Utah governor signs bill ending automatic mail voting despite wide popularity
Popular mail voting ends in Utah (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Utah is set to become the first US state to reverse its universal vote-by-mail system after Governor Spencer Cox signed a new law on Wednesday, reports NBC News.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has approved a bill that will phase out the state’s universal mail-in voting system. Starting in 2029, registered voters will no longer automatically receive a ballot by mail - instead, they must actively opt in when renewing a driver’s license, applying for state ID, or voting in person.
Previously, all active registered voters in Utah received mail ballots by default. The state joins other Republican-led governments that have introduced new voting restrictions in the wake of the 2020 election, citing unproven claims of voter fraud.
Critics warn of reduced access for rural communities
Voting rights advocates have voiced strong concerns about the rollback. Chris Diaz, director of legislative tracking at the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, stated: "Universal mail voting was enormously popular in Utah because it gave voters more freedom and flexibility to vote. Utah is now the first and only state to roll back a universal mail voting system. Voters, especially those in rural areas, will bear the brunt of this restrictive move."
The new law also updates the ballot return deadline: only those received by 8 p.m. on Election Day will now be counted. This change replaces the previous system, which accepted ballots postmarked by the day before the election and arriving up to two weeks later.
While Cox praised the bill as a way to "restore trust" in elections, opponents argue it strips away a convenient and widely supported option for Utah voters.
