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- Election reforms enacted in 2025 and being considered in 2026 have varying impacts on voter confidence in elections and legislator electability.
- Policies that make it more difficult to cast a ballot by mail decrease voter confidence and legislator electability, while policies that require voters to prove they are voting legally increase voter confidence and legislator electability.
- The path of good policy and good politics in election reform is clear: Use electronic verification methods to strengthen voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements.
As Utah lawmakers consider reforms that affect fundamental rights of self-government, such as voting, they should have data on voters’ views of those reforms. For this purpose, Sutherland Institute commissioned Y2 Analytics in 2025 to survey Utah voters’ views on election policy reforms enacted in 2025 and those under consideration for 2026. The results can inform policymakers’ decisions about election integrity, voting rights, and proper election administration.
Voter confidence in Utah elections and vote-by-mail (VBM) in 2025 was high. Compared to 2024, voter confidence in vote-by-mail increased in 2025, while confidence in elections overall decreased slightly. Most election reform measures enacted in 2025 increased voter confidence, with the exception of a requirement that ballots be mailed only to Utah voters who request them. Among the newly proposed election policy reforms under consideration in 2026, requiring that mailed ballots be returned in person reduces voter confidence and legislators’ electability, whereas requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote increases both.
In summary, Utah voters are less confident in elections and less willing to re-elect their legislators when the law burdens their right to cast their ballot by mail, and more confident and willing to re-elect their legislators when voters must prove they are voting legally. The data suggest that the path of good policy and good politics is to enact reforms that maintain ease of access to mail-in voting while strengthening measures like voter ID and proof of citizenship, through electronic rather than in-person ID verification.
Note: Percent totals in the charts used may not add to 100 due to rounding.
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Impact Analysis: Extended research, data, and policy recommendations from Sutherland experts. For elected officials, public policy experts, and members of the media.
- Election reforms enacted in 2025 and being considered in 2026 have varying impacts on voter confidence in elections and legislator electability.
- Policies that make it more difficult to cast a ballot by mail decrease voter confidence and legislator electability, while policies that require voters to prove they are voting legally increase voter confidence and legislator electability.
- The path of good policy and good politics in election reform is clear: Use electronic verification methods to strengthen voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements.
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