In January 2024, the State Central Committee of the Utah Republican Party revised our Bylaws to establish more precise and rigorous conditions for any voting method we choose to use in our elections. The bylaw does not mention any particular voting method, which we consider a wise decision. Please find below the updated bylaw in plain language for your reference.

We understand that voters have had issues and worries with every type of voting method used in recent years, including paper ballots, clickers, and electronic systems.

None of them are without challenges. As a result, we know of all these concerns and greatly appreciate the bylaw change prioritizing voting requirements and emphasizing transparency, privacy, simplicity, and auditability. More transparency in our voting process will increase trust in our elections and enhance the entire system's integrity.

In preparation for the State Nominating Convention, our Election Committee held meetings with experts, individuals, and groups advocating for different voting methods. We approached the discussions with an open mind and debated extensively on the most suitable voting method. Ultimately, we have conflicting opinions and feelings about the matter. 

We compared and contrasted our personal experiences of positive and negative voting with all available voting methods. We considered the length of our Convention Agenda, the number of candidates, elections, and business items, and the unique Presidential year where we elect up to 87 additional individuals to represent us on the national Republican stage. Our analysis unfolded over several weeks, and it was a fascinating process. 

After careful consideration, we have selected the Election Buddy electronic voting system because it meets all the requirements outlined in our updated bylaws. Specifically:

Electronic Voting Saves Time

This analysis does not represent the considerable time efficiency of voting electronically. Unlike other electronic voting methods, Election Buddy does not require any download or arduous profile setup, it is accessed quickly through a QR code or by typing in a simple website address. During this year’s State Convention, we have nine statewide and congressional elections; we have an additional round of voting where delegates will vote on dozens of national delegates, presidential electors, or alternates to represent us on the national scene. The US Senate race has 10 candidates; CD3 race has 9 candidates. These races will take place toward the end of our convention, when delegates have become proficient at voting quickly and the time saved will be significant compared to hand-delivering 4000 delegate votes and waiting on counting those 4000 ballots before moving onto each round of voting. 

The time-saving aspect of electronic voting for our state convention cannot be overstated. If all factors were held equal, we could give the nod to paper ballots, but the number of elections and number of rounds of voting per election makes electronic voting a necessity for this year’s election. And going back to the Bylaw analysis, we also believe that electronic voting through Election Buddy best aligns with our voting requirements. 

Discussion of Paper Ballots

Some delegates prefer paper ballots and, in particular, “numbered paper ballots.” While we see the value of paper ballots, that methodology simply does not comply with the party's bylaws. For example, sequentially numbered ballots violate the privacy portion of our bylaws (Paragraphs B & C above) - not to be identified. If we're standing in a line, they hand out sequentially numbered ballots. In that case, there's a possibility the voter could be identified with the ballot, mainly since we deliver those ballots in order. Even more concerning would be if a photo or video recorded the whole line of voters receiving their “sequentially numbered ballots.” I would know the number on my ballot, and I could figure out the numbers on everyone else's ballots in my line. Accordingly, sequentially numbered paper ballots simply do not comply with our bylaws. 

We also considered mixing the numbers or providing unique numbering to avoid sequentially numbered ballots (to prevent the sequentially numbered ballots that could quickly identify the voters). We think this could theoretically work if we have a viable methodology to “a. Track and report on every ballot that is issued” in a way that does not identify the voter. Unfortunately, we have not seen a proposal that accomplishes this requirement without significant delays. Typically, it would involve creating barcodes or QR codes placed on each ballot that require an electronic activation and tracking mechanism. If you don't track those ballots, it's tough to comply with the requirement of Paragraph A to “Track and report on every ballot that is issued” and Paragraph D to “Detect and report fraudulent ballots," as the bylaw requires.  And practically speaking, at that point, the “paper ballot” really just becomes another electronic ballot.  

Internet Bandwidth & Accessibility

We have purchased additional wifi bandwidth for the convention hall to facilitate the use of Election Buddy. Additionally, we will be providing kiosk stations for those without cell phones. Finally, we will conduct extensive testing this week to test the data and the system.

Some past electronic forms of voting have performed less well than hoped, but this voting system BEST aligns with the Bylaw that the State Central Committee created in January 2024. We are confident that as delegates use the system, election integrity and voter confidence will increase.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• What if I don’t have a device to vote on? We have approximately 20 credentialing computers set up that we can repurpose for voting for anyone unable to bring a cell phone, a tablet, or a laptop computer to vote on. Volunteers will remain at those workstations to assist as needed during voting. It is ideal if you brought your device because it’s easy to take a screenshot of your unique confirmation number when you submit your vote. Those screenshots will stay private on your device and be ready for you to reference if you perform your audit of the results. However, as needed, we will help others access Election Buddy on our credentialing computers.
• How is this system “externally auditable?” We will print out the spreadsheet of all vote confirmation codes, representing credentialed votes but not identifying any specific voters. You can review the timestamps to ensure they occurred only while the vote was open and see that the number of tallied votes is less than the credential report given before the ballot opened. You can review the audit report inside Election Buddy on your device and outside the system on a printed report.
• Can I go backward to identify how someone voted? No, the vote audit report will only show that a vote occurred and reports through the unique confirmation code. Only the voting individual will see “Review” how the vote is being cast before s/he submits it.
• How are we sure everyone gets the correct ballots to vote on? Just like when you vote with paper ballots, you credential so you are given the proper ballots. With paper, they give you an envelope with all your ballots inside (although I was at the Utah County convention on Saturday, and envelopes needed two different elections in some cases). In Election Buddy, your voter ID aligns with your address and precinct, which allows your Access Key to unlock each ballot when the vote is open.
• How can we rely on the internet since we’ve seen internet problems? This question raises a valid concern. We are hosting this convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center because it is equipped and experienced at hosting large gatherings like ours and providing unthrottled internet to thousands of users at a time. We can’t say that our public schools are built for that kind of internet connectivity; they’re built with firewalls. We have worked closely with Election Buddy to understand the bandwidth requirements of Election Buddy and with the Director of Technology at the Salt Palace to ensure that we will meet the needs of all voters. We will have five additional hotspot internet hubs in our contracted spaces to boost the internet available at the Salt Palace. We should all be okay if 4000 delegates don’t stream Netflix or sports games during the convention, so please minimize these off-topic tasks for another time outside of the meeting.
• Will Poll Watchers be able to observe the vote tabulation? Yes, this document explains how we plan to comply with the Bylaw allowing Poll Watchers to observe ballot counting when the vote is conducted electronically.
• Will our data be used for somebody’s proprietary database? No, Election Buddy does not gather individual user data, and you have no login outside the unique Access Key assigned to you through your credentials.
• Is this the same system that was used in the CD2 Special Election? No

We will send a follow-up email tonight containing a test vote. Please participate in the test vote so you can see how the electronic voting system works. Thank you for your thoughtful participation in the caucus-convention system. We are all Republicans and we're all on the same team. We want the very best candidates to move on after this convention to represent us in the primary and general elections, and we want to show the power of the convention by supporting those convention winners all the through a win in November!

Sincerely,