Precinct-change timing irks GOP leaders

Although Salt Lake County officials may have observed the letter of a law on voting-precinct changes, county Republican leaders say they face a time crunch to get ready for elections this fall.

To curb the problem in the future, county GOP chairman James Evans said he's planning to ask the state Legislature to clear up an existing law directing deadlines on changing voting precincts.

Current law requires counties to approve all voting-precinct changes by Feb. 1. Evans believes the county clerk's office should also give political parties voter rolls and precinct definitions by that date.

Evans said that he's in a rush to plan caucus meetings because Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen stalled on releasing details of 164 voting-precinct changes. Now he's struggling to find hosts for 90 party-caucus meetings, which are scheduled for March 21, he said.

Political parties shouldn't have to scramble to fill caucus-host positions at the last minute, Evans said. He believes the clerk should give the information as soon as the County Council votes on the changes.

State lawmakers should "make it clear in the law that all of the information needs to be done by February 1," Evans said. "We can't have this sliding deadline here."

Swensen maintains she did nothing wrong and that the law is on her side.

"I don't enjoy re-precincting either, but it is important that it be done when necessary," Swensen said in an e-mail to county elected officials last week. "I realize it creates extra work for the political parties and they dislike it, but my job is to do the best thing for management of the elections."

State election officials say the law is already clear: Boundaries must be published 30 days after the County Council votes on the precinct changes.

As for a Feb. 1 deadline, "the law doesn't say anywhere that the boundaries have to be available that day," said Michael Cragun, deputy director in charge of elections for Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert.

The Salt Lake County Council approved the precinct realignments on Jan. 24.

Evans wanted a list of registered voters by Feb. 1. With that list, he said he could find out whether precinct leaders were moved to another precinct. Swensen gave Evans the list March 7.

Registered Republicans can find out caucus locations by visiting www.slcogop.com.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com