
Policy
Elections
Securing the American institutions of self-government – such as free and fair elections – in a republic is a civic responsibility of every American citizen. It is an essential part of ensuring a new birth of freedom for future generations.
If government derives its power from the “consent of the governed,” as the Declaration of Independence states, then that consent must have a mechanism for being regularly expressed and renewed.
This is the role that secure elections play in America’s constitutional order: helping ensure the peaceful transfer of power and the opportunity of citizens to exercise their civic voice.
Sutherland Institute offers sound research and principled analysis on voting methods and election security. We do this to promote trusted and trustworthy voting systems and elevate the way the state of Utah assesses and refines this crucial process. We seek to protect public confidence in Utah’s elections by promoting positive reforms and increasing voters’ understanding of the security and access offered by Utah’s election procedures.
Conversations
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Why many election officials don't want to be a Republican or a Democrat
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Election officials should follow the law, not the party line
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Can election officials ever really be nonpartisan?
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Election officials should be neutral
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A public office that doesn't need a party label
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Your county clerk isn't your legislator
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Rethinking how we elect county clerks
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Should county clerks be nonpartisan? | Kevin Johnson & Brian McKenzie
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How Florida gets election results faster than California
Insights & Takeaways
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Primary election day comes and goes, and Utah’s elections are still secure
Read More: Primary election day comes and goes, and Utah’s elections are still securewhile some individuals and groups have sought to stoke public fear regarding election integrity, the facts say that voting in Utah is safe and secure from significant or widescale fraud.
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Q&A: Research on ranked choice voting suggests mixed effects
Read More: Q&A: Research on ranked choice voting suggests mixed effectsA U. professor says research on the effects of ranked choice voting is mixed. It could work well in primary and major city elections but also might weaken the accountability…
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New voting trends show the strength of Utah’s approach to vote by mail
Read More: New voting trends show the strength of Utah’s approach to vote by mailAmericans in other states who voted by mail for the first time during the pandemic may be inclined to return to in-person voting, but Utah has a long and successful…
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More evidence needed to clarify the ranked-choice voting debate
Read More: More evidence needed to clarify the ranked-choice voting debateRanked-choice voting is not used for most U.S. elections, so data about its impacts here is relatively sparse.
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Insights on the future of ranked-choice voting in Utah
Read More: Insights on the future of ranked-choice voting in UtahPanelists at an event about ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Utah made it clear that the state needs more evidence on the method.
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The benefits and drawbacks of ranked-choice voting
Read More: The benefits and drawbacks of ranked-choice votingThe potential benefits of RCV suggest there is merit in continuing the Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project. However, the potential drawbacks of RCV should not be ignored: They reinforce…








