all Utahns committed to secure, transparent, and accountable elections. The organization invites all Utahns who value election integrity and public trust to join in supporting efforts that strengthen confidence in Utah’s election system. About Utah Election Integrity Network

The Utah Election Integrity Network (Utah EIN) is a nonpartisan coalition of Utah citizens dedicated to promoting secure, transparent, accurate, and accountable elections through education, research, public engagement, and policy advocacy.

Media Contact: utahelectionintegritynetwork@gmail.com