October Public Policy Update

Greetings from your St. George AAUW Public Policy Team! Here’s the latest update for your enjoyment and/or information as we prepare for the November 3 mid-term election!

SUPREME COURT VOTES TO ALLOW MAIL-IN-VOTING!!

The Supreme Court in a brief emergency order ruled by a majority (7-2) against the administration’s order that would have halted mail-in-voting. Justices Alito and Thomas publicly dissented. The majority ruling did not detail its reasoning but mentioned it was because the administration’s push to implement restrictions on mail-in-voting this year is likely to lose in court.

Although the Supreme Court ruled in August on a procedural question about one of the lawsuits, the justices have not ruled on the legality of the order or the USPS plan to not deliver ballots. However, at this time, the USPS does not have a system in place to manage that and ballots are already being mailed in some states.

The Constitution gives Congress and the states — not the President — the power to regulate elections. In spite of this, on March 31, 2026, President Trump issued the Executive Order purporting to unilaterally impose nationwide changes to mail voting.

This decision by the court is certainly welcomed, but the administration’s EO was not the only challenge to our voting rights. It remains to be seen what might occur on election day to try to intimidate voters.

Additionally, Judge Luttig, who served in a variety of positions under both Bush presidents, has issued a warning about efforts to stop the official seating of the next Congress even if candidates have been elected by their voters and certified by their states officially.

Stay tuned. In future Public Policy updates we will address how to keep your ballots coming through the mail for future elections.

Can you take someone else’s ballot to the drop box?

Here are the facts!

Following the September 14 AAUW luncheon there remained some confusion about the legality of helping others submit their ballots if they are unable. Utah law (Title 20A. Election Code) shown below details how to help someone.

It seems clear that if someone asks you to help them to either deliver their ballot to a drop box or help them at a polling place, it is legal as long as the person helping is not trying to influence the voter and does not share information about the person’s vote selection. Additionally, the person helping must not be the person’s employer, be an agent of the employer, be an officer or agent of the voter’s union, or be a candidate.

Part 5 Voting Offenses 20A-3a-501 Prohibited conduct at polling place — Other prohibited activities

“Polling place” means the physical place where ballots are cast and includes the physical place where a ballot drop box is located.

An individual may not knowingly possess or control another individual’s voted manual ballot, unless:

Subject to Section 20A-3a-208 (see below), the individual is authorized by a voter to possess or control the voter’s voted ballot if the voter needs assistance delivering the ballot due to the voter’s age, illness, or disability; or the individual resides in the same household as the voter.

This should clarify the matter and allow any AAUW member to provide help to others if needed.

October 17 — 10-11:30 am
League of Women Voters ballot event!

Citizens who have marked their ballots and have ballots ready to put in a ballot box can meet with others at the Washington “City” Community Center (375 N. Community Center Drive, Washington City).

Following a brief program, the group will walk about a mile from the community center to the Washington City Library to put ballots in the ballot drop box.

Showing solidarity is a great way to have fun and show we will not be bullied out of voting! The 19^th Amendment was ratified a little over a century ago, August 18, 1920, giving women the right to vote. So, let’s get together and celebrate that historic event!

Know Your Judges!

All Utah judges/justices are selected through a merit-based process. A nonpartisan Judicial Nominating Commission carefully screens candidates based solely on fitness for the position. The top candidates are referred to the governor who makes the appointment. The appointment must then be confirmed by the Senate.

The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) conducts a thorough evaluation of each judge before a Retention Election.

JPEC gathers data on a judge’s performance and prepares a written report that is made available to the public. That report is also used by JPEC to decide whether or not its commissioners recommend that the judge be retained in office for another term.

Why trust JPEC?

● Provides objective information about judges

● Uses a “blind” process—looking at data without knowing who they are reviewing

● Makes the results and process transparent and easy for voters to understand

● These evaluations offer a factual basis for your voting decision, moving the conversation beyond partisan talking points and toward a sensible assessment of judicial fitness.

Before voting in a judicial retention election:

● Learn about your judges at this link.

● Click on “View Report” to learn more detail on each judge.

● Consider overall performance (not a single case).

● Make an informed decision based on objective criteria

2026 Mid-term Ballot Constitutional Amendments

Utah voters will decide 2 statewide measures in 2026.

Get to know the candidates!TogetherWorksSouthernUtahhas asked candidates to complete questionnaires and is publishing their responses on their website

Significant election dates

• October 13, 2026 – First day mail/absentee ballots can be sent to active registered voters
• October 20, 2026 – In-person early voting period begins*
• October 23, 2026 – Last day to register to vote in the regular general election** by 5 PM MST
• October 27, 2026 – Last day to request a ballot (does not apply to military and overseas voters)
• November 3, 2026 – ELECTION DAY! If a mail ballot is delivered in the mail, it must be received by the election officer on or before 8 PM on election day.

*The early voting period can begin up to 14 days before election day for a minimum of four days. 20A-3a-601

**10/23 Last day to register to vote and not have to vote a provisional ballot. 20A-2-201(2), 20A-2-204(6)(b)

Same day voter registration is available on election day by visiting a polling center in person on election day.

Mail-in ballots:

• Ballot must be in the clerk’s hands by 8 p.m. on election night
• Postmark will not save a late arriving ballot
• ID number goes on the envelop

Your St. George AAUW Public Policy team recommends that you use drop boxes and not the US Postal Service unless absolutely necessary!

Find more information on vote.utah.gov or contact your county clerk.

Utah’s Supreme Court needs more women

Utah’s Supreme Court has seen a lot of change over the past year: two new justice positions were added to the court, one justice resigned, one justice retired, and the governor now appoints the chief justice rather than the court doing it.

Michael Menssen and Matthew Bell were confirmed to fill the seats vacated by Justice Diana Hagen, who resigned amid allegations of a conflict of interest, and Justice Matthew Durrant, who retired due to health reasons.

Earlier this year, the Legislature and Governor Cox expanded the court from five to seven justices. The two new court seats were filled in June when the Senate confirmed Governor Cox’s picks: Justice Stephen Dent and Jay Jorgensen.

The court now has two women and five men on the bench. This is big change and a step down from 2022 when, for the first time ever, the Utah Supreme Court had a female majority of justices.

Although Governor Cox defends his selections saying they were the best qualified, others do not agree. Nonprofit Co-Equal Utah asserts that Cox’s picks haven’t served as a judge ‘at any level,’ and questions why no women were on the list of finalists. His picks and the fact that no women were considered is a slap in the face of well-qualified women.

Cox has yet to name a new chief justice to replace Durrant, the recently retired chief justice. Previously, the justices chose their own chief.

FINALLY, a book that made a difference

“Only a few books have made me see the world in a new way.  “The First Political Order: How Sex Shapes Governance and National Security Worldwide” by Valerie M. Hudson, Donna Lee Bowen, and Perpetua Lynne Nielsen did just that.  It is one of the most important books I have read in decades.”  Bill Cosgrove

This video provides more details. I also provide the information below found on line about the book. I hope some of us have time to look into what sounds like a fascinating book.

The First Political Order: How Sex Shapes Governance and National Security Worldwide by Valerie Hudson (Author), Donna Lee Bowen (Author), Perpetua Lynne Nielsen (Author)

“Global history records an astonishing variety of forms of social organization. Yet almost universally, males subordinate females. How does the relationship between men and women shape the wider political order? The First Political Order is a groundbreaking demonstration that the persistent and systematic subordination of women underlies all other institutions, with wide-ranging implications for global security and development.

Incorporating research findings spanning a variety of social science disciplines and comprehensive empirical data detailing the status of women around the globe, the book shows that female subordination functions almost as a curse upon nations. A society’s choice to subjugate women has significant negative consequences: worse governance, worse conflict, worse stability, worse economic performance, worse food security, worse health, worse demographic problems, worse environmental protection, and worse social progress. Yet despite the pervasive power of social and political structures that subordinate women, history—and the data—reveal possibilities for progress. The First Political Order shows that when steps are taken to reduce the hold of inequitable laws, customs, and practices, outcomes for all improve. It offers a new paradigm for understanding insecurity, instability, autocracy, and violence, explaining what the international community can do now to promote more equitable relations between men and women and, thereby, security and peace. With comprehensive empirical evidence of the wide-ranging harm of subjugating women, it is an important book for security scholars, social scientists, policy makers, historians, and advocates for women worldwide.”