Utah: County, state ponder election changes to reduce costs | standard.net

A municipal primary that may eliminate only one candidate from the field in setting the November ballot could cost a city as much as $50,000.

But other than being able to advance candidates to a November general election through a nominating convention -- a process that Fruit Heights uses -- the state election code offers little flexibility for cities trying to reduce election costs.

However, efforts are being made at the county level to consolidate municipalities' polling locations, and there are rumblings at the state Capitol that lawmakers during the 2012 legislative session may look at changes in the state's election code. "Cost is certainly an issue," State Director of Elections Mark Thomas said of lawmakers' interest in revisiting the code. "But it shouldn't be the No. 1 issue."

Utah: GOP leader Nelson seeks election overhaul – recommends instant runoff voting | The Salt Lake Tribune

The vice chairman of Utah Republican Party wants state lawmakers to study an “instant runoff voting” system that he says could prevent third-party candidates from “spoiling” elections. Lowell Nelson told the Legislature’s Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee Wednesday that such systems allow voters to list their second choice among candidates, as well as their favorite.

If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who had supported that eliminated candidate would then have their “second-choice” votes given to remaining candidates to help one of them achieve a majority.

Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright said the state party has taken no position on instant runoff voting, and that Nelson is promoting that on his own. Nelson said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, was interested in the idea, and asked him to make a presentation about it.