Two Republican candidates are asking a state court for an emergency hearing today over a lawsuit against the Salt Lake County Clerk alleging that thousands of voters may not have received mail-in ballots yet.
The lawsuit filed in 3rd District Court on Thursday requests that the court compel Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen to release the list of voters who did not receive mail-in ballots by the Oct. 16 deadline.
State Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, and Rozan Mitchell, the county elections director, are co-plaintiffs.
“We’re not sure who didn’t receive their ballots. We’re not sure if they’ve received their ballots yet, and we’re further not sure if they’ve been educated as to what the alternative methods are that they can vote on,” said McCay.
The Washington state-based printing company that the county uses ran out of envelopes in its initial printing and was delayed in sending out ballots to several thousand voters, according to the suit.
McCay is running for a state Senate seat this year while Mitchell is challenging her Democratic boss, Sherrie Swensen, for the Salt Lake County Clerk post.
McCay says the lawsuit is not a political stunt to buoy Mitchell in her bid against Swensen.
“This has absolutely nothing to do politics. This is about fair and transparent elections,” he said.
Swensen was not immediately available for comment.
McCay said they hope to appear before a judge on Friday. The case will be heard by Judge Robert Faust.
