Beehive State is 'lucky' primary is on Tuesday

Funding for a presidential primary is at the Legislature's discretion and therefore not automatic. The Republican-controlled body could forgo the expenditure in years where a GOP incumbent goes unchallenged.

Herbert will continue to urge a presidential primary every four years "simply because it encourages candidates to come to Utah," Cragun said.

While most of the candidates listed on the ballot are no longer actively campaigning, that won't keep their names off the ballot. Both Democrats and Republicans will list nine candidates each.

Explains Cragun, "There's no way we could be changing ballots at this late date," adding that voting machines need lead times to be programmed and tested.

Some of those former hopefuls might have already received votes in Utah. Early voting began Jan. 22. County election offices have already received more than 14,600 early ballots and more than 20,300 absentee ballots.

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