10/10/2020
Participating in the General Election--Nov 3rd
The Church General Handbook, "Political and Civic Activity" (38.8.34), says (emphasis added): "As citizens, Church members are encouraged to participate in political and governmental affairs....to improve their communities and make them wholesome places in which to live and rear families." Also, that "members are encouraged to register to vote, to study issues and candidates carefully, and to vote for individuals they believe will act with integrity and sound judgment." It further says: "Members are encouraged to support measures that strengthen the moral fabric of society, particularly those designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
General elections, including the one on November 3rd, 2020, are perhaps the most obvious time that average citizens can make a difference by supporting candidates that have integrity and are likely to exercise sound judgment, and by supporting measures that will strengthen the family and morality. As it says on the Iron County Elections website, "Vote and the choice is yours, don't vote and the choice is theirs. Register [to vote] or you have no choice." Please get involved in this election!
Non-partisan resources for learning more about candidates:
- https://www.ontheissues.org/ provides actual quotes from candidates across a variety of issue areas, for all national-level elections.
- https://usafacts.org/voter-center provides quotes from candidate websites (and possibly other sources) across a variety of issue areas for all national-level elections.
- Britannica's ProCon.org discusses both sides of a variety of issues, and it's 2020 Presidential Elections section (https://2020election.procon.org/) explores four presidential candidates' positions on those issues.
- The Cedar City Chamber of Commerce provides recorded interviews with candidates for Iron County offices (https://www.cedarcitychamber.org/2020-iron-county-election-information).
Other resources to learn more about candidates:
Your ballot is also likely to include elections for states legislators, school board members (the Ashdown Forest Ward is in Iron Country School Board district #2), etc. Check candidate websites, pages, etc. to learn more about them. There may also be local newspaper articles that provide insight into candidates' issue positions, experience levels, and values.
Interest group websites often have information on candidate views in specific issues areas that are of importance to that interest group.
Note: the above references are just a starting point, and you are likely to find many more--both partisan and non-partisan--as you study the issues and candidates carefully.
Voting:
You must be registered before voting. To check your voter registration status and voting precinct, see: https://votesearch.utah.gov/voter-search/search/search-by-voter/voter-info
After entering your information, you should have the opportunity to update your mailing addresses, or other information, to make sure you receive the correct ballot.
Clicking on the "How can I vote?" link, after entering your information, explains exactly how you can make sure your vote is counted. For Iron County voters it basically says:
- Iron Co. is conducting a by-mail election.
- Registered voters should receive their ballot in the mail between Oct 13th and Oct 27th [the Iron Co. website says ballots should be mailed between Oct 13th and Oct 20th]. Immediately contact the Iron Co. Clerk (435-477-8340; [email protected] if you don't receive your ballot (and are registered to vote under the correct address).
- Follow the instructions provided on the ballot [to indicate your vote choices and certify that you are the voter making those choices].
- To make sure your ballot is counted it should be postmarked by Nov 2nd (day prior to the election), OR it may be placed in an Iron County drop box such as the Cedar City Offices (10 N. Main), the Iron Co. Justice Center (82 N. 100 E.), the Enoch City Offices (900 E. Midvalley Rd)...until 8 PM on voting day, Nov 3rd. (See https://www.ironcounty.net/news/2020-notice-of-general-election for a full list of drop boxes.)
Registering to vote (no later than Oct 23rd by 5:00 PM):
If you have not yet registered to vote and have a valid driver's license that matches your current address, you may register online at https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/login.html?selection=REGISTER
If you have not yet registered to vote and do not have a driver's license, you may download a paper form at https://voteinfo.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2020/05/Voter-Registration-Form5-20.pdf. That form must be mailed to the country clerk, and the clerk must receive it no later than 11 days prior to the Nov 3rd elections, if you wish to vote in that election.
If you have not registered to vote, and you have a driver's license with an incorrect address, either change your driver's license address online (https://secure.utah.gov/dlr/index.html) and then register to vote online, or register using the paper form as described above.
Again, please study the issues and candidates carefully, and please vote! Of course, you may contact me if you have questions on the above.
Rick Bairett
Civic Affairs Specialist
Ashdown Forest Ward
You can renew your Drivers License, State Identification or Update your Address. The online renewal service is limited to license/ID Card holders who have already verified their identity with the Driver License Division after January 1, 2010. If qualified, you will have received a notice by mail wit...
