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First Substitute S.B. 19

Representative Kraig Powell proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLETS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

             5     
House Sponsor: Kraig Powell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions relating to voter information pamphlets.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    amends the dates by which information shall be submitted for the voter information
             13      pamphlet and;
             14          .    makes technical changes.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21          11-14-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 90 and 388
             22          20A-7-209, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 315
             23          20A-7-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 335
             24          20A-7-702, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 297
             25          20A-7-703, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 225


             26          20A-7-704, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 65
             27          20A-7-706, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 297
             28          20A-7-801, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 291 and 340
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 11-14-202 is amended to read:
             32           11-14-202. Notice of election -- Contents -- Publication -- Mailing.
             33          (1) The governing body shall ensure that notice of the election is provided:
             34          (a) once per week during three consecutive weeks by publication in a newspaper
             35      having general circulation in the local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             36      11-14-316 , the first publication occurring not less than 21 nor more than 35 days before the
             37      election;
             38          (b) on a website, if available, in accordance with Section 45-1-101 for the three weeks
             39      that immediately precede the election; and
             40          (c) in a local political subdivision where there is no newspaper of general circulation,
             41      by posting notice of the bond election in at least five public places in the local political
             42      subdivision at least 21 days before the election.
             43          (2) When the debt service on the bonds to be issued will increase the property tax
             44      imposed upon the average value of a residence by an amount that is greater than or equal to $15
             45      per year, the governing body shall prepare and mail a voter information pamphlet:
             46          (a) at least [seven] 15 days but not more than [30] 45 days before the bond election;
             47          (b) to each household containing a registered voter who is eligible to vote on the
             48      bonds; and
             49          (c) that includes the information required by Subsections (3) and (4).
             50          (3) The notice and voter information pamphlet required by this section shall include:
             51          (a) the date and place of the election;
             52          (b) the hours during which the polls will be open; and
             53          (c) the title and text of the ballot proposition.
             54          (4) The voter information pamphlet required by this section shall include:
             55          (a) the information required by Subsection (3); and
             56          (b) an explanation of the property tax impact, if any, of the issuance of the bonds,


             57      which may be based on information the governing body determines to be useful, including:
             58          (i) expected debt service on the bonds to be issued;
             59          (ii) a description of the purpose, remaining principal balance, and maturity date of any
             60      outstanding general obligation bonds of the issuer;
             61          (iii) funds other than property taxes available to pay debt service on general obligation
             62      bonds;
             63          (iv) timing of expenditures of bond proceeds;
             64          (v) property values; and
             65          (vi) any additional information that the governing body determines may be useful to
             66      explain the property tax impact of issuance of the bonds.
             67          (5) The governing body shall pay the costs associated with the notice required by this
             68      section.
             69          Section 2. Section 20A-7-209 is amended to read:
             70           20A-7-209. Ballot title -- Duties of lieutenant governor and Office of Legislative
             71      Research and General Counsel.
             72          (1) By [July 6] June 5 before the regular general election, the lieutenant governor shall
             73      deliver a copy of all of the proposed laws that have qualified for the ballot to the Office of
             74      Legislative Research and General Counsel.
             75          (2) (a) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall:
             76          (i) entitle each state initiative that has qualified for the ballot "Proposition Number __"
             77      and give it a number as assigned under Section 20A-6-107 ;
             78          (ii) prepare an impartial ballot title for each initiative summarizing the contents of the
             79      measure; and
             80          (iii) return each petition and ballot title to the lieutenant governor by [July 20] June 26.
             81          (b) The ballot title may be distinct from the title of the proposed law attached to the
             82      initiative petition, and shall be not more than 100 words.
             83          (c) For each state initiative, the official ballot shall show:
             84          (i) the number of the initiative as determined by the Office of Legislative Research and
             85      General Counsel;
             86          (ii) the ballot title as determined by the Office of Legislative Research and General
             87      Counsel; and


             88          (iii) the initial fiscal impact estimate prepared under Section 20A-7-202.5 or updated
             89      under Section 20A-7-204.1 .
             90          (3) By [July 21] June 27, the lieutenant governor shall mail a copy of the ballot title to
             91      any sponsor of the petition.
             92          (4) (a) (i) At least three of the sponsors of the petition may, by July [30] 6, challenge
             93      the wording of the ballot title prepared by the Office of Legislative Research and General
             94      Counsel to the Supreme Court.
             95          (ii) After receipt of the appeal, the Supreme Court shall direct the lieutenant governor
             96      to send notice of the appeal to:
             97          (A) any person or group that has filed an argument for or against the measure that is the
             98      subject of the challenge; or
             99          (B) any political issues committee established under Section 20A-11-801 that has filed
             100      written or electronic notice with the lieutenant governor that identifies the name, mailing or
             101      email address, and telephone number of the person designated to receive notice about any
             102      issues relating to the initiative.
             103          (b) (i) There is a presumption that the ballot title prepared by the Office of Legislative
             104      Research and General Counsel is an impartial summary of the contents of the initiative.
             105          (ii) The Supreme Court may not revise the wording of the ballot title unless the
             106      plaintiffs rebut the presumption by clearly and convincingly establishing that the ballot title is
             107      patently false or biased.
             108          (c) The Supreme Court shall:
             109          (i) examine the ballot title;
             110          (ii) hear arguments; and
             111          (iii) certify to the lieutenant governor a ballot title for the measure that meets the
             112      requirements of this section.
             113          (d) The lieutenant governor shall certify the title verified by the Supreme Court to the
             114      county clerks to be printed on the official ballot.
             115          Section 3. Section 20A-7-402 is amended to read:
             116           20A-7-402. Local voter information pamphlet -- Contents -- Limitations --
             117      Preparation -- Statement on front cover.
             118          (1) The county or municipality that is the subject of a ballot proposition shall prepare a


             119      local voter information pamphlet that meets the requirements of this part.
             120          (2) (a) The arguments for and against a ballot proposition shall conform to the
             121      requirements of this section.
             122          (i) To prepare arguments for or against a ballot proposition, a person shall file a request
             123      with the local legislative body at least [50] 65 days before the election at which the ballot
             124      proposition is to be voted upon.
             125          (ii) If more than one person requests the opportunity to prepare arguments for or
             126      against a ballot proposition, the governing body shall make the final designation according to
             127      the following criteria:
             128          (A) sponsors have priority in preparing an argument regarding a ballot proposition; and
             129          (B) members of the local legislative body have priority over others.
             130          (iii) (A) Except as provided by Subsection (2)(a)(iv), a sponsor of a ballot proposition
             131      may prepare an argument in favor of the ballot proposition.
             132          (B) Except as provided by Subsection (2)(a)(iv), a person opposed to the ballot
             133      proposition who submits a request under Subsection (2)(a)(i) may prepare an argument against
             134      the ballot proposition.
             135          (iv) (A) For a referendum, a person who is in favor of a law that is referred to the
             136      voters and who submits a request under Subsection (2)(a)(i) may prepare an argument for
             137      adoption of the law.
             138          (B) The sponsors of a referendum may prepare an argument against the adoption of a
             139      law that is referred to the voters.
             140          (v) The arguments may not:
             141          (A) exceed 500 words in length; or
             142          (B) list more than five names as sponsors.
             143          (vi) The arguments supporting and opposing any county or municipal ballot
             144      proposition shall be filed with the local clerk not less than [45] 50 days before the election at
             145      which they are to be voted upon.
             146          (b) The local voter information pamphlet shall include a copy of the initial fiscal
             147      impact estimate prepared for each initiative under Section 20A-7-502.5 .
             148          (3) (a) In preparing the local voter information pamphlet, the local legislative body
             149      shall:


             150          (i) ensure that the arguments are printed on the same sheet of paper upon which the
             151      ballot proposition is also printed;
             152          (ii) ensure that the following statement is printed on the front cover or the heading of
             153      the first page of the printed arguments:
             154          "The arguments for or against a ballot proposition are the opinions of the authors.";
             155          (iii) pay for the printing and binding of the local voter information pamphlet; and
             156          (iv) ensure that the local clerk distributes the pamphlets either by mail or carrier not
             157      less than [eight] 15 days but not more than 45 days before the election at which the ballot
             158      propositions are to be voted upon.
             159          (b) (i) If the proposed measure exceeds 500 words in length, the local legislative body
             160      may direct the local clerk to summarize the measure in 500 words or less.
             161          (ii) The summary shall state where a complete copy of the ballot proposition is
             162      available for public review.
             163          Section 4. Section 20A-7-702 is amended to read:
             164           20A-7-702. Voter information pamphlet -- Form -- Contents -- Distribution.
             165          (1) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that all information submitted for publication
             166      in the voter information pamphlet is:
             167          (a) printed and bound in a single pamphlet;
             168          (b) printed in clear readable type, no less than 10 point, except that the text of any
             169      measure may be set forth in eight-point type; and
             170          (c) printed on a quality and weight of paper that best serves the voters.
             171          (2) The voter information pamphlet shall contain the following items in this order:
             172          (a) a cover title page;
             173          (b) an introduction to the pamphlet by the lieutenant governor;
             174          (c) a table of contents;
             175          (d) a list of all candidates for constitutional offices;
             176          (e) a list of candidates for each legislative district;
             177          (f) a 100-word statement of qualifications for each candidate for the office of governor,
             178      lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, or state treasurer, if submitted by the
             179      candidate to the lieutenant governor's office before 5 p.m. on the date that falls 105 days before
             180      the date of the election;


             181          (g) information pertaining to all measures to be submitted to the voters, beginning a
             182      new page for each measure and containing, in the following order for each measure:
             183          (i) a copy of the number and ballot title of the measure;
             184          (ii) the final vote cast by the Legislature on the measure if it is a measure submitted by
             185      the Legislature or by referendum;
             186          (iii) the impartial analysis of the measure prepared by the Office of Legislative
             187      Research and General Counsel;
             188          (iv) the arguments in favor of the measure, the rebuttal to the arguments in favor of the
             189      measure, the arguments against the measure, and the rebuttal to the arguments against the
             190      measure, with the name and title of the authors at the end of each argument or rebuttal;
             191          (v) for each constitutional amendment, a complete copy of the text of the constitutional
             192      amendment, with all new language underlined, and all deleted language placed within brackets;
             193          (vi) for each initiative qualified for the ballot, a copy of the measure as certified by the
             194      lieutenant governor and a copy of the fiscal impact estimate prepared according to Section
             195      20A-7-202.5 ; and
             196          (vii) for each referendum qualified for the ballot, a complete copy of the text of the law
             197      being submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, with all new language underlined
             198      and all deleted language placed within brackets, as applicable;
             199          (h) a description provided by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission of the
             200      selection and retention process for judges, including, in the following order:
             201          (i) a description of the judicial selection process;
             202          (ii) a description of the judicial performance evaluation process;
             203          (iii) a description of the judicial retention election process;
             204          (iv) a list of the criteria of the judicial performance evaluation and the minimum
             205      performance standards;
             206          (v) the names of the judges standing for retention election; and
             207          (vi) for each judge:
             208          (A) a list of the counties in which the judge is subject to retention election;
             209          (B) a short biography of professional qualifications and a recent photograph;
             210          (C) for each standard of performance, a statement identifying whether or not the judge
             211      met the standard and, if not, the manner in which the judge failed to meet the standard;


             212          (D) a statement provided by the Utah Supreme Court identifying the cumulative
             213      number of informal reprimands, when consented to by the judge in accordance with Title 78A,
             214      Chapter 11, Judicial Conduct Commission, formal reprimands, and all orders of censure and
             215      suspension issued by the Utah Supreme Court under Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 13
             216      during the judge's current term and the immediately preceding term, and a detailed summary of
             217      the supporting reasons for each violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct that the judge has
             218      received;
             219          (E) a statement identifying whether or not the Judicial Performance Evaluation
             220      Commission recommends the judge be retained or declines to make a recommendation; and
             221          (F) any statement provided by a judge who is not recommended for retention by the
             222      Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission under Section 78A-12-203 ;
             223          (vii) for each judge, in a bar graph, the average of responses to each survey category,
             224      displayed with an identification of the minimum acceptable score as set by Section 78A-12-205
             225      and the average score of all judges of the same court level; and
             226          (viii) a website address that contains the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission's
             227      report on the judge's performance evaluation;
             228          (i) an explanation of ballot marking procedures prepared by the lieutenant governor,
             229      indicating the ballot marking procedure used by each county and explaining how to mark the
             230      ballot for each procedure;
             231          (j) voter registration information, including information on how to obtain an absentee
             232      ballot;
             233          (k) a list of all county clerks' offices and phone numbers; and
             234          (l) on the back cover page, a printed copy of the following statement signed by the
             235      lieutenant governor:
             236          "I, _______________ (print name), Lieutenant Governor of Utah, certify that the
             237      measures contained in this pamphlet will be submitted to the voters of Utah at the election to
             238      be held throughout the state on ____ (date of election), and that this pamphlet is complete and
             239      correct according to law. SEAL
             240          Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at Salt Lake City, Utah this ____ day
             241      of ____ (month), ____ (year)
             242     
(signed) ____________________________________


             243     
Lieutenant Governor"

             244          (3) No earlier than [40] 75 days, and no later than 15 days, before the day on which
             245      voting commences, the lieutenant governor shall:
             246          (a) (i) distribute one copy of the voter information pamphlet to each household within
             247      the state; or
             248          (ii) ensure that one copy of the voter information pamphlet is placed in one issue of
             249      every newspaper of general circulation in the state;
             250          (b) ensure that a sufficient number of printed voter information pamphlets are available
             251      for distribution as required by this section;
             252          (c) provide voter information pamphlets to each county clerk for free distribution upon
             253      request and for placement at polling places; and
             254          (d) ensure that the distribution of the voter information pamphlets is completed 15 days
             255      before the election.
             256          Section 5. Section 20A-7-703 is amended to read:
             257           20A-7-703. Impartial analysis of measure -- Determination of fiscal effects.
             258          (1) The director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, after the
             259      approval of the legislative general counsel as to legal sufficiency, shall:
             260          (a) prepare an impartial analysis of each measure submitted to the voters by the
             261      Legislature or by initiative or referendum petition; and
             262          (b) submit the impartial analysis to the lieutenant governor no later than the day that
             263      falls [75] 90 days before the date of the election in which the measure will appear on the ballot.
             264          (2) The director shall ensure that the impartial analysis:
             265          (a) is not more than 1,000 words long;
             266          (b) is prepared in clear and concise language that will easily be understood by the
             267      average voter;
             268          (c) avoids the use of technical terms as much as possible;
             269          (d) shows the effect of the measure on existing law;
             270          (e) identifies any potential conflicts with the United States or Utah Constitutions raised
             271      by the measure;
             272          (f) fairly describes the operation of the measure;
             273          (g) identifies the measure's fiscal effects for the first full year of implementation and


             274      the first year when the last provisions to be implemented are fully effective; and
             275          (h) identifies the amount of any increase or decrease in revenue or cost to state or local
             276      government.
             277          (3) The director shall analyze the measure as it is proposed to be adopted without
             278      considering any implementing legislation, unless the implementing legislation has been enacted
             279      and will become effective upon the adoption of the measure by the voters.
             280          (4) (a) In determining the fiscal effects of a measure, the director shall confer with the
             281      legislative fiscal analyst.
             282          (b) The director shall consider any measure that requires implementing legislation in
             283      order to take effect to have no financial effect, unless implementing legislation has been
             284      enacted that will become effective upon adoption of the measure by the voters.
             285          (5) If the director requests the assistance of any state department, agency, or official in
             286      preparing his analysis, that department, agency, or official shall assist the director.
             287          Section 6. Section 20A-7-704 is amended to read:
             288           20A-7-704. Initiative measures -- Arguments for and against -- Voters' requests
             289      for argument -- Ballot arguments.
             290          (1) (a) (i) (A) By [August] July 10 of the regular general election year, the sponsors of
             291      any initiative petition that has been declared sufficient by the lieutenant governor may deliver
             292      to the lieutenant governor an argument for the adoption of the measure.
             293          (B) If two or more sponsors wish to submit arguments for the measure, the lieutenant
             294      governor shall designate one of them to submit the argument for his side of the measure.
             295          (ii) (A) Any member of the Legislature may request permission to submit an argument
             296      against the adoption of the measure.
             297          (B) If two or more legislators wish to submit an argument against the measure, the
             298      presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives shall jointly designate one of
             299      them to submit the argument to the lieutenant governor.
             300          (b) The sponsors and the legislators submitting arguments shall ensure that each
             301      argument:
             302          (i) does not exceed 500 words in length; and
             303          (ii) is delivered by [August] July 10.
             304          (2) (a) (i) If an argument for or against a measure to be submitted to the voters by


             305      initiative petition has not been filed within the time required by Subsection (1), any voter may
             306      request the lieutenant governor for permission to prepare an argument for the side on which no
             307      argument has been prepared.
             308          (ii) If two or more voters request permission to submit arguments on the same side of a
             309      measure, the lieutenant governor shall designate one of the voters to write the argument.
             310          (b) Any argument prepared under this subsection shall be submitted to the lieutenant
             311      governor by [August] July 20.
             312          (3) The lieutenant governor may not accept a ballot argument submitted under this
             313      section unless it is accompanied by:
             314          (a) the name and address of the person submitting it, if it is submitted by an individual
             315      voter; or
             316          (b) the name and address of the organization and the names and addresses of at least
             317      two of its principal officers, if it is submitted on behalf of an organization.
             318          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c), the authors may not amend or change
             319      the arguments after they are submitted to the lieutenant governor.
             320          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c), the lieutenant governor may not alter the
             321      arguments in any way.
             322          (c) The lieutenant governor and the authors of an argument may jointly modify an
             323      argument after it is submitted if:
             324          (i) they jointly agree that changes to the argument must be made to correct spelling or
             325      grammatical errors; and
             326          (ii) the argument has not yet been submitted for typesetting.
             327          Section 7. Section 20A-7-706 is amended to read:
             328           20A-7-706. Copies of arguments to be sent to opposing authors -- Rebuttal
             329      arguments.
             330          (1) When the lieutenant governor has received the arguments for and against a measure
             331      to be submitted to the voters, the lieutenant governor shall immediately send copies of the
             332      arguments in favor of the measure to the authors of the arguments against and copies of the
             333      arguments against to the authors of the arguments in favor.
             334          (2) The authors may prepare and submit rebuttal arguments not exceeding 250 words.
             335          (3) (a) The rebuttal arguments shall be filed with the lieutenant governor:


             336          (i) for constitutional amendments and referendum petitions, not later than the day that
             337      falls 120 days before the date of the election; and
             338          (ii) for initiatives, not later than [August] July 30.
             339          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(d), the authors may not amend or change the
             340      rebuttal arguments after they are submitted to the lieutenant governor.
             341          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(d), the lieutenant governor may not alter the
             342      arguments in any way.
             343          (d) The lieutenant governor and the authors of a rebuttal argument may jointly modify
             344      a rebuttal argument after it is submitted if:
             345          (i) they jointly agree that changes to the rebuttal argument must be made to correct
             346      spelling or grammatical errors; and
             347          (ii) the rebuttal argument has not yet been submitted for typesetting.
             348          (4) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that:
             349          (a) rebuttal arguments are printed in the same manner as the direct arguments; and
             350          (b) each rebuttal argument follows immediately after the direct argument which it
             351      seeks to rebut.
             352          Section 8. Section 20A-7-801 is amended to read:
             353           20A-7-801. Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program -- Duties of
             354      the lieutenant governor -- Content -- Duties of local election officials -- Deadlines --
             355      Frequently asked voter questions -- Other elections.
             356          (1) There is established the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program
             357      administered by the lieutenant governor in cooperation with the county clerks for general
             358      elections and municipal authorities for municipal elections.
             359          (2) In accordance with this section, and as resources become available, the lieutenant
             360      governor, in cooperation with county clerks, shall develop, establish, and maintain a
             361      state-provided Internet website designed to help inform the voters of the state of:
             362          (a) the offices and candidates up for election; and
             363          (b) the content, effect, operation, fiscal impact, and supporting and opposing arguments
             364      of ballot propositions submitted to the voters.
             365          (3) Except as provided under Subsection (6), the website shall include:
             366          (a) all information currently provided in the Utah voter information pamphlet under


             367      Title 20A, Chapter 7, Part 7, Voter Information Pamphlet, including a section prepared,
             368      analyzed, and submitted by the Judicial Council describing the judicial selection and retention
             369      process;
             370          (b) all information submitted by election officers under Subsection (4) on local office
             371      races, local office candidates, and local ballot propositions;
             372          (c) a list that contains the name of a political subdivision that operates an election day
             373      voting center under Section 20A-3-703 and the location of the election day voting center; and
             374          (d) other information determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor that is
             375      currently being provided by law, rule, or ordinance in relation to candidates and ballot
             376      questions.
             377          (4) (a) An election official shall submit the following information for each ballot label
             378      under the election official's direct responsibility under this title:
             379          (i) a list of all candidates for each office;
             380          (ii) if submitted by the candidate to the election official's office [on or before August
             381      20 at 5 p.m.] at 5 p.m. at least 45 days before the primary election and 60 days before the
             382      general election:
             383          (A) a statement of qualifications, not exceeding 200 words in length, for each
             384      candidate;
             385          (B) the following biographical information if desired by the candidate, current:
             386          (I) age;
             387          (II) occupation;
             388          (III) city of residence;
             389          (IV) years of residence in current city; and
             390          (V) email address; and
             391          (C) a single web address where voters may access more information about the
             392      candidate and the candidate's views; and
             393          (iii) factual information pertaining to all ballot propositions submitted to the voters,
             394      including:
             395          (A) a copy of the number and ballot title of each ballot proposition;
             396          (B) the final vote cast for each ballot proposition, if any, by a legislative body if the
             397      vote was required to place the ballot proposition on the ballot;


             398          (C) a complete copy of the text of each ballot proposition, with all new language
             399      underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets; and
             400          (D) other factual information determined helpful by the election official.
             401          (b) The information under Subsection (4)(a) shall be submitted to the lieutenant
             402      governor no later than one business day after the deadline under Subsection (4)(a) for each
             403      general election year and each municipal election year.
             404          (c) The lieutenant governor shall:
             405          (i) review the information submitted under this section prior to placing it on the
             406      website to determine compliance under this section;
             407          (ii) refuse to post information submitted under this section on the website if it is not in
             408      compliance with the provisions of this section; and
             409          (iii) organize, format, and arrange the information submitted under this section for the
             410      website.
             411          (d) The lieutenant governor may refuse to include information the lieutenant governor
             412      determines is not in keeping with:
             413          (i) Utah voter needs;
             414          (ii) public decency; or
             415          (iii) the purposes, organization, or uniformity of the website.
             416          (e) A refusal under Subsection (4)(d) is subject to appeal in accordance with
             417      Subsection (5).
             418          (5) (a) A person whose information is refused under Subsection (4), and who is
             419      aggrieved by the determination, may appeal by submitting a written notice of appeal to the
             420      lieutenant governor within 10 business days after the date of the determination. A notice of
             421      appeal submitted under this Subsection (5)(a) shall contain:
             422          (i) a listing of each objection to the lieutenant governor's determination; and
             423          (ii) the basis for each objection.
             424          (b) The lieutenant governor shall review the notice of appeal and shall issue a written
             425      response within 10 business days after the notice of appeal is submitted.
             426          (c) An appeal of the response of the lieutenant governor shall be made to the district
             427      court, which shall review the matter de novo.
             428          (6) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that each voter will be able to conveniently


             429      enter the voter's address information on the website to retrieve information on which offices,
             430      candidates, and ballot propositions will be on the voter's ballot at the next general election or
             431      municipal election.
             432          (b) The information on the website will anticipate and answer frequent voter questions
             433      including the following:
             434          (i) what offices are up in the current year for which the voter may cast a vote;
             435          (ii) who is running for what office and who is the incumbent, if any;
             436          (iii) what address each candidate may be reached at and how the candidate may be
             437      contacted;
             438          (iv) for partisan races only, what, if any, is each candidate's party affiliation;
             439          (v) what qualifications have been submitted by each candidate;
             440          (vi) where additional information on each candidate may be obtained;
             441          (vii) what ballot propositions will be on the ballot; and
             442          (viii) what judges are up for retention election.
             443          [(7) By not later than March 1, 2008, the lieutenant governor shall have the Statewide
             444      Electronic Voter Information Website Program ready for use in the next election in accordance
             445      with this section.]
             446          [(8)] (7) As resources are made available and in cooperation with the county clerks, the
             447      lieutenant governor may expand the electronic voter information website program to include
             448      the same information as provided under this section for special elections and primary elections.


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