Attorney General Mark Shurtleff wants Utahns to know they will be allowed to go to the polls this Tuesday even if someone challenges their right to vote. The issue was raised after a group threatened to make people prove they are U.S. citizens before voting in the primary.

"I am very disturbed by this threat and believe this type of challenge could scare citizens from exercising their right to vote," says Shurtleff. "This is intimidation-plain and simple."

Utah allows for two types of challenges to voters. First, a document identifying the voter and the basis for the challenge must be submitted with the county clerk by the Friday before the election. However, no challenges were made before the filing deadline. Second, a challenge can be made at the voting precinct when a person tries to put the ballot in the ballot box. A person can be challenged for four reasons:

• The voter is not the same person listed in the official register.
• The voter is not a resident of Utah.
• The voter is not a citizen of the United States.
• The voter has not resided in Utah for 30 days before the election.

When a voter is challenged, the election judge will ask the person to provide proof of identity and residence and then allows the individual to vote with a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will be processed and counted after the election judge verifies the voter’s identity and residence.

"Utah has always had a process in place to let people vote and resolve any challenges without holding up the entire election," says Shurtleff. "I am encouraging all registered voters who wish to participate in the upcoming primary elections to go to the polls on Tuesday and vote."

8:17:52 AM    

Applications will be available by June 29 to hunt sandhill cranes in three northern Utah counties and Uintah County this fall.

Hunters who applied for a sandhill crane permit during any of the past four years should receive an application in the mail by June 29. Beginning June 29, applications also will be available from hunting and fishing license agents statewide, the Division of Wildlife Resources' Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov) and DWR offices and hunter education centers.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on July 12 to be entered in the draw for permits.

Hunters who have a major credit card are encouraged to apply for a permit on this Web site. Hunters who don't have a major credit card must mail in their application. It will take a few days for their application to arrive in the mail, and they're encouraged to mail it as far in advance of the July 14 deadline as possible, said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR.

"To assure it's received on time, those who wait until a few days before the deadline to send in their application should consider using an overnight mailing service," Tutorow said.

Draw results will be posted by Aug. 4.

Hunts will be held in Uintah County, Cache County, Rich County and the eastern portion of Box Elder County. A total of 28 permits will be available for the Cache County hunt, 13 for Rich County, 18 for eastern Box Elder County and 15 for Uintah County.

The hunts in Cache, Rich and eastern Box Elder counties will run Sept. 4–12. The hunt in Uintah County will run Sept. 25–Oct. 3.

Sandhill Crane season forecast

Those who draw a permit can expect a good hunt, said Tom Aldrich, waterfowl coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

The success rate among those who draw a permit, and go afield to hunt sandhill cranes, is about 60 percent, Aldrich said.

He said the key to a successful sandhill crane hunt is advanced scouting. "If you can spend a day watching sandhill cranes in the mornings and evenings, when they fly between their roosting and feeding areas, and can then acquire permission from a landowner to set-up in a field where they're feeding, you'll usually be successful," Aldrich said.

Hunters may also find success pass-shooting birds as they fly between roosting and feeding areas.

"Hunting success is pretty consistent from year-to-year and is not really effected by weather or other factors," Aldrich said.

Aldrich reminds hunters that some areas in Box Elder and Cache counties are closed to sandhill crane hunting. In Box Elder County, the western half of the county is closed, as are the Harold Crane, Public Shooting Grounds and Salt Creek waterfowl management areas, and the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

In Cache County, a 1-mile by 11-mile area in and around Mendon is closed.

Those with questions may call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

8:08:13 AM