County clerk candidate Cory Astill emphasizes management reforms, election security and staff stability

Cory Astill, a Republican running for Utah County clerk, told the Utah County Republican Party podcast that his campaign centers on management and operational fixes intended to restore public confidence in local elections.

"This is a management role. The clerk is there to administer the law," Astill said, arguing the office should focus on running elections efficiently and transparently rather than making policy pronouncements.

Astill recounted recent operational problems he says show that need: "They ended up having to charter a plane to fly to Arizona in the middle of the election at high cost," he said, and added that some contests took weeks to resolve. He said those episodes illustrated the value of stronger planning, staffing and inventory control.

The candidate said he will follow state law on vote-by-mail and concentrate on securing and efficiently counting mailed ballots. "My job as the clerk is to make sure that's as secure as possible and then count that vote," he said, describing Utah's barcode-and-signature verification process and staff review of mismatches.

On policy questions that would change how ballots are delivered or who sets election rules, Astill repeatedly emphasized the limits of the clerk's authority. Asked about the Save America Act — a federal proposal that would impose documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and ID requirements — he said he supports voter-ID and proof-of-citizenship elements but raised federalism concerns. "I have major reservations about handing more authority over our elections to the federal government," he said, arguing states should adopt such measures rather than cede control to federal agencies.

Astill expressed support for restoring a separately elected secretary of state in Utah, saying the office should be independent of the lieutenant governor. "Yes. I support a secretary of state, and I don't think it would cost that much money," he said, adding that the change would create a clearer line between election administration and executive officers.

He also opposed ranked-choice voting pilots, citing public confusion and inconsistent tabulation rules he observed in a Lehi city contest. On the question of whether anonymized cast-vote records should be public, Astill said allowing third-party audits of anonymized records can be useful but warned against any system that could re-link ballots to voters and undermine the secret ballot.

Astill said he leans toward funding prepaid postage for ballot returns to reduce voter confusion and make voting easier, but he framed that as a county budget decision that should be transparent and deliberate after public discussion. The host noted an estimated county cost over $100,000 for prepaid postage.

On staffing and culture in the clerk's office, Astill highlighted recent turnover in the incumbent office and said improving workplace culture and retaining experienced employees would be a priority. He said he and his wife run two behavioral-health clinics and will place experienced managers in charge so he can serve full time if elected.

Asked about campaign financing and endorsements, Astill said he is his own largest donor and accepts contributions within the law. "If there's ever a question, I think it's very easy for me to ... I actually don't think it's the role of the clerk to be counting the votes anyway. It's to be managing the office," he said, rejecting the suggestion that lawful donations necessarily create obligations.

The interview concluded with Astill sharing his campaign website and contact information. The podcast is part of a series the county party released ahead of the county convention to help delegates evaluate candidates.