Show Labor Holiday May Affect Utah's Primary Turnout I I Conflict of Dates May Limit Ballot Number By Patrick R It Eckman Utah's political history for the coming four tour years might be a lot different if September started a aday aday aday day earlier Primary election day under inder the new state election law fal falls 1 on the first Tuesday in September Labor day falls on the first Monday Monday Monday Mon Mon- day in tn September So unless September starts on ona ona ona a Tuesday the primary election comes come the day after Labor day day day- and this year Sept ept 1 comes on Wednesday All of which may mayor or may not affect the size of the primary vote Salt Lakes Lake's County Clerk Alvin Keddington for one predicts the ballot totals will suffer markedly as a result of ot the holiday This all an becomes signi significant cant in that the size of th the vote is generally generally gener gener- ally any being held as the key to the gubernatorial nominations in both parties On the Democratic side the reasoning reasoning reasoning rea rea- is 18 elementary Gov Herbert Herbert Herbert Her Her- bert B. B Maw is conceded the Incumbents Incumbent's in incumbents incumbent's incumbents incumbent's in- in normal edge of a bloc of sure sur voters A goodly turnout will enhance John S. S Boyden's I chances of diluting that effective advantage On the Republican side the situation situation situation sit sit- is La more complex complex- both both candidate candidate candidate can can- contend a large primary means a victor victory a small primary m means mans ans doom J. J Bracken Lees Lee's strategists see seea see seea a big turnout as heralding plenty of rank and file support to offset the apparent organizational standing standing stand stand- ing of or Rendell N. N Mabey who was high man at the nominating con con- Mr Mabey's backers on the theother theother other hand say a heavy day at the at-the the polls will mean that certain anti anti- Lee elements are coming out en masse to counteract an initial advantage ad ad- ant vantage ge held by the former Price mayor Meanwhile the sideline observers ers ens rate the G GO GOP 0 P race all aU even evens hot and apt to grow hotter when the campaign a heads down the home stretch next week I I |