Utah County commissioners direct RFP for third‑party statistical analysis of 2022 primary after extensive public comment on election integrity

The Utah County Board of Commissioners voted to direct the Clerk/Auditor’s Office to issue a request for proposals seeking firms with professional statistical auditing capabilities to analyze the 2022 Utah County primary election results.

Commissioner Bill Lee framed a two‑part agenda item: a follow‑up discussion to the board of canvassers meeting and a plan to approve and authorize a statistical analysis of the 2022 primary results. "I would like to propose that we... allow for the public to comment... and then bring it back up to the commission to look at the second half, which would be to approve and authorize a plan to accomplish a statistical analysis of the 2022 Utah County primary election's results," Lee said.

County staff and legal counsel discussed data ownership, statutory constraints and what an outside firm could legally access. Civil‑division staff said a judge in a separate case had ruled that certain records were governed by the election code and were not public documents. Paul (civil division) agreed to research whether third‑party firms could be permitted to access the necessary materials and whether the county could contract for such a service.

Members of the public filled much of the docket’s public comment period. Speakers urged paper ballots and hand counts, questioned machine transparency and asked who owns ballots and cast‑vote records. "The machines need to go," said Mike Carpenter. Other commenters urged the commission to pursue third‑party review: "I heartily agree with... hiring an independent audit because I think that's a good first start," Sylvia Andrew said.

Commissioners debated whether to issue an RFI (request for information) or an RFP (request for proposals) and ultimately favored an RFP to solicit firms that have performed similar statistical analyses and could outline data needs and cost. Commissioner Lee moved that the RFP seek firms with "professional statistical auditing abilities" to analyze the 2022 primary results; Commissioner Gardner seconded. The motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 3–0.

County staff will draft RFP language asking prospective proposers to list prior experience, the specific data they would need to perform a complete statistical analysis of the 2022 primary and cost estimates. Legal staff will also research whether the county can contract for such services and what parts of the cast‑vote record or other materials may be legally accessible to an outside firm.

Next steps: Clerk/Auditor procurement staff will draft an RFP, including scope limited to the 2022 primary; civil and county attorney staff will research data access and legal permissibility; the commission will be asked to approve the final RFP language prior to issuance.