Utah County Sheriff
November 3, 2026 · Utah County, Utah · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 7 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 705,400 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(1,196,523 ÷ 705,400) ÷ ln(1,196,523 ÷ 783) = 7.21, comparing counties in UT (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Low representation + an uncontested race → Very low vote impact.
Sheriff is responsible for:
- Running the county's law-enforcement department, including deputies and patrols
- Running the county jail
- Serving court orders, such as evictions and warrants
- Providing courthouse security in many counties
Affected Areas: Immigration, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Data Privacy, Civil Rights
Candidates
Mike Smith
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Utah County Sheriff serving since 2018 and Republican nominee for reelection.
Election sources
Source: docs.google.com
Source: utahcounty.gov
Source: vote.utahcounty.gov