Utah’s Republican-controlled House has passed a bill requiring voters to opt in to receive their ballots in the mail

The Utah House voted to require photo ID for most mail-in ballots on Wednesday, following weeks of negotiations between House and Senate Republicans that resulted in major changes to the biggest election reform proposal of the legislative session.

Several changes have been made to an election bill, which is now proposing voters opt-in to vote by mail and provide the last four digits of their ID number when voting.

A bill that originally would have drastically restricted voting by mail in Utah got a makeover after House and Senate legislative leaders struck a compromise — then it quickly cleared another major legislative hurdle.

HB551 would prevent elected officials from sending out mass communications, such as direct mail, or putting up billboards promoting themselves within 60 days of an election where they’re a candidate.

At the onset of the 2025 Utah Legislature, lawmakers listed changes to Utah’s election system as a top priority — but a major bill meant to drastically restrict voting by mail, HB300, has been stuck in the House for 10 days.

Utah lawmakers revised an elections reform bill to require voters to opt in to receiving a ballot in the mail starting in 2028.