Iron County Commissioner refuses to certify primary election results amid controversy

[RandySF]

CEDAR CITY — In a showdown over the integrity of the primary election, one county commissioner has declared he will refuse to certify the results, as more than 700 ballots throughout Southern Utah hang in limbo due to disputed postmark dates.

Announced on Facebook Friday evening, Iron County Commissioner Paul Cozzens cited concerns over the validity of the primary election results in Iron County. Cozzens’ decision came after he learned that a substantial number of ballots — more than 400 ballots in Iron County — had postmark dates indicating they were mailed after the June 24 deadline.

“I cannot in good conscience certify this election,” Cozzens said during an interview with St. George/Cedar City News. “Too many voters have vehemently contested the discrepancy, insisting they sent their ballots well before the cutoff date, with some claiming to have mailed them as early as June 22. I would not be keeping my oath of office if I certify that election.”

Iron County Clerk Jon Whittaker acknowledged the unprecedented scale of ballot discrepancies, noting that neighboring Washington County is also grappling with a similar issue, where over 300 ballots are in question.






https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2024/07/07/tds-iron-county-commissioner-refuses-to-certify-primary-election-results-amid-controversy/

[marble falls]

1. Mixed feelings. I get deadlines, but I also know about small town post offices and date stamping delays ...

... was the election day June 25th? That to me makes more sense as drop dead date.

[Postal Grunt]

3. RE: Small Town Post Offices

Most small town post offices no longer have cancelling machines for date and time. The collected mail usually goes to a central processing plant, often over a hundred miles away, due to Mr DeJoy's less than brilliant planning.

[marble falls]

4. As a small towner I get sending time sensitve stuff several days ahead of it's date. Fucking DeJoy.

[stopdiggin]

2. 90% of the time, I'm one of those that has little patience

with those that just can't seem to win their way through to a legally cast ballot. My sympathy only extends so far.

This might be one of those 10% exception to the rule situations.
(and if the post office performance is a known issue - how about compensating with a 7 day window?)

Other hand - people, if you waited until the last possible tick on the clock .. That's about half on you, don'cha think?

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