Long Lines Test Patience of Voters In Utah County

UTAH COUNTY, Utah – Voters who did not cast their ballot by mail, earned their red “I Voted” stickers during Tuesday’s election. While many in the county voted by mail, those who had not registered, recently moved, did not get a ballot in the mail or wanted to vote in person, encountered long lines.

From Lehi, to American Fork, Provo, Orem and even in the small town of Goshen, voter turnout at the polls took time. Fewer polling locations were open, due to the mail ballot system, but at those locations, there were also fewer voting machines, which slowed the process.

Voters in Pleasant Grove, who arrived to vote after work, waited three-and-a-half hours.

“We got here about a quarter-to-six and we just finished up and it is 9:15,” said Quinn Cook, a resident of Pleasant Grove.

His wife, Melissa said she never expected to have to wait so long.

“I have never seen a line this long ever in my 30 years of voting, it was a really long evening, but I am glad for the turnout and happy to vote,” she said.

And then there were five… five voters left to go in Pleasant Grove, three hours and 15 minutes after the polls were supposed to close. @KSL5TV #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/Eu1BQ6InVM

— Sam Penrod (@KSLsampenrod) November 7, 2018

Voters said they felt there were important issues and wanted to have their voices heard.

As long as voters were in line, when the polls closed at 8 p.m., they were allowed to cast their ballot. The last voter did not leave the polling place in Pleasant Grove until after 11:30 p.m.

And at 11:27 the last voter has cast their ballot in Pleasant Grove! Lynne Yocum was in line just before 8pm. Poll workers packing up now. Some of them have been here since 6am! @KSL5TV #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/NDxQSsizzQ

— Sam Penrod (@KSLsampenrod) November 7, 2018