National scrutiny on mail ballots changed Utah’s elections system

Stories From The States is a weekly podcast from States Newsroom that explores, through personal stories, how people and communities across America are being affected by government decisions. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

All Utah voters have automatically received a mail ballot since 2020. The reliably red state had championed universal mail voting. However, with voting under greater national scrutiny, Utah legislators rolled back universal mail voting.

Although he’s recently urged voters to cast their ballots by mail, President Donald Trump has long attacked mail voting, claiming without evidence that it is a source of election fraud.

Utah Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, the state’s top election official, has recently spoken out about concerns over the Trump administration’s ‘gamesmanship’ with voting, saying it keeps her up at night. Democratic Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman says those same fears have woken her up at 3 a.m. in a panic. 

In Episode 49, you’ll hear from Chapman, whose office serves a third of Utah’s total voting population. According to Chapman, 90% of people who participate in any given election in the county use their mail ballot. Her priority each election is to have safe and accessible voting, and the 2026 midterms are no different.  

You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer, Danielle Gaines and Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. They’ve got you covered with the latest on: dyed diesel, the battle between the federal government and New Mexico over a border wall and this week’s political developments. 

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer.

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

• As early in-person voting approaches, North Carolina election officials seek to ease fears (NC Newsline)
• Trump drops longtime aversion to mail-in voting with GOP trailing in polls (States Newsroom D.C Bureau) 
• How election deniers are using public records to sow doubt in California (CalMatters)
• Gen Z politicians who want to make a change grapple with parties that aren’t always ready for them (Kansas Reflector and The 19th)

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

This podcast is produced by States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Florida Phoenix, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.