October 2026 with Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard

CHECKING IN AT THE LEGISLATURE
October 2026 Newsletter

How secure are Utah elections? In this newsletter I have included multiple resources verifying that your signature and ballot is secure and counted.

I remember before we had mail-in ballots. I would be driving around and around and around the block on election day waiting for the long line out the door to diminish at the voting booth. With a car full of infants and young children, and cold Novembers, it was definitely a challenge. I love that I can Google and research candidates on my ballot from my own home, and track every step of my mail-in ballot recorded as received and counted through “Track My Ballot”.

Thanks for being reliable voters in Utah. I appreciate your support for me as your Representative! 

Gratefully, 

Melissa 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Now through November 3: Return your ballot at any Davis County drop box by 8:00 pm on Election Day.
  • In person: Drop off your ballot at the Davis County Administration Building, 61 S. Main St., Farmington.
  • Tuesday, November 3 – Election Day: Mailed ballots must arrive by 8:00 pm. With less than a week left, a drop box is your safest option.

QUICK LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
1. 2022-2024 Election Law Changes
2. 2026 Election Law Changes
3. Audit of the Utah State Courts
4. Speaking at the G20 Interfaith Forum on Human Trafficking
5. In the Community
2022-2024 Election Law Changes
2026 Election Law Changes
Audit of the Utah State Courts
This fall, the Office of the Legislative Auditor General released a series of audits of Utah's judicial branch. One of them, "A Performance Audit of the Utah State Courts: Improving Judicial Accountability and Efficiency by Strengthening Governance and Leadership" (#2026-21), examines how the courts govern and hold themselves accountable.

Across the series, auditors found the courts historically emphasized judicial independence over accountability. One example: for third-degree felonies from 2017 to 2025, incarceration rates ranged from 35% in one judicial district to 75% in another, against a statewide average of 52%. Auditors recommend the Judicial Council take a more active role in holding the courts accountable.

Under Utah Code 36-12-15.3, every audited agency names a chief officer who must formally respond to the audit and report back on progress. For the courts, that's Associate Chief Justice Jill Pohlman, who chairs the Judicial Council. The council already committed to creating a process to review sentencing data.

Judicial independence matters. So does accountability to the people the courts serve. As Co-Chair of Criminal Justice Appropriations, I'll keep following these recommendations closely.
Speaking at the G20 Interfaith Forum on Human Trafficking
Faith and civic leaders from more than 50 countries gathered at the Tabernacle on Temple Square October 15–17 for the G20 Interfaith Forum, themed "Resilient Hope, Shared Future." I spoke on a panel addressing human trafficking alongside faith leaders, data experts, and prevention groups.

Utah is leading the way for the nation and countries around the world to unify our efforts: how we define trafficking, how we prevent it, which practices work best, how government agencies align, and how we connect victims with support. Protecting children and families from exploitation remains one of my top priorities.

See the recommendations shared at the forum.
In the Community
On October 7, I attended the ribbon cutting for the ARCH High Utilizer Program at the Orange Street Community Correctional Center. The program serves individuals who cycle repeatedly through jail, emergency rooms, and homelessness services, helping them build stability as they return to our communities. It fits closely with my reentry legislation, including HB248 and HB230, and safer streets for all of us. Learn more here.

With Rep. Lisa Shepherd, State Homeless Coordinator Tyler Clancy, Dr. Stacey Bank of Clinical Health Services, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd, and North Salt Lake resident Nick Bricker, the Utah Department of Corrections Chief of Community Safety and Stability.
Melissa Garff Ballard has served as Representative for Utah House District 20 since 2019. She has served as Chair of Higher Education Appropriations, Founding Chair of the Higher Education and Corrections Council, Chair of Education and Mental Health Council, and Chair of the Utah Marriage Commission. She resides in North Salt Lake. Learn More
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