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Team CoveragePresidential candidates go after thousands of delegates on the biggest Super Tuesday ever. Twenty-four states are up for grabs, including Utah.
It's a first for the Beehive State. The state spent just over $3 million to include itself in Super Tuesday. The goal: get candidates here and get voters involved.
Yesterday, Salt Lake County election officials were a little concerned because early voting turnout was just dismal--only 2 percent--but the county believes we'll see a 40 to 45 percent turnout today.
People are still adjusting to the rules for a primary election. If you want to nominate a Republican, you have to affiliate with that party. You don't have to affiliate to vote for the Democrats.
Some people are also wondering why the ballots weren't updated with only the current candidates. Those who withdrew from the race a while ago, like Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden, are still on the ballots.
"First of all, they had to officially withdraw from the lieutenant governor's office in order for us to remove them from the ballot, and they didn't do that," explained Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen.
So, legally those candidates are still on the ballot.
The big problem today has been in Utah County. The county consolidated polling locations. Usually there are more than 100, but today there were fewer than 60. So at places like Bonneville Elementary in Orem, the voting lines were longer, the binders with voters' names were larger, and there was confusion about which polling places to go to.
"Actually, this is the fourth place I've been. I'm glad to be voting. I'm finally in the right line. I'll be able to vote," Dan Hackaman said.
But why would Utah county want to consolidate voting locations on such a big voting day? "It was a total misjudgment, that I take responsibility for," Utah County Clerk Bryan Thompson said.
Utah County made the decision to consolidate last November based on dismal turnout in the 2000 primary. The turnout this time around is expected to be 35 to 40 percent.
Meanwhile, Davis County voters say they are being caught off guard by a change in polling places today. The county's elections director says the county consolidated several polling places as part of a move toward voting centers.
But KSL Newsradio found only one voter who knew about the move ahead of time. "I think I vote in the Centerville city offices," he said.
Much more common was this man's reaction: "It's nice to know. It's nice to know KSL's out here working on it."
For the first time in years, Utahns across the state feel like their votes really count. Voter Leon Johnson said, "I like to see a lot of people come out and vote, though too many people don't take advantage of that opportunity."
"I don't think you have a right to complain about our leaders, and I know that a lot of people have been complaining about them, if you didn't go out and vote, you better stay silent," said voter Jake Gorringe.
Mitt Romney is seen as the hands-down favorite for Utah Republicans with most of the state's political leaders offering their endorsements.
Utah has only 33 of the of 1,023 Republican delegates at stake today, and Utah Democrats will decide 23 of the 1,681 delegates at stake.
Still, for the first time in recent memory, Utah voters will be able to cast primary ballots before party nominees have already been determined.
For a list of polling places near you, go to the related link.
