National politics got you down? Tuesday, Aug. 12 is Primary Election Day, and it's all about local, baby! Municipal (city government) races are on the ballot, so here's what you need to know about the 2025 election.
Who's Having Primaries?
Utah hosts nonpartisan municipal elections during odd-numbered years, and almost every county has at least one primary. In Salt Lake County, thirteen cities are having primaries for races with three or more candidates (so they can narrow it down to two for the general election).
The only cities that aren't are Salt Lake City, Millcreek, South Salt Lake, and Midvale. That's because they opted to use ranked choice voting in the general election, which eliminates the need for a primary. So, don't take it personally if you didn't get a ballot; your time to shine comes this fall!
What Are Municipal Elections For?
Most of the races are for mayor and city council, with one local school board seat in Salt Lake County. Not sure what your mayor and city council do? We explained the roles of the Salt Lake City Council and SLC Mayor, and those same responsibilities generally apply to other towns.
Allow me a brief moment on my soapbox: Local government is where the rubber meets the road, folks. I used to be a municipal reporter, and I'm telling you, this is the level of government that deals with the stuff that impacts you most in your everyday life. I'm talking safer streets, affordable housing, playgrounds, and police. It's the government that's closest to you and where you can make the biggest difference.
*Rant over. Thank you for indulging me!*
Important Election Dates
If you're reading this the morning of the election, it's too late to mail your ballot. For it to be counted, you need to drop it off at an Election Day vote center or in a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12. You can also vote in person at a voter center until 8 p.m.
Want to be a candidate in cities with ranked choice voting? The filing period is open Aug. 12-19. Learn more about the process in each of these four cities:
What questions do you have about municipal elections? What's the biggest issue on the ballot you and your neighbors are talking about?
