Carr died last Friday in Bountiful. He was 88.
In the days before a centralized state Elections Office, new county clerks and other government officials had few resources to help them with the thousands of details necessary to an election.
Because Carr Printing had produced printed ballots for elections at all levels for decades, Carr amassed broad institutional knowledge of voting and election law. In the late 1940s, during a convalescence from pneumonia, Carr decided to commit himself to providing information and expertise to voting officials, including "election kits" containing everything necessary to hold a successful election.
"He saw a need," said Lloyd Carr of his father. "He stepped up and said, 'This business of voting is a sacred thing. It's one of the things that keeps us a free country.' "
Election officials from around the state would call on Carr when unusual situations cropped up.
"People turned to him for advice on anything about elections," Lloyd says. "Even high-up elections, people would call and ask, 'Vernon, what do you think?' They always wanted his take on a controversy."
"Vernon became an elections guru," says Sherrie Swensen, Salt Lake County Clerk. "He kept up on legislation and was very knowledgable in the changes in elections laws."
Vernon Carr will not see Utah's transition from paper punch cards to touch-screen voting machines this year. It's still unclear how much election work will remain for printers, Lloyd Carr says.
One thing is certain, the need for knowledgable election consultants, including Lloyd Carr, who took over for his father 10 years ago, will remain. "There's always something unusual that happens in every election," Lloyd says.
Swensen says, "Lloyd understands elections, and because of Vernon, has such a broad knowledge base. When I have questions I still call. Lloyd and I often have long conversations about proposals and changes and how it will effect the election."
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the LDS Centerville 3rd Ward, 900 S. 400 East.
Vernon Carr
1917-2006
