2020 Presidential Primary Rules

Utah will hold a Democratic and Republican Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) and links to various election documents.

FAQs (click on a question to expand)

1. Am I eligible to vote in the presidential primary election?

Political parties set rules on who can vote in their primary elections. Here are the rules for each party:

  • Democratic Party: all voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in its presidential primary election.
  • Republican Party: only voters affiliated with the Republican Party may vote in its presidential primary election.

If you are affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party, you will automatically receive a mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed to you between February 11, 2020 and February 18, 2020.

If you are not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party and want to vote, here are your options:

  • If you want to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary Election, contact your county clerk to request a ballot. Click this link to find your county clerk’s contact information. If you prefer to vote in person, simply visit an early voting location or Election Day voting location and request a Democratic ballot from the poll worker.
  • If you want to vote in the Republican Presidential Primary Election, you must affiliate with the Republican Party. Continue reading this page for more information.

2. When and how can I change my party affiliation?

The last day to change your party affiliation for the Presidential Primary Election is Monday, February 3, 2020. However, if you are not affiliated with a political party (an unaffiliated voter), you may change your party affiliation after February 3, 2020 at an early voting location or an Election Day voting location.

If you would like to change your party affiliation on or before February 3, 2020, you must submit a new voter registration form. Click this link to learn how to submit a new voter registration form.



4. Can I vote in both the Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries?

No. You can only vote in one party’s primary election.


5. When is the voter registration deadline?

The voter registration deadline depends on the method you use to register to vote:

  • Registration by mail: the mail must be postmarked on or before February 3, 2020.
  • Registration at your county clerk’s office: 5:00 pm on February 25, 2020.
  • Registration using the online registration system: February 25, 2020.

If you miss these deadlines, you can still register to vote and cast a provisional ballot at an early voting location or an Election Day voting center.

For more information about registering to vote, click this link.


6. Which candidates will be on the ballot?

You can view the full list of candidates at this link.

Helpful Links and Documents