Utah Voter Information to Become Public Under New Law

Election officials explain the changes and address concerns from voters

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:53am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary ballot box in an empty government office, with warm sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the complex issues surrounding voter privacy in Utah.The new Utah law on voter information privacy has sparked concerns, but election officials aim to reassure the public that sensitive data will remain protected.Salt Lake City Today

A new Utah law will automatically classify most voter information, such as name, address, party affiliation, and voter status, as public unless a voter qualifies as 'at-risk' under specific criteria. The law, which was passed earlier this year, has raised concerns among some Utah voters, but election officials say sensitive personal information like date of birth and Social Security numbers will not be made public.

Why it matters

The new law aims to bring Utah's voter privacy policies in line with federal requirements, but it has sparked concerns about privacy and the potential use of voter data by political parties and campaigns. Election officials are working to address misinformation and reassure voters that their sensitive information will remain protected.

The details

SB153, signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox, automatically classifies most voter information as public, including name, address, party affiliation, and voter status. Voters can request to be listed as 'at-risk' if they meet certain criteria, such as being a victim of domestic violence or a law enforcement officer. Those who don't qualify as at-risk will have their information made public next month. Officials say the law does not reveal how individuals voted, but it will include information on which elections they participated in and whether they voted by mail or in person.

  • SB153 was signed into law in March 2026.
  • Voters have until May 6, 2026, to submit a form to their county clerk to request at-risk status.

The players

Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office

The office overseeing the implementation of the new voter information law.

Shelly Jackson

Deputy director of elections for the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office.

Sen. John Johnson

Republican state senator who sponsored SB153, arguing that the previous voter privacy law conflicted with federal law.

Phil Lyman

Former state representative who has cast doubt on Utah's election system and unsuccessfully sued to access the complete voter rolls.

Deidre Henderson

Utah's lieutenant governor, who has maintained that the federal government is not entitled to sensitive voter information.

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What they’re saying

“We're not releasing date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, all those things.”

— Shelly Jackson, Deputy director of elections

“This protection is not discretionary. County clerks must grant it to qualifying individuals.”

— Sen. John Johnson, Republican state senator

“What this actually does is it just tightens the requirements for withholding your information so you actually have to show that you have cause for doing that.”

— Sen. John Johnson, Republican state senator

What’s next

Voters have until May 6, 2026, to submit a form to their county clerk to request at-risk status and keep their information private.

The takeaway

The new Utah law aims to bring the state's voter privacy policies in line with federal requirements, but it has raised concerns among some voters about the potential use of their information by political parties and campaigns. Election officials are working to address misinformation and reassure voters that sensitive personal data will remain protected.