KUTV: Voter turnout is expected to be huge this year and officials are urging Utahns to vote by mail.

Twenty of Utah’s 29 counties are participating in vote-by-mail elections this year, including: Cache, Rich, Weber, Morgan, Summit, Davis, Salt Lake, Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah, Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Grand, Beaver, Wayne, San Juan, Iron, Garfield and Kane. Other counties require voters to show up to a polling location or request an absentee ballot.  Registered voters in those counties will receive a ballot in the mail in the next two weeks.

“Last year, 90 percent of all ballots cast in Salt Lake County, Weber County and other counties throughout the state were cast by mail,” said Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk. “The number of Utahns who vote by mail this year will likely triple from last year.”

Proponents suggest voting by mail allows an individual to spend more time examining the issues and candidates.  “Vote-by-mail results in a more informed and educated voter, by proactively placing the ballot in the voter’s hand three weeks prior to election day,” said Hatch.  Read more.