06/15/2026
Civic Shout-out Sunday - Voting in a Party Primary Election
Our spotlight for this week is going to be a little different than usual. Instead of celebrating what others are doing, I’d like to take a look at something most of you reading this post can do to make a difference in your community, and that’s voting!
For those who are less familiar with our local political system and election processes, many US elections are divided into primaries and general elections. Typically in a primary, candidates from the same political party compete against each other, and then in a general election, there are usually candidates from different political parties competing against each other. (Some states, like California, run their elections differently so that candidates on a general election ballot might be from the same political party, but that doesn’t apply here in Utah as far as I am aware.)
Political parties are able to set some of their own rules for how they want their primary election to run. In Utah, the Democratic Party has what is called an open primary while the Republican Party has what is called a closed primary. In most cases, any voter can request a ballot for an open primary while voters must affiliate with a specific party in order to participate in a closed primary. In addition to the Democratic and Republican Parties, Utah has several other registered parties: Constitution Party, Forward Party, Green Party, Independent American Party, Libertarian Party, and People’s Freedom Party.
In order to vote in the Republican primary, voters needed to register as members of the Republican Party by April 1; that deadline has already passed, but you can always plan ahead for a future election if you are not able to participate in this one. You may still be able to participate in a Democratic or possibly other party primary this year even if you aren’t currently registered to vote. However, you can only vote in one party’s primary election, so you’ll want to plan ahead about which party’s election you want to have a voice in. You can check with your county clerk’s office to learn what options are available to you at this time and in the future.
Your ballot will list different races depending on which party’s ballot you receive and which precinct you live in. Some precincts and parties may not have any contested races this year. I will be voting in the Republican primary from the “SJD028” precinct this year, and my ballot has one contested race–State House District #44. Some parties hold caucuses and/or conventions prior to their primary elections. I was elected as a county delegate at my local Republican party caucus, and in that role, I was able to meet both of the candidates running for office in my district. I appreciate the willingness of both candidates to run, and both appear to be working hard to connect with voters and clarify the goals they hope to implement if elected.
Thank you to all of the candidates with the courage to run for office, and thank you to every citizen who takes the time to become informed and vote in an election.
- Alison Cañar, South Jordan
Have you received a primary election ballot? Have you made a plan to vote? What issues are top-of-mind for you this election season? Please reach out if you would like to share your own shout-out or nominate a person, place, or organization that deserves recognition.
