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Navajo case challenging Utah mail-in ballots heads to trial

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Elections coordinators Antigone Carlson, left, and Barbara Beckstrom use optical scanners to count absentee or vote by mail ballots on Thursday morning as the Salt Lake County Clerk's elections staff conducts a recount of two tight primary mayoral races. In South Salt Lake, former City Councilman Shane Siwik was only two votes behind political newcomer Derk Pehrson. The recount will determine which candidate goes up against incumbent Cherie Wood, who was the top vote-getter. In West Valley City, Don Christensen came in only 13 votes behind Karen Lang. The winner of that recount will go up against former state legislator Ron Bigelow, who was the top vote-getter for the seat that Mayor Mike Winder currently holds. Winder is not seeking re-election.

U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish set a March 16 trial date on Thursday in the case challenging a 2014 switch to mail-in voting in San Juan County.

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission says mail-in ballots are more difficult for rural tribal voters to receive, and fewer physical polling places means it's harder to get language assistance.

San Juan County officials argue the new voting system has led to higher voter turnout. They say the lawsuit was filed in an effort to control local politics.

The county sits in the Four Corners region and covers the northern tip of the Navajo Nation that stretches into Arizona and New Mexico.