SALT LAKE CITY-Per Wednesday news, Utah state legislators say Utah lieutenant governor Deirdre Henderson may not have followed state law when she allowed Celeste Maloy to appear on the special election ballot.

They also said it’s too late for traditional challenges to Maloy’s candidacy.

Monday, Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson of Kaysville released a letter from the state legislature questioning whether Maloy is eligible to run for office as a Republican because her voter registration lapsed at the time she filed.

Maloy has been the subject of scrutiny since winning a surprise victory in June’s GOP convention.

Federal law does not require congressional candidates be registered to vote but Utah law states an individual may not “file a declaration of candidacy for a registered political party of which the individual is not a member.”

Maloy filed as a candidate in a special election to replace the outgoing Chris Stewart who is resigning in September because of his wife’s ongoing health issues.

Maloy said she was not aware her voting registration had become inactive.

Henderson said her office noticed the discrepancy with Maloy’s registration and notified the candidate as a courtesy.

Maloy updated her registration a few days later before filing the necessary paperwork with the Utah Republican Party.

Henderson said state law permits Maloy to meet all lawful requirements and constitutional qualifications although her voting registration was marked as “removable” earlier this year.

Before she could accept Maloy’s declaration of candidacy, per lawmakers, Henderson first had to read Maloy “the constitutional and statutory qualification requirements for the office” she was seeking and require Maloy to determine if she met those requirements.

Henderson stated Maloy was read those rights and Maloy signed an affidavit confirming that she met them.

Utah state law does not require election officials to check for party registration or party affiliation, Henderson said.

Utah GOP Chairman Robert Axson said he will submit Maloy’s name as the convention winner and she will advance to a primary election. This is assuming other Republican candidates collect the  necessary signatures to qualify.

Wednesday is the dateline for parties to submit the names of their convention winners as well as the deadline for candidates to submit signatures in order to qualify for a primary ballot.