Utah Supreme Court to Hear Election Case of Congressional Candidate Colby Jenkins

The Utah Supreme Court is set to hear the election case of Republican congressional candidate Colby Jenkins, who is contesting the results of a closely contested primary against incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy. Following a primary election on June 25, a recount indicated that Maloy secured a narrow victory by just 176 votes. Jenkins is challenging the exclusion of approximately 1,171 mail-in ballots that were not counted due to being postmarked after the deadline. The court will hear oral arguments regarding these contested ballots on Friday morning. The lieutenant governor’s office has emphasized that state law requires ballots to be postmarked before the deadline to be eligible for counting. In a brief filed on Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office expressed sympathy for the affected voters but reiterated that the responsibility for timely ballot submission lies with the voters themselves, not the state or the Postal Service. Jenkins argues that the exclusion of these ballots infringes upon the rights guaranteed by the Utah Constitution. He cited Article I, Section 17, which states that all elections must be free and that no authority should interfere with the right to vote. Jenkins contends that the situation highlights a significant issue regarding voter rights and the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that even the postal service should not impede the exercise of suffrage. As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about election laws and voter access in Utah, with potential implications for future elections.