Voters go to polls today

In multiple cities across the state today, residents can cast a ballot for mayoral and city council candidates vying for a spot on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Today is primary election day for municipal governments. If your city or district has a primary and you are registered, you can vote. Polling places will be open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Primary elections typically have poor voter turnout, according to Kim Coleman, Bountiful city recorder. But voting in a primary is critical, he said. Mayors and council members shape ordinances and policy in a city; they guide future growth and development.

"If the candidate you want gets knocked out of a primary, the election is over in some ways," Coleman said.

In Farmington, city officials hope the use of new electronic voting machines will boost turnout. Farmington is the first city in Utah to use the new machines, purchased by the state because of requirements of the Help America Vote Act.

Today will be the first test of the machines in an actual election. Steve Rawlings, Davis County clerk-auditor, said Monday he is confident the machines will perform accurately.

"I feel really good about the machines," he said. "I think people will love them once they get in and have a chance to use them."

The machines were purchased from Ohio-based Diebold at a cost of about $3,200 per machine. Similar machines have been used in Maryland, Mississippi and Georgia, according to David Bear, a Diebold spokesman. Farmington will use 28 of the machines today. During the general election in November, Brigham City will test the machines.

Bear said benefits of Utah's new voting machines include accuracy and adaptability to persons with special needs. Font size can be adjusted and the machine can be raised or lowered according to need. Headphones are available to accommodate those who are blind.

"Unfortunately in the past, if you had a special need, you had to adapt to the machine," said Bear.

In other cities, hotly contested mayoral and city council races are expected to bring voters to the polls. Murray has perhaps the most visible race in Salt Lake County as two-term Mayor Dan Snarr faces a challenge from Chad Bennion, Michael Romero and Dave Wilde.

Development is a hot issue in Murray, with opponents claiming Snarr has neglected neighborhoods in the pursuit of commercial development. The story is the same in Sandy, where Mayor Tom Dolan is being challenged by Gary T. Forbush and S. Drake Meyer.