OGDEN – The Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service has awarded Cache County Clerk Bryson Behm its VOTE Certification in recognition of his commitment to running free, fair and secure elections.
That certification was presented to Behm during the Sept. 8 to 10 annual convention of the Utah Association of Counties in Layton.
That award signifies that Behm has completed the 10-course training program for election officials now mandated by Utah state law.
The education program is a joint effort by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Olene S. Walker Institute, housed at Weber State University.
The certification process includes courses covering election law, ballot design, workflows, data analytics, communication and security protocols designed to streamline the handling and counting of election ballots.
Behm has been serving as county clerk since April of 2024 and had previously served as deputy clerk under the administrations of County Clerks David Benson and Jess Bradfield.
A native of Ogden, Olene Smith Walker served as Utah’s first female governor from 2003 to 2005, following the resignation of Gov. Mike Leavitt. In that role, Walker spearheaded many important initiatives including educational programs, budget security measures, health care reform and workforce development.
The Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at WSU was founded in 2012 to foster public service and political engagement among students and the broader community.
The institute’s VOTE Certification program was created in June of 2021. Described as a “first-of-its-kind course” in Utah, the program is intended to provide foundational knowledge for election workers.