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SALT LAKE CITY -- Elections officials have noticed what they call a concerning trend among registered voters participating in primary elections.
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Lieutenant Governor's Chief of Staff Paul Neuenschwander says, "It would appear that we are dipping."
Neuenschwander says Utah had 19 percent of registered voters come to the primaries in 2000. In 2004, that dropped to 13.9 percent.
"Two years ago [it was] 7.9," he says.
Neuenschwander says he can only guess why these numbers are falling. Some elections, like presidential elections, tend to draw more people to the polls. It's too early to tell how high the interest levels will be this year.
"You've got a congressman that's running for re-election in a primary. You've got a U.S. Senate spot that has opened. You would think those would generate a lot of interest," he says.
He says many people claim they're just too busy to go to the polls. Neuenschwander says that's where early voting comes in.
"It's much easier to vote early. The lines aren't there. It's a very simple process," he says.
Still, even with early voting, elections officials are guessing they'll see between just 7 and 13 percent participation in this year's primaries.
There are some online resources to help people find out how they can take part in early voting. Neuenschwander says a website called leaveyourprint.com can supply people with a lot of information.
"This will tell where the early voting hours and locations are. If you're in Davis County, you can go to any early voting location and vote in Davis County," he explains.
Early voting starts June 8 and lasts until June 18.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
