Perry City Board unanimously certifies 2025 general election results

The Perry City Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18, 2025, met as the board of canvassers and unanimously certified the city’s 2025 general election results after reviewing the county-prepared report and an audit sample.

Election staff summarized Utah law and the contents of the certified report before the board voted. "Per code, the municipal's legislative body acts as the board of canvassers," the election official said, noting certification must occur no sooner than seven and no later than 14 days after the election. "As an election official, we count the ballots. We prepare a certified summary of the counted ballots," she added.

Why it matters: Certification is the formal step that completes the local counting process and establishes the official vote totals for the record. The board’s action will trigger preparation of certificates of election and transmission of the certified report to the lieutenant governor’s office and the county clerk.

What officials reported: The election official told the board Perry had 3,442 registered voters and that 1,000 ballots were cast in the municipal election, for a reported turnout of 29.05 percent. She said 628 ballots were counted on election night and the remainder were counted as they were received in early voting. Twelve ballots received after the Nov. 4, 8:00 p.m. deadline were not counted because the new rule required ballots to be in hand rather than postmarked. Three provisional ballots were counted.

Results released: For mayor, Kevin Jepsen ran uncontested and received 881 votes. In city council contests the report lists Dave Walker with 810 votes and declared elected, Ashley Malin Young with 645 votes and declared elected, and Katie Reid with 333 votes. The same report also shows a combined total of 1,788 votes cast across the council contests.

Board discussion and audit: Board members asked about drop-box handling and chain-of-custody procedures. The election official described two-person custody at 8:00 p.m. lock time, county collection procedures and staffing for collection. She said she participated in a state-mandated audit sample sent by the lieutenant governor’s office and that the audited sample matched the reported counts.

Formal action and next steps: A board member moved to approve and certify the 2025 general election results; the motion was seconded and, after a roll call in which each named board member answered "Yes," the presiding officer announced the vote was unanimous. Election staff will prepare certificates of election for the winners, publish a certified copy of the report as a class A notice within three business days and transmit copies to the lieutenant governor’s office and the county clerk. The newly elected officials will take the oath at the board’s first meeting in January.

"We will transmit a copy of the report to the lieutenant governor's office, and we will deliver a copy of the certified report to the county clerk," the election official said.

The board adjourned after completing the canvass.