Stevens leads Summit County clerk race as Basin Recreation bond trails in early results

Unofficial election returns show Malena Stevens ahead with 58% of the vote, while a majority of voters oppose the $71 million recreation bond proposal

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Summit County Clerk Malena Stevens led Republican challenger Suni Woolstenhulme in preliminary election results released Tuesday night, while a proposed $71 million recreation bond for the Snyderville Basin was trailing.

According to unofficial results published by the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office at 9:11 p.m. Nov. 3, Stevens, a Democrat, received 4,832 votes, or 58.03%, compared with Woolstenhulme’s 3,495 votes, or 41.97%.

Stevens, who was appointed interim county clerk earlier this year, held a 1,337-vote lead in the race for a four-year term.

The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District’s $71 million general obligation bond proposal was also trailing, with 2,292 votes against the measure, or 53.76%, compared with 1,971 votes in favor, or 46.24%.

The bond would provide funding for recreation facilities and related improvements within the district. The proposal was reduced from an earlier $150 million plan following public discussion about its scope and cost.

Constitutional amendments

Summit County voters also weighed in on two proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution.

Constitutional Amendment A would eliminate the requirement to publish proposed constitutional amendments in newspapers across Utah. Instead, proposals would be published online and through other methods established by state law.

In Summit County, 4,424 voters, or 54.58%, supported the measure, while 3,682, or 45.42%, opposed it.

Constitutional Amendment B would require citizen-led ballot initiatives that raise taxes to receive at least 60% voter approval, rather than the simple majority generally required now.

Summit County voters opposed the measure, with 5,360 votes against (65.11%), compared with 2,872 votes in favor (34.89%).

Statewide, early unofficial results showed a similar trend. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Amendment A led with about 61% support, while Amendment B trailed, with about 62% voting against it.

Voter turnout and additional ballot counting

According to Summit County’s initial unofficial election report, 8,494 ballots had been cast out of 29,387 registered voters, representing 28.9% turnout.

The figures remain preliminary and will change as additional ballots are processed.

According to the Summit County Clerk’s Office, in-person votes cast on Election Day and ballots deposited after noon Tuesday will be reflected in Wednesday’s updated unofficial totals.

The county’s election calendar also lists additional ballot processing Thursday, Nov. 5, if needed.

Election officials will continue posting updated unofficial results as they tabulate ballots. Official results will be available following the county’s Nov. 17 canvass, when election officials review and certify the election results.