
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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The Benefits and Drawbacks of Ranked-Choice Voting in Utah
Read More: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Ranked-Choice Voting in UtahThe potential benefits of ranked-choice voting (RCV) suggest there is merit in continuing the Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project. However, the potential drawbacks of RCV should not be ignored:…
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Examining the Evidence on Vote by Mail
Read More: Examining the Evidence on Vote by MailThe evidence of history, politics, and scholarly research about vote by mail means we are not limited by anecdotes and hypotheticals.
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A preliminary analysis of ranked-choice voting in Utah
Read More: A preliminary analysis of ranked-choice voting in UtahThe new voting process has significant implications for voting in Utah that are worth examining from the perspective of the evidence and the data – particularly for their potential impact…
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Cox’s defense of voting by mail highlights the need to focus on facts
Read More: Cox’s defense of voting by mail highlights the need to focus on factsThe need for better information is made more urgent by the fact that vote by mail is an extension of one of our most basic civic institutions: voting. Utah policymakers…
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Sutherland Institute releases report on vote by mail
Read More: Sutherland Institute releases report on vote by mailHoping to inform and elevate the debate about vote by mail, Sutherland Institute has released a new report, Examining the Evidence on Vote by Mail.
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Utah’s successful vote-by-mail program
Read More: Utah’s successful vote-by-mail programUtah’s VBM program successfully creates reasonable access to the ballot while adequately protecting election security and integrity.








