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H.B. 204

             1     

ELECTION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions relating to elections.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    clarifies how to cast a valid absentee ballot; and
             13          .    makes technical changes.
             14      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             15          None
             16      Other Special Clauses:
             17          None
             18      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             19      AMENDS:
             20          20A-3-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 195
             21          20A-3-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 309
             22          20A-3-702, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 291
             23     
             24      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             25          Section 1. Section 20A-3-301 is amended to read:
             26           20A-3-301. Voting by absentee ballot.
             27          (1) Any person who is registered to vote may vote by absentee ballot.


             28          (2) [A] Except as provided in Section 20A-3-702 , a registered voter may not vote in
             29      person if the voter voted by absentee ballot.
             30          Section 2. Section 20A-3-306 is amended to read:
             31           20A-3-306. Voting ballot -- Returning ballot.
             32          (1) (a) To vote a mail-in absentee ballot, the absentee voter shall:
             33          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             34          (ii) mark the votes on the absentee ballot;
             35          (iii) place the voted absentee ballot in the envelope;
             36          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             37          (v) attach postage, unless voting in accordance with Section 20A-3-302 , and deposit
             38      the envelope in the mail or deliver it in person to the election officer from whom the ballot was
             39      obtained.
             40          (b) To vote an absentee ballot in person at the office of the election officer, the absent
             41      voter shall:
             42          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             43          (ii) mark the votes on the absent-voter ballot;
             44          (iii) place the voted absent-voter ballot in the envelope;
             45          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             46          (v) give the ballot and envelope to the election officer.
             47          (2) An absentee ballot is not valid unless:
             48          (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person[, it]:
             49          (i) the ballot is applied for and cast in person at the office of the appropriate election
             50      officer no later than the Friday before election day; or
             51          (ii) the ballot is submitted at an election day voting center as provided in Section
             52      20A-3-702 ; or
             53          (b) in the case of an absentee ballot that is returned by mail or a military-overseas
             54      ballot, submitted in accordance with Section 20A-16-404 , the ballot is:
             55          (i) clearly postmarked or electronically transmitted before election day; and
             56          (ii) received in the office of the election officer before noon on the day of the official
             57      canvass following the election.
             58          Section 3. Section 20A-3-702 is amended to read:


             59           20A-3-702. Election day voting center -- Hours of operation -- Compliance with
             60      Election Code.
             61          (1) An election officer may operate an election day voting center in one or more
             62      locations designated under Section 20A-3-703 .
             63          (2) An election officer shall provide for voting at an election day voting center by:
             64          (a) regular ballot if:
             65          (i) the election day voting center is designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the polling
             66      place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides; and
             67          (ii) the voter is eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this title;
             68          (b) voting center ballot if:
             69          (i) the election day voting center is not designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the
             70      polling place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides;
             71          (ii) the voter resides within the political subdivision holding the election; and
             72          (iii) the voter is otherwise eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this
             73      title; or
             74          (c) provisional ballot if the voter is only eligible to vote using a provisional ballot in
             75      accordance with this title.
             76          (3) An election officer shall ensure that an election day voting center:
             77          (a) is open on election day during the time period specified under Section 20A-1-302 ;
             78          (b) allows an eligible voter to vote if the voter:
             79          (i) resides within the political subdivision holding an election; and
             80          (ii) arrives at the election day voting center by the designated closing time in
             81      accordance with Section 20A-1-302 ; and
             82          (c) is administered according to the requirements of this title.
             83          (4) A person may submit a completed absentee ballot at an election day voting center
             84      for the political subdivision in which the person resides.
             85          (5) A person may submit an incomplete absentee ballot at an election day voting center
             86      for the political subdivision in which the person resides, request that the ballot be declared
             87      spoiled, and vote in person.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-4-13 6:40 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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