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A ballot drop box sign is pictured Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi is shown.

Courtesy Provo City

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Provo mayoral candidate Marsha Judkins is pictured in an undated photo.

Courtesy Marsha Judkins

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Brian Torres, of Provo, votes in the 2025 municipal general election Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at CenterPoint Church in Orem.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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A wave of last-minute ballot submissions and thin voting margins kept the unofficial results of several key races in Utah County’s 2025 municipal general election undecided into Wednesday afternoon.

County Clerk Aaron Davidson said the county received just over 67,000 ballots through Monday evening and an additional 51,000 ballots on Election Day, leaving 30,000 ballots still to process as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. A large results update was expected to be released at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“We just didn’t know what to anticipate,” Davidson said. “And we’re kind of realizing Utah County voters like to wait until the last day or two. … We still have 30,000 ballots to count. So these races may be tight now. They may not be when we’re done, or they could be tighter.”

As of the Daily Herald’s print deadline for Thursday’s paper, 4,169 Provo ballots were still being processed, and the Provo mayoral race was too close to call, as incumbent Michelle Kaufusi led challenger Marsha Judkins 6,149 votes (50.67%) to 5,987 votes (49.33%) for just a 162-vote difference.

The race holds major implications for Utah County’s largest city and county seat. Kaufusi said she has big plans for a third term, as she looks to continue developing the Provo Airport, Epic Sports Park and the surrounding area, and to find new solutions to solve the housing crisis. Judkins, a former state representative said she wants to increase sales tax revenue, improve traffic and build more starter homes in the city.

“I’m just really interested to see the final results,” Judkins told the Daily Herald on Wednesday. “We did do a really strong ‘get out to vote’ effort on Monday and Tuesday. I have such amazing, dedicated volunteers, and they spent hours on those days texting, calling, knocking on doors. I know that effort has to have paid off, so I’m really curious to see the end results, and no matter how this comes out, whether I win or lose, it’s been an amazing experience to just work with this team of support and volunteers.”

Kaufusi did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Tight Provo contests extended beyond the mayoral race. In the Provo City Council District 2 race, Jeff Whitlock led challenger Hannah Petersen with 1,347 votes (50.13%) to 1,340 votes (49.87%), for a seven-vote difference.

Victory is expected for Katrice Mackay in City Council City Wide Seat 1, as she led Adam Shin with 61% to 38% of the vote, and for Rachel Whipple in City Council District 5, with 67% to 33% of the vote.

In the Orem mayoral race, challenger Karen McCandless held a 752-vote lead over incumbent Dave Young, with 6,987 votes (52.84%) to 6,235 votes (47.16%).

The race for Orem’s three city council seats was closer, as 4,360 ballots remained in process Wednesday afternoon.

The three Stronger Together-endorsed candidates led, with Quinn Mecham holding 17.90% of the vote, Doyle Mortimer receiving 16.92% and Angela Moulton holding 16.38%. However, Stand for Orem-endorsed candidates were close behind, with incumbent LaNae Millett receiving 16.37% of the vote, Crystal Muhlestien holding 16.21% and incumbent David Spencer holding 15.95%.

In other city mayoral races with close margins, Paul Binns led Paige Albrecht with 4,096 votes (52.07%) to 3,770 votes (47.93); however, 6,968 Lehi ballots remained in process Wednesday afternoon.

With 3,548 ballots still in process in Eagle Mountain, Jared R. Gray led Melissa Clark in the Eagle Mountain mayoral race with 2,692 votes (52.55%) to 2,431 votes (47.45%).