Report on Women’s Civic Engagement and Political Representation in Utah

Overview of Voter Turnout and Civic Priorities

The Utah Women in Leadership Project recently published a comprehensive report on women’s voting and civic engagement habits. The findings highlight that women in Utah ranked 29th out of 51 states for voter turnout in 2024. Key civic engagement priorities identified among Utah women during the 2024 elections include:

• Housing affordability
• Politicians listening to voters
• Inflation
• Government overreach

Volunteerism and Community Service

Co-author Kolene Anderson emphasized the importance of volunteer work as a critical element of civic engagement. The report references a 2023 study by the Cicero Group, which found that Utah residents:

1. Donate five times more annually than the lowest-ranking state (West Virginia)
2. Volunteer twice as many hours as the lowest-ranking state in volunteerism (Florida)

Anderson noted on KPCW’s “Local News Hour” (June 27) that Utah women are particularly active in official volunteer roles, participating in organized activities where their involvement is specifically requested.

Gender Equality in Political Representation

Despite strong civic participation, Utah faces significant challenges in gender equality within elected offices. A February 2025 report from the Women and Leadership Project reveals that Utah “lags far behind” in women’s political representation, with no history of electing a female governor or U.S. Senate representative.

Key statistics include:

• Women constitute 50% of Utah’s population but hold only 20% of state legislative seats.
• Utah ranks consistently low in women’s equality due to underrepresentation in the state legislature.

Anderson stressed that this representation gap impacts not only women but also Utah families, underscoring the importance of gender parity in governance.

Women’s Representation in City and County Councils

The report details the gender composition of local government bodies across Utah:

• Utah has no all-female city councils but 50 all-male councils.
• Among the all-male councils, 12 have female mayors, while 38 are entirely male.

Examples from Summit and Wasatch counties include:

• Summit County’s Oakley city council is all male; Francis and Henefer have one female councilmember each.
• Kamas city council includes three women; Coalville has two female councilmembers.
• Park City, with the county’s only female mayor, has one woman among five councilmembers.
• In Wasatch County, Heber City and Midway councils each have one female member; Hideout has two women out of four councilmembers; Wallsburg has one female councilmember.
• Heber, Midway, and Wallsburg all have female mayors.

County Government Representation

Regarding county councils and commissions:

• Summit and Wasatch counties are among five counties with county councils instead of commissions.
• Summit County’s five councilmembers include two women; Wasatch County has one female among seven councilmembers.
• Statewide, women hold approximately one-third of county council seats and nearly 21% of county commissioner positions.

Women are more prevalent in other county elected offices:

• Over 62% of county clerk positions are held by women.
• Almost 66% of county treasurer seats are occupied by women.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The report’s findings emphasize the critical need to advance SDG 5: Gender Equality in Utah’s political landscape. Increasing women’s representation in elected offices aligns directly with achieving gender parity and empowering all women and girls.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Women’s active participation in local governance supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by promoting inclusive decision-making that addresses community priorities such as housing affordability and civic responsiveness.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Enhancing women’s engagement in political processes and volunteerism contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, fostering accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels of government.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Collaboration between organizations like the Utah Women in Leadership Project and community stakeholders exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Conclusion

The Utah Women in Leadership Project report highlights significant progress in women’s civic engagement through voting and volunteerism but underscores persistent gender disparities in political representation. Addressing these gaps is essential to fulfilling multiple Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on gender equality, inclusive governance, and sustainable communities. Strategic efforts to increase women’s participation in elected offices will enhance democratic representation and contribute to the social and economic well-being of Utah’s population.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article highlights issues related to women’s representation in elected offices and gender equality in political participation in Utah.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Discussion on women’s participation in city and county councils and local governance.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Focus on civic engagement, voter turnout, and volunteerism which are essential for inclusive and participatory decision-making.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Voter Turnout Rate
   • Utah women ranked 29 out of 51 for voter turnout in 2024, indicating measurement of political participation.
2. Representation of Women in Elected Offices
   • Percentage of women in state legislature (20%), city councils, county councils, and other elected positions.
   • Number of all-female vs. all-male city councils.
   • Presence or absence of female governors and U.S. Senate representatives.
3. Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
   • Hours volunteered and donation rates compared to other states.
   • Participation in official volunteer capacities.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: kpcw.org