Cox condemns lies undermining voting system, calls for unity

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called for keeping children in school during the coronavirus pandemic, warned against making voting more difficult and lamented destructive political divisions during his State of the State address Thursday. The Republican governor said that he sees some hope that a punishing wave of the omicron variant of the virus is peaking and called for common ground to help kids stay in school. Utah Democrats, in their response, espoused masks, social distancing and testing protocols. On elections, he called for strengthening election security without making it harder for people to vote, and condemned unsubstantiated claims and flat-out lies about election systems.