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H.B. 130

             1     

ELECTION DAY VOTING CENTERS

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends the Election Code to authorize an election officer to operate an
             10      election day voting center.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    authorizes an election officer to operate a voting center at which a voter residing
             15      within the political subdivision may vote on election day;
             16          .    provides requirements for election day voting centers;
             17          .    requires a voter at an election day voting center to use a ballot that is retrievable if
             18      the voting center is not designated as a polling place for the voter's precinct;
             19          .    requires notice of an election day voting center location;
             20          .    requires the lieutenant governor to report to an interim committee;
             21          .    sets a repeal date for the reporting requirement to the interim committee; and
             22          .    makes technical changes.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             28      AMENDS:
             29          20A-4-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 197
             30          20A-5-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 388
             31          20A-7-801, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 83
             32          63I-2-220, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 148 and renumbered and
             33      amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             34      ENACTS:
             35          20A-3-701, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          20A-3-702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          20A-3-703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          20A-3-704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39     
             40      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             41          Section 1. Section 20A-3-701 is enacted to read:
             42     
Part 7. Election Day Voting Center

             43          20A-3-701. Definition.
             44          As used in this part:
             45          (1) "Election day voting center" means a polling place designated by an election officer
             46      to provide for voting on election day for a person who:
             47          (a) is eligible to vote; and
             48          (b) resides within the political subdivision holding the election.
             49          (2) "Voting center ballot" means a regular ballot that:
             50          (a) is provided at an election day voting center; and
             51          (b) may be retrieved by the election official during the canvass if the voter cast a ballot
             52      at another location or before election day.
             53          Section 2. Section 20A-3-702 is enacted to read:
             54          20A-3-702. Election day voting center -- Hours of operations -- Compliance with
             55      Election Code.
             56          (1) An election officer may operate an election day voting center in one or more
             57      locations designated under Section 20A-3-703 .
             58          (2) An election officer shall provide for voting at an election day voting center by:


             59          (a) regular ballot if:
             60          (i) the election day voting center is designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the polling
             61      place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides; and
             62          (ii) the voter is eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this title;
             63          (b) voting center ballot if:
             64          (i) the election day voting center is not designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the
             65      polling place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides;
             66          (ii) the voter resides within the political subdivision holding the election; and
             67          (iii) the voter is otherwise eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this
             68      title; or
             69          (c) provisional ballot if the voter is only eligible to vote using a provisional ballot in
             70      accordance with this title.
             71          (3) An election officer shall ensure that an election day voting center:
             72          (a) is open on election day during the time period specified under Section 20A-1-302 ;
             73          (b) allows an eligible voter to vote if the voter:
             74          (i) resides within the political subdivision holding an election; and
             75          (ii) arrives at the election day voting center by the designated closing time in
             76      accordance with Section 20A-1-302 ; and
             77          (c) is administered according to the requirements of this title.
             78          Section 3. Section 20A-3-703 is enacted to read:
             79          20A-3-703. Election day voting centers as polling places -- Location --
             80      Notification.
             81          The election officer may designate one or more polling places as an election day voting
             82      center if:
             83          (1) the election officer notifies the lieutenant governor of the designation and location
             84      of an election day voting center at least 15 days before the election;
             85          (2) a polling place meets the requirements for a polling place under Chapter 5, Election
             86      Administration; and
             87          (3) a polling place is located in a government building or office, unless the election
             88      officer determines that there is no government building or office available, in the area
             89      designated by the election officer, that:


             90          (a) can be scheduled for use during election day voting hours;
             91          (b) has the physical facilities necessary to accommodate election day voting
             92      requirements;
             93          (c) has adequate space for voting equipment, poll workers, and voters; and
             94          (d) has adequate security, public accessibility, and parking.
             95          Section 4. Section 20A-3-704 is enacted to read:
             96          20A-3-704. Report by election officer.
             97          (1) An election officer who operates an election day voting center shall provide the
             98      lieutenant governor with the information described in Subsection (2) for the election officer's
             99      political subdivision.
             100          (2) The lieutenant governor shall report to the Government Operations Interim
             101      Committee on:
             102          (a) the number of election day voting centers available;
             103          (b) the number of voting center ballots cast at an election day voting center;
             104          (c) the number of voting center ballots not counted because the voter cast a ballot at
             105      another location or before election day; and
             106          (d) any recommendations for amendments to this part.
             107          (3) The lieutenant governor and an election officer described in this section shall report
             108      on the use of an election day voting center during the previous general election before:
             109          (a) November 1, 2013; and
             110          (b) November 1, 2015.
             111          Section 5. Section 20A-4-107 is amended to read:
             112           20A-4-107. Review and disposition of provisional ballot envelopes.
             113          (1) As used in this section, a voter is "legally entitled to vote" if:
             114          (a) the voter:
             115          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             116          [(ii) resides within the voting precinct where the voter seeks to vote; and]
             117          (ii) votes the ballot for the voting precinct in which the voter resides; and
             118          (iii) provided valid voter identification to the poll worker [as indicated by a notation in
             119      the official register];
             120          (b) the voter:


             121          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             122          (ii) (A) provided valid voter identification to the poll worker [as indicated by a notation
             123      in the official register]; or
             124          (B) either failed to provide valid voter identification or the documents provided as
             125      valid voter identification were inadequate and the poll worker recorded that fact in the official
             126      register but the county clerk verifies the voter's identity and residence through some other
             127      means; and
             128          (iii) did not vote in the voter's precinct of residence, but the ballot that the voter voted
             129      is identical to the ballot voted in the voter's precinct of residence; or
             130          (c) the voter:
             131          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             132          (ii) either failed to provide valid voter identification or the documents provided as
             133      valid voter identification were inadequate and the poll worker recorded that fact in the official
             134      register; and
             135          (iii) (A) the county clerk verifies the voter's identity and residence through some other
             136      means as reliable as photo identification; or
             137          (B) the voter provides valid voter identification to the county clerk or an election
             138      officer who is administering the election by the close of normal office hours on Monday after
             139      the date of the election.
             140          (2) (a) Upon receipt of provisional ballot envelopes, the election officer shall review
             141      the affirmation on the face of each provisional ballot envelope and determine if the person
             142      signing the affirmation is a registered voter and legally entitled to vote the ballot that the voter
             143      voted.
             144          (b) If the election officer determines that the person is not a registered voter or is not
             145      legally entitled to vote the ballot that the voter voted, the election officer shall retain the ballot
             146      envelope, unopened, for the period specified in Section 20A-4-202 unless ordered by a court to
             147      produce or count it.
             148          (c) If the election officer determines that the person is a registered voter and is legally
             149      entitled to vote the ballot that the voter voted, the election officer shall remove the ballot from
             150      the provisional ballot envelope and place the ballot with the absentee ballots to be counted with
             151      those ballots at the canvass.


             152          (d) The election officer may not count, or allow to be counted a provisional ballot
             153      unless the voter's identity and residence is established by a preponderance of the evidence.
             154          (3) If the election officer determines that the person is a registered voter, the election
             155      officer shall ensure that the voter registration records are updated to reflect the information
             156      provided on the provisional ballot envelope.
             157          (4) If the election officer determines that the person is not a registered voter and the
             158      information on the provisional ballot envelope is complete, the election officer shall:
             159          (a) consider the provisional ballot envelope a voter registration form; and
             160          (b) register the voter.
             161          Section 6. Section 20A-5-101 is amended to read:
             162           20A-5-101. Notice of election.
             163          (1) On or before February 1 in each regular general election year, the lieutenant
             164      governor shall prepare and transmit a written notice to each county clerk that:
             165          (a) designates the offices to be filled at the regular general election;
             166          (b) identifies the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices; and
             167          (c) contains a description of any ballot propositions to be decided by the voters that
             168      have qualified for the ballot as of that date.
             169          (2) (a) No later than February 15, each county clerk shall:
             170          (i) publish a notice:
             171          (A) once in a newspaper published in that county; and
             172          (B) as required in Section 45-1-101 ; or
             173          (ii) (A) cause a copy of the notice to be posted in a conspicuous place most likely to
             174      give notice of the election to the voters in each voting precinct within the county; and
             175          (B) prepare an affidavit of that posting, showing a copy of the notice and the places
             176      where the notice was posted.
             177          (b) The notice required by Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             178          (i) designate the offices to be voted on in that election in that county, other than local
             179      district offices; and
             180          (ii) identify the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices.
             181          (3) Before each election, the election officer shall give written or printed notice of:
             182          (a) the date and place of election;


             183          (b) the hours during which the polls will be open;
             184          (c) the polling places for each voting precinct; [and]
             185          (d) an election day voting center designated under Section 20A-3-703 ; and
             186          [(d)] (e) the qualifications for persons to vote in the election.
             187          (4) To provide the notice required by Subsection (3), the election officer shall publish
             188      the notice at least two days before the election:
             189          (a) in a newspaper of general circulation common to the area or in which the election is
             190      being held; and
             191          (b) as required in Section 45-1-101 .
             192          Section 7. Section 20A-7-801 is amended to read:
             193           20A-7-801. Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program -- Duties of
             194      the lieutenant governor -- Content -- Duties of local election officials -- Deadlines --
             195      Frequently asked voter questions -- Other elections.
             196          (1) There is established the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program
             197      administered by the lieutenant governor in cooperation with the county clerks for general
             198      elections and municipal authorities for municipal elections.
             199          (2) In accordance with this section, and as resources become available, the lieutenant
             200      governor, in cooperation with county clerks, shall develop, establish, and maintain a
             201      state-provided Internet website designed to help inform the voters of the state of:
             202          (a) the offices and candidates up for election; and
             203          (b) the content, effect, operation, fiscal impact, and supporting and opposing arguments
             204      of ballot propositions submitted to the voters.
             205          (3) Except as provided under Subsection (6), the website shall include:
             206          (a) all information currently provided in the Utah voter information pamphlet under
             207      Title 20A, Chapter 7, Part 7, Voter Information Pamphlet, including a section prepared,
             208      analyzed, and submitted by the Judicial Council describing the judicial selection and retention
             209      process;
             210          (b) all information submitted by election officers under Subsection (4) on local office
             211      races, local office candidates, and local ballot propositions; [and]
             212          (c) a list that contains the name of a political subdivision that operates an election day
             213      voting center under Section 20A-3-703 and the location of the election day voting center; and


             214          [(c)] (d) other information determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor that is
             215      currently being provided by law, rule, or ordinance in relation to candidates and ballot
             216      questions.
             217          (4) (a) An election official shall submit the following information for each ballot label
             218      under the election official's direct responsibility under this title:
             219          (i) a list of all candidates for each office;
             220          (ii) if submitted by the candidate to the election official's office on or before August 20
             221      at 5 p.m.:
             222          (A) a statement of qualifications, not exceeding 200 words in length, for each
             223      candidate;
             224          (B) the following biographical information if desired by the candidate, current:
             225          (I) age;
             226          (II) occupation;
             227          (III) city of residence;
             228          (IV) years of residence in current city; and
             229          (V) email address; and
             230          (C) a single web address where voters may access more information about the
             231      candidate and the candidate's views; and
             232          (iii) factual information pertaining to all ballot propositions submitted to the voters,
             233      including:
             234          (A) a copy of the number and ballot title of each ballot proposition;
             235          (B) the final vote cast for each ballot proposition, if any, by a legislative body if the
             236      vote was required to place the ballot proposition on the ballot;
             237          (C) a complete copy of the text of each ballot proposition, with all new language
             238      underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets; and
             239          (D) other factual information determined helpful by the election official.
             240          (b) The information under Subsection (4)(a) shall be submitted to the lieutenant
             241      governor no later than one business day after the deadline under Subsection (4)(a) for each
             242      general election year and each municipal election year.
             243          (c) The lieutenant governor shall:
             244          (i) review the information submitted under this section prior to placing it on the


             245      website to determine compliance under this section;
             246          (ii) refuse to post information submitted under this section on the website if it is not in
             247      compliance with the provisions of this section; and
             248          (iii) organize, format, and arrange the information submitted under this section for the
             249      website.
             250          (d) The lieutenant governor may refuse to include information the lieutenant governor
             251      determines is not in keeping with:
             252          (i) Utah voter needs;
             253          (ii) public decency; or
             254          (iii) the purposes, organization, or uniformity of the website.
             255          (e) A refusal under Subsection (4)(d) is subject to appeal in accordance with
             256      Subsection (5).
             257          (5) (a) A person whose information is refused under Subsection (4), and who is
             258      aggrieved by the determination, may appeal by submitting a written notice of appeal to the
             259      lieutenant governor within 10 business days after the date of the determination. A notice of
             260      appeal submitted under this Subsection (5)(a) shall contain:
             261          (i) a listing of each objection to the lieutenant governor's determination; and
             262          (ii) the basis for each objection.
             263          (b) The lieutenant governor shall review the notice of appeal and shall issue a written
             264      response within 10 business days after the notice of appeal is submitted.
             265          (c) An appeal of the response of the lieutenant governor shall be made to the district
             266      court, which shall review the matter de novo.
             267          (6) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that each voter will be able to conveniently
             268      enter the voter's address information on the website to retrieve information on which offices,
             269      candidates, and ballot propositions will be on the voter's ballot at the next general election or
             270      municipal election.
             271          (b) The information on the website will anticipate and answer frequent voter questions
             272      including the following:
             273          (i) what offices are up in the current year for which the voter may cast a vote;
             274          (ii) who is running for what office and who is the incumbent, if any;
             275          (iii) what address each candidate may be reached at and how the candidate may be


             276      contacted;
             277          (iv) for partisan races only, what, if any, is each candidate's party affiliation;
             278          (v) what qualifications have been submitted by each candidate;
             279          (vi) where additional information on each candidate may be obtained;
             280          (vii) what ballot propositions will be on the ballot; and
             281          (viii) what judges are up for retention election.
             282          (7) By not later than March 1, 2008, the lieutenant governor shall have the Statewide
             283      Electronic Voter Information Website Program ready for use in the next election in accordance
             284      with this section.
             285          (8) As resources are made available and in cooperation with the county clerks, the
             286      lieutenant governor may expand the electronic voter information website program to include
             287      the same information as provided under this section for special elections and primary elections.
             288          Section 8. Section 63I-2-220 is amended to read:
             289           63I-2-220. Repeal dates, Title 20A.
             290          (1) Section 20A-2-107.5 is repealed July 1, 2013.
             291          (2) Section 20A-3-704 is repealed January 1, 2016.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-14-11 2:45 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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