Henderson issues emergency elections order for voters affected by San Juan County flooding
BLUFF, San Juan County — Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson issued an emergency election accommodations declaration on Monday, allowing some voters in southeastern Utah to vote electronically after more severe flooding impacted roads in the region over the weekend.
San Juan County voters who cannot "reasonably travel" to a drop box or in-person polling location, including residents of Aneth, Bluff, Dennehotso, Halchita, Mexican Hat, Mexican Water, Navajo Mountain, Oljeto and Red Mesa, will receive an email Tuesday morning asking if they have an email address tied to their voting record.
It will instruct them on how to vote electronically, if they have not yet voted. All electronic ballot requests must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m.
Anyone who does not receive an email or doesn't have one on record, but is a registered voter who hasn't voted yet, is urged to call the San Juan County Clerk's office at 385-587-3223 Ext. 4 before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The state urges voters to make their requests early in the day to make sure they get a chance to vote.
"We want every eligible voter in San Juan County to be able to cast a ballot if they have not done so already," Henderson said in a statement. "We are grateful for the local election officials and poll workers. They will still be on hand at all previously scheduled in-person polling locations through 8 p.m. on Election Day."
The emergency order was issued after local election officials said flooding and damaged roads were making it hard for some San Juan County residents to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, leaving them scrambling to find solutions.
Road damage has left some residents in communities such as Montezuma Creek unable to leave town to vote. Elsewhere, flooding-related building closures have cut off access to ballot drop boxes, according to Bluff Mayor Josh Ewing.
Some voters may also need replacement ballots after theirs were lost in the flooding.
"I saw floating in the debris, a ballot," Ewing said. "That person is obviously not going to get that ballot to a drop box."
Voters who lost their ballots can still visit a polling location on Election Day, on top of the new electronic method, said San Juan County Clerk/Auditor Lyman Duncan.
"They can bring their driver's license, and we can identify them, and then we can give them a provisional ballot to vote, and it can be recorded later," Duncan said.
However, reaching a polling location or drop box remains a challenge for some residents.
"Because of the storms, the Navajo Nation also closed many of their buildings, and so where we have ballot boxes, people aren't able to get into. So that's complicated things a little bit," Duncan said.
Road closures have added another obstacle.
"Obviously now the highway is closed between Monument Valley and here, so I don't know what those people would do. But for anybody that can get to Bluff, we have a ballot drop box here," Ewing said.
Duncan's office worked with the lieutenant governor's office to find solutions for voters affected by the flooding, leading to Monday evening's order. Henderson's order notes that the electronic method is similar to what is allowed for uniformed military and overseas voters.
"I'm really appreciative of the opportunities and the efforts that the county and state are making to try and allow people have their ability to get to the ballot box and at least get their ballots in on time," Ewing said.
Drop Box Locations (open until 3 p.m. on Nov. 3) Polling places and additional drop boxes (open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 3):San Juan County Voting Options
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