Utah voters could go to the polls as early as Oct. 24 next year if state lawmakers approve legislation to allow two weeks of early voting leading up to Election Day. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and Elections Director Michael Cragun presented two draft bills at the Legislature's Government Operations interim committee meeting Wednesday - one to allow early voting and another allowing voters to cast their ballots at "common polling places." Voters would have to show a valid driver license, a state identification card or a birth certificate and a piece of mail showing the voter's current address. A concealed weapon permit also would qualify as identification. At common polling places, voters could avoid lines by voting at less-crowded precincts. County clerks say combining precincts and allowing early voting will alleviate the strain of trying to comply with the Help America Vote Act. A pilot program in Colorado found that about one-third of voters cast their ballots early. Utah County Clerk/Auditor Kim Jackson told state lawmakers that his county would have to scrape together nearly $250,000 to buy extra voting machines for 22 new precincts. "This bill will have a great fiscal impact on the counties' budget," Jackson said. - Rebecca Walsh

Federal election reform not welcome in Utah

A federal commission on election integrity has recommended a new structure for running elections in states, but most Utah officials aren't keen on the ideas.

The Commission on Federal Election Reform, headed by former President Carter, says states should look into appointing their election directors for a 10-year term and approved by two-third votes in both chambers of the Legislature. The report, released this week, includes 87 recommendations on ways to improve election integrity and voter confidence.

The report, from a 21-member commission, says that "to minimize the chance of election meltdown and to build public trust in the electoral process, nonpartisan structures of election administration are very important."

But Utah's structure for its elections office is almost opposite of what the report suggests a state should have. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, is the state's chief elections officer. Election Director Michael Cragun is a former Republican county commissioner appointed by a Republican governor with no confirmation vote of the Legislature.

And all staffers in the Elections Office are at-will employees, meaning they can be easily fired.

Even so, Herbert says the system works well in Utah and there's no reason to tweak it.

"I haven't seen any of the real problems that would warrant a real cure," he said. "It could be that the cure could be worse than the disease."

After all, he noted, what is a nonpartisan person?

Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, a Democrat, agrees the system is fine, though she would support making all county governments nonpartisan.

"We've had the fortunate experience of having the Lieutenant Governor's Office be very fair and neutral in elections so far," Swensen said, adding that the insurance of having a leader publicly elected means the voters get to decide if the choice of an election director is correct.

But Rep. Roz McGee, a Salt Lake City Democrat who has unsuccessfully pushed election reform legislation, says the state should at least review the report's suggestions before making such decisions.

"It would make a great deal of sense to look at that," McGee said.

After then-state Elections Director Amy Naccarato left her position in the transition of the new administration of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., most of her staffers have left their positions, leaving the office in the hands of new employees. Situations like that worry McGee: "That is an area where we very much need continuity and expertise."

Sandy Peck of the Utah chapter of the League of Women Voters says the suggestions could make Utah's structure better.

"Anything that is nonpartisan usually is better, especially in this case when you're talking about voting that affects every person," she said. "It sounds like something they better look into."

tburr@sltrib.com