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Second Substitute H.B. 91

Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
VOTER REGISTRATION - ELECTION DAY VOTER

             2     
REGISTRATION

             3     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends Title 20A, Election Code, to permit election day voter registration.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    permits a person to register to vote on election day if:
             14              .    the person is otherwise eligible to vote;
             15              .    the ballot that the person voted is identical to the ballot for the precinct in which
             16      the person resides;
             17              .    the information on the ballot is complete; and
             18              .    the person provides valid voter identification and proof of residence to the poll
             19      worker; and
             20          .    makes technical changes.
             21      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             26      AMENDS:
             27          20A-2-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 34
             28          20A-2-102.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 17, 297, and 327
             29          20A-2-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 225 and 276
             30          20A-2-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 45
             31          20A-2-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapters 264 and 326
             32          20A-2-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 251
             33          20A-2-206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             34          20A-2-307, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 34
             35          20A-4-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 291, 335 and last
             36      amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 291
             37     
             38      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             39          Section 1. Section 20A-2-102 is amended to read:
             40           20A-2-102. Registration a prerequisite to voting.
             41          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person may not vote at any election unless
             42      that person is registered to vote as required by this chapter.
             43          (2) A person may vote a provisional ballot for an election as provided in Section
             44      20A-2-307 [for:].
             45          [(a) a regular general election;]
             46          [(b) a regular primary election; or]
             47          [(c) an election for federal office.]
             48          Section 2. Section 20A-2-102.5 is amended to read:
             49           20A-2-102.5. Voter registration deadline.
             50          (1) Except as provided in [Sections] Section 20A-2-201 [and], 20A-2-206 [and], or
             51      20A-2-207 , or Chapter 16, Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act, a person who fails to
             52      submit a correctly completed voter registration form on or before the voter registration deadline
             53      may not be permitted to vote in the election.
             54          (2) The voter registration deadline shall be the date that is 30 calendar days before the
             55      date of the election.
             56          Section 3. Section 20A-2-201 is amended to read:


             57           20A-2-201. Registering to vote at office of county clerk.
             58          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), the county clerk shall register to vote all
             59      persons who present themselves for registration at the county clerk's office during designated
             60      office hours if those persons, on the date of the election, will be legally eligible to vote in a
             61      voting precinct in the county in accordance with Section 20A-2-101 .
             62          (2) If a registration form is submitted in person at the office of the county clerk during
             63      the period beginning on the date after the voter registration deadline and ending on the date that
             64      is 15 calendar days before the date of the election, the county clerk shall:
             65          (a) accept registration forms from all persons who present themselves for registration at
             66      the clerk's office during designated office hours if those persons, on the date of the election,
             67      will be legally qualified and entitled to vote in a voting precinct in the county; and
             68          (b) inform them that:
             69          (i) they will be registered to vote in the pending election; and
             70          (ii) for the pending election, they must vote on the day of the election and will not be
             71      eligible to vote using early voting under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early Voting, because they
             72      registered too late.
             73          (3) If a registration form is submitted to the county clerk in person on the date of the
             74      election or during the 14 calendar days before an election, the county clerk shall:
             75          [(a) accept registration forms from all persons who present themselves for registration
             76      at the clerk's office during designated office hours if those persons,]
             77          (a) if the person desires to vote in the pending election, inform the person that the
             78      person must, on election day, register to vote by casting a provisional ballot in accordance with
             79      Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b); or
             80          (b) if the person does not desire to vote in the pending election:
             81          (i) accept a registration form from the person if, on the date of the election, the person
             82      will be legally qualified and entitled to vote in a voting precinct in the county; and
             83          [(b)] (ii) inform [them] the person that [they] the person will be registered to vote but
             84      may not vote in the pending election because [they] the person registered too late and chose not
             85      to register and vote as described in Subsection (3)(a).
             86          Section 4. Section 20A-2-202 is amended to read:
             87           20A-2-202. Registration by mail.


             88          (1) (a) A citizen who will be qualified to vote at the next election may register by mail.
             89          (b) To register by mail, a citizen shall complete and sign the by-mail registration form
             90      and mail or deliver it to the county clerk of the county in which the citizen resides.
             91          (c) In order to register to vote in a particular election, the citizen shall:
             92          (i) address the by-mail voter registration form to the county clerk; and
             93          (ii) ensure that it is postmarked on or before the voter registration deadline.
             94          (d) The citizen has effectively registered to vote under this section only when the
             95      county clerk's office has received a correctly completed by-mail voter registration form.
             96          (2) Upon receipt of a correctly completed by-mail voter registration form, the county
             97      clerk shall:
             98          (a) enter the applicant's name on the list of registered voters for the voting precinct in
             99      which the applicant resides; and
             100          (b) mail confirmation of registration to the newly registered voter after entering the
             101      applicant's voting precinct number on that copy.
             102          (3) (a) If the county clerk receives a correctly completed by-mail voter registration
             103      form that is postmarked after the voter registration deadline, the county clerk shall:
             104          (i) unless the applicant registers on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             105      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b), register the applicant after the next election; and
             106          (ii) if possible, promptly phone or mail a notice to the applicant before the election,
             107      informing the applicant that [his]:
             108          (A) the applicant's registration will not be effective until after the election[.]; and
             109          (B) the applicant may register to vote on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             110      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b).
             111          (b) When the county clerk receives a correctly completed by-mail voter registration
             112      form at least seven days before an election that is postmarked on or before the date of the voter
             113      registration deadline, the county clerk shall:
             114          (i) process the by-mail voter registration form; and
             115          (ii) record the new voter in the official register.
             116          (4) If the county clerk determines that a registration form received by mail or otherwise
             117      is incorrect because of an error or because it is incomplete, the county clerk shall mail notice to
             118      the person attempting to register, [informing him that he] stating that the person has not been


             119      registered because of an error or because the form is incomplete.
             120          Section 5. Section 20A-2-204 is amended to read:
             121           20A-2-204. Registering to vote when applying for or renewing a driver license.
             122          (1) As used in this section, "voter registration form" means the driver license
             123      application/voter registration form and the driver license renewal/voter registration form
             124      required by Section 20A-2-108 .
             125          (2) Any citizen who is qualified to vote may register to vote by completing the voter
             126      registration form.
             127          (3) The Driver License Division shall:
             128          (a) assist applicants in completing the voter registration form unless the applicant
             129      refuses assistance;
             130          (b) accept completed forms for transmittal to the appropriate election official;
             131          (c) transmit a copy of each voter registration form to the appropriate election official
             132      within five days after it is received by the division;
             133          (d) transmit each address change within five days after it is received by the division;
             134      and
             135          (e) transmit electronically to the lieutenant governor's office the name, address, birth
             136      date, and driver license number of each person who answers "yes" to the question on the driver
             137      license form about registering to vote.
             138          (4) Upon receipt of a correctly completed voter registration form, the county clerk
             139      shall:
             140          (a) enter the applicant's name on the list of registered voters for the voting precinct in
             141      which the applicant resides; and
             142          (b) notify the applicant of registration.
             143          (5) (a) If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form that is
             144      dated after the voter registration deadline, the county clerk shall:
             145          (i) unless the applicant registers to vote on election day by casting a provisional ballot
             146      in accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b), register the applicant after the next election;
             147      and
             148          (ii) if possible, promptly phone or mail a notice to the applicant before the election,
             149      informing the applicant that [his]:


             150          (A) the applicant's registration will not be effective until after the election[.]; and
             151          (B) the applicant may register to vote on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             152      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b).
             153          (b) When the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form at
             154      least seven days before an election that is dated on or before the voter registration deadline, the
             155      county clerk shall:
             156          (i) process the voter registration form; and
             157          (ii) record the new voter in the official register.
             158          (6) If the county clerk determines that a voter registration form received from the
             159      Driver License Division is incorrect because of an error or because it is incomplete, the county
             160      clerk shall mail notice to the person attempting to register, [informing him that he] stating that
             161      the person has not been registered because of an error or because the form is incomplete.
             162          Section 6. Section 20A-2-205 is amended to read:
             163           20A-2-205. Registration at voter registration agencies.
             164          (1) As used in this section:
             165          (a) "Discretionary voter registration agency" means each office designated by the
             166      county clerk under Part 3, County Clerk's Voter Registration Responsibilities, to provide
             167      by-mail voter registration forms to the public.
             168          (b) "Public assistance agency" means each office in Utah that provides:
             169          (i) public assistance; or
             170          (ii) state funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to people with
             171      disabilities.
             172          (2) Any person may obtain and complete a by-mail registration form at a public
             173      assistance agency or discretionary voter registration agency.
             174          (3) Each public assistance agency and discretionary voter registration agency shall
             175      provide, either as part of existing forms or on a separate form, the following information in
             176      substantially the following form:
             177          "REGISTERING TO VOTE
             178          If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register
             179      to vote here today? (Applying to register to vote or declining to register to vote will not affect
             180      the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.) Yes____ No____ IF YOU


             181      DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED
             182      NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME. If you would like help in filling out the
             183      voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision about whether or not to
             184      seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private. If you believe
             185      that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your
             186      right to privacy in deciding whether or not to register, or in applying to register to vote, or your
             187      right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint
             188      with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State Capitol Building, Salt Lake City, Utah
             189      84114. (The phone number of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor)."
             190          (4) Unless a person applying for service or assistance from a public assistance agency
             191      or discretionary voter registration agency declines, in writing, to register to vote, each public
             192      assistance agency and discretionary voter registration agency shall:
             193          (a) distribute a by-mail voter registration form with each application for service or
             194      assistance provided by the agency or office;
             195          (b) assist applicants in completing the voter registration form unless the applicant
             196      refuses assistance;
             197          (c) accept completed forms for transmittal to the appropriate election official; and
             198          (d) transmit a copy of each voter registration form to the appropriate election official
             199      within five days after it is received by the division.
             200          (5) A person in a public assistance agency or a discretionary voter registration agency
             201      that helps a person complete the voter registration form may not:
             202          (a) seek to influence an applicant's political preference or party registration;
             203          (b) display any political preference or party allegiance;
             204          (c) make any statement to an applicant or take any action that has the purpose or effect
             205      of discouraging the applicant from registering to vote; or
             206          (d) make any statement to an applicant or take any action that has the purpose or effect
             207      of leading the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any bearing
             208      upon the availability of services or benefits.
             209          (6) Upon receipt of a correctly completed voter registration form, the county clerk
             210      shall:
             211          (a) enter the applicant's name on the list of registered voters for the voting precinct in


             212      which the applicant resides; and
             213          (b) notify the applicant of registration.
             214          (7) (a) If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form that is
             215      dated after the voter registration deadline, the county clerk shall:
             216          (i) unless the applicant registers on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             217      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b), register the applicant after the next election; and
             218          (ii) if possible, promptly phone or mail a notice to the applicant before the election,
             219      informing the applicant that [his]:
             220          (A) the applicant's registration will not be effective until after the election[.]; and
             221          (B) the applicant may register to vote on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             222      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b).
             223          (b) When the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form at
             224      least seven days before an election that is dated on or before the voter registration deadline, the
             225      county clerk shall:
             226          (i) process the voter registration form; and
             227          (ii) record the new voter in the official register.
             228          (8) If the county clerk determines that a voter registration form received from a public
             229      assistance agency or discretionary voter registration agency is incorrect because of an error or
             230      because it is incomplete, the county clerk shall mail notice to the person attempting to register,
             231      [informing him that he] stating that the person has not been registered because of an error or
             232      because the form is incomplete.
             233          Section 7. Section 20A-2-206 is amended to read:
             234           20A-2-206. Electronic registration -- Requests for absentee ballot application.
             235          (1) The lieutenant governor may create and maintain an electronic system for voter
             236      registration and requesting an absentee ballot that is publicly available on the Internet.
             237          (2) An electronic system for voter registration shall require:
             238          (a) that an applicant have a valid driver license or identification card, issued under Title
             239      53, Chapter 3, Uniform Driver License Act, that reflects the person's current principal place of
             240      residence;
             241          (b) that the applicant provide the information required by Section 20A-2-104 , except
             242      that the applicant's signature may be obtained in the manner described in Subsections (2)(d)


             243      and (4);
             244          (c) that the applicant attest to the truth of the information provided; and
             245          (d) that the applicant authorize the lieutenant governor's and county clerk's use of the
             246      applicant's driver license or identification card signature, obtained under Title 53, Chapter 3,
             247      Uniform Driver License Act, for voter registration purposes.
             248          (3) Notwithstanding Section 20A-2-104 , an applicant using the electronic system for
             249      voter registration created under this section is not required to complete a printed registration
             250      form.
             251          (4) A system created and maintained under this section shall provide the notices
             252      concerning a voter's presentation of identification contained in Subsection 20A-2-104 (1).
             253          (5) The lieutenant governor shall obtain a digital copy of the applicant's driver license
             254      or identification card signature from the Driver License Division.
             255          (6) Upon receiving all information from an applicant and the Driver License Division,
             256      the lieutenant governor shall send the information to the county clerk for the county in which
             257      the applicant's principal place of residence is found for further action as required by Section
             258      20A-2-304 .
             259          (7) The lieutenant governor may use additional security measures to ensure the
             260      accuracy and integrity of an electronically submitted voter registration.
             261          (8) (a) If an individual applies to register under this section during the period beginning
             262      on the date after the voter registration deadline and ending on the date that is 15 calendar days
             263      before the date of an election, the county clerk shall:
             264          (i) accept the application for registration if the individual, on the date of the election,
             265      will be legally qualified and entitled to vote in a voting precinct in the state; and
             266          (ii) inform the individual that:
             267          (A) the individual is registered to vote in the pending election; and
             268          (B) for the pending election, the individual must vote on the day of the election and is
             269      not eligible to vote using early voting under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early Voting, because the
             270      individual registered too late.
             271          (b) If an individual applies to register under this section during the 14 calendar days
             272      before an election, the county clerk shall:
             273          (i) if the individual desires to vote in the pending election, inform the individual that


             274      the individual must, on election day, register to vote by casting a provisional ballot in
             275      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b); or
             276          (ii) if the individual does not desire to vote in the pending election:
             277          [(i)] (A) accept the application for registration if the individual, on the date of the
             278      election, will be legally qualified and entitled to vote in a voting precinct in the state; and
             279          [(ii)] (B) inform the individual that the individual is registered to vote but may not vote
             280      in the pending election because the individual registered too late and chose not to register and
             281      vote as described in Subsection (8)(b)(i).
             282          (9) (a) A registered voter may file an application for an absentee ballot in accordance
             283      with Section 20A-3-304 on the electronic system for voter registration established under this
             284      section.
             285          (b) The lieutenant governor shall provide a means by which a registered voter shall
             286      sign the application form as provided in Section 20A-3-304 .
             287          Section 8. Section 20A-2-307 is amended to read:
             288           20A-2-307. County clerks' instructions to election judges.
             289          (1) Each county clerk shall instruct election judges to allow a voter to vote a regular
             290      ballot if:
             291          (a) the voter has moved from one address within a voting precinct to another address
             292      within the same voting precinct; and
             293          (b) the voter affirms the change of address orally or in writing before the election
             294      judges.
             295          (2) Each county clerk shall instruct election judges to allow a person to vote a
             296      provisional ballot if:
             297          (a) the person registers to vote on election day by casting a provisional ballot in
             298      accordance with Subsection 20A-4-107 (2)(b);
             299          [(a)] (b) the voter's name does not appear on the official register; or
             300          [(b)] (c) the voter is challenged as provided in Section 20A-3-202 .
             301          Section 9. Section 20A-4-107 is amended to read:
             302           20A-4-107. Review and disposition of provisional ballot envelopes.
             303          (1) As used in this section, a person is "legally entitled to vote" if:
             304          (a) the person:


             305          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             306          (ii) votes the ballot for the voting precinct in which the person resides; and
             307          (iii) [provided] provides valid voter identification to the poll worker;
             308          (b) the person:
             309          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             310          (ii) (A) provided valid voter identification to the poll worker; or
             311          (B) either failed to provide valid voter identification or the documents provided as
             312      valid voter identification were inadequate and the poll worker recorded that fact in the official
             313      register but the county clerk verifies the person's identity and residence through some other
             314      means; and
             315          (iii) did not vote in the person's precinct of residence, but the ballot that the person
             316      voted is identical to the ballot voted in the person's precinct of residence; or
             317          (c) the person:
             318          (i) is registered to vote in the state;
             319          (ii) either failed to provide valid voter identification or the documents provided as
             320      valid voter identification were inadequate and the poll worker recorded that fact in the official
             321      register; and
             322          (iii) (A) the county clerk verifies the person's identity and residence through some other
             323      means as reliable as photo identification; or
             324          (B) the person provides valid voter identification to the county clerk or an election
             325      officer who is administering the election by the close of normal office hours on Monday after
             326      the date of the election.
             327          (2) (a) Upon receipt of provisional ballot envelopes, the election officer shall review
             328      the affirmation on the face of each provisional ballot envelope and determine if the person
             329      signing the affirmation is registered to vote in this state and legally entitled to vote the ballot
             330      that the person voted.
             331          [(b) If the election officer determines that the person is not registered to vote in this
             332      state or is not legally entitled to vote the ballot that the person voted, the election officer shall
             333      retain the ballot envelope, unopened, for the period specified in Section 20A-4-202 unless
             334      ordered by a court to produce or count it.]
             335          (b) The election officer shall take the action described in Subsection (2)(c) in relation


             336      to a provisional ballot if the election officer determines that:
             337          (i) the person who voted the ballot is not registered to vote, but is otherwise legally
             338      entitled to vote the ballot;
             339          (ii) the ballot that the person voted is identical to the ballot for the precinct in which
             340      the person resides;
             341          (iii) the information on the ballot is complete; and
             342          (iv) the person provided valid voter identification and proof of residence to the poll
             343      worker.
             344          (c) If a provisional ballot and the person who voted the ballot comply with the
             345      requirements described in Subsection (2)(b), the election officer shall:
             346          (i) consider the provisional ballot a voter registration form;
             347          (ii) place the ballot with the absentee ballots, to be counted with those ballots at the
             348      canvass; and
             349          (iii) as soon as reasonably possible, register the person to vote.
             350          (d) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(e), the election officer shall retain a
             351      provisional ballot envelope, unopened, for the period specified in Section 20A-4-202 , if the
             352      election officer determines that the person who voted the ballot:
             353          (i) (A) is not registered to vote in this state; and
             354          (B) is not eligible for registration under Subsection (2)(c); or
             355          (ii) is not legally entitled to vote the ballot that the person voted.
             356          (e) Subsection (2)(d) does not apply if a court orders the election officer to produce or
             357      count the provisional ballot.
             358          [(c)] (f) If the election officer determines that the person is registered to vote in this
             359      state and is legally entitled to vote the ballot that the person voted, the election officer shall
             360      remove the ballot from the provisional ballot envelope and place the ballot with the absentee
             361      ballots to be counted with those ballots at the canvass.
             362          [(d)] (g) The election officer may not count, or allow to be counted a provisional ballot
             363      unless the person's identity and residence is established by a preponderance of the evidence.
             364          (3) If the election officer determines that the person is registered to vote in this state, or
             365      if the voter is registered to vote under Subsection (2)(c), the election officer shall ensure that
             366      the voter registration records are updated to reflect the information provided on the provisional


             367      ballot envelope.
             368          [(4) If the election officer determines that the person is not registered to vote in this
             369      state and the information on the provisional ballot envelope is complete, the election officer
             370      shall:]
             371          [(a) consider the provisional ballot envelope a voter registration form; and]
             372          [(b) register the person.]


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