With the margin between candidates for Utah’s U.S. House Representative Seat 2 so narrow, as well as the recent postmark questions complicating the results further, the law allows for either candidate to call for a recount of that particular race. The campaigns of candidates Colby Jenkins and Celeste Maloy have the power to call for a recount and a week’s time to do so; as of the writing of this report the morning of July 24, neither candidate had made the formal request, though Jenkins’ campaign had declared their intentions to do so, as well as campaigning against mail in voting following the postmarking issue.
In a report posted on Utah’s public notice website, Kane County Clerk/ Auditor Chameill Lamb shared her office’s preparations for the process of a recount, stating, “PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that, in the event a recount is requested for the Republican for U.S. House District 2 contest of the June 25th Primary Election, the following election events will be held:
July 22, 2024, 1:30 p.m., Logic and Accuracy test
July 22, 2024, 2 p.m., Recount of House District 2 Republican Primary
July 23, 2024, 8 a.m., Recount (continued)
July 23, 2024, 11 a.m., Post-Election Audit
July 23, 2024, 2 p.m., Canvas of Recount of U.S House District 2 Primary “The recount will take place at the Kane County Courthouse, 76 N. Main, Kanab, Utah, in the Clerk’s Office. The Canvass will be held in the Commission Chambers.”
The timeline of these meetings was prepared for the earliest possible call for a recount by Jenkins’ party, and where that call has not yet come in, it will have to be adjusted if Kane County is called on to recount.
Jenkins is at present asking his supporters for additional funds, with a post on Facebook on July 23 stating, “We are in the home stretch fighting for every legal vote to be counted here in Utah’s [Second] Congressional District. If you are willing to fight for election integrity and do away with mail-in voting, then please help us NOW. Our case has the opportunity to make history... but we need your help and resources no later than end of day this Wednesday, July 24. We need $30k by then. Please donate to our Victory Fund at the link below…”
Jenkins’ campaign has one week after the reporting of the state canvass to order a recount: in this case, the deadline is Monday July 29, at 5 p.m. If a recount is called for by then, the process will likely take a few weeks to be completed and for the results to be validated by county and state officials. Maloy’s campaign has released statements showing they believe a recount will ultimately have the same results, while Jenkins’ campaign states they are convinced these election results can be reversed. Which party is proved right may also be affected by how the Lieutenant Governor’s office rules on the questionably postmarked ballots, most of which come from southern Utah counties where Jenkins’ campaign received more support.
