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S.B. 24 Enrolled

             1     

ABSENTEE BALLOT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 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 in Title 20A, Election Code, regarding absentee ballots.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    requires the lieutenant governor to approve a separate absentee ballot application
             13      form for a circumstance where the application will be filled out for, and finished
             14      and signed by, a voter;
             15          .    establishes a filing deadline for a person that collects a completed absentee ballot
             16      application from a registered voter; and
             17          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          This bill coordinates with H.B. 204, Election Amendments, by providing substantive
             22      amendments.
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          20A-3-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
             27          20A-3-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             30          Section 1. Section 20A-3-304 is amended to read:
             31           20A-3-304. Application for absentee ballot -- Time for filing and voting.
             32          (1) (a) Any registered voter who wishes to vote an absentee ballot may either:
             33          [(a)] (i) file an absentee ballot application:
             34          [(i)] (A) on the electronic system maintained by the lieutenant governor under Section
             35      20A-2-206 ; or
             36          [(ii)] (B) with the appropriate election officer for an official absentee ballot as provided
             37      in this section; or
             38          [(b)] (ii) vote in person at the office of the appropriate election officer as provided in
             39      Section 20A-3-306 .
             40          (b) A person that collects a completed absentee ballot application from a registered
             41      voter shall file the completed absentee ballot application with the appropriate election official
             42      before the earlier of:
             43          (i) 14 days after the day on which the registered voter signed the absentee ballot form;
             44      or
             45          (ii) the Friday before the next election.
             46          (2) As it relates to an absentee ballot application to be filled out entirely by the voter:
             47          [(2)] (a) [Except] except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the lieutenant governor or
             48      election officer shall [prepare] approve an application form for absentee ballot applications in
             49      substantially the following form:
             50          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah
             51      apply for an official absentee ballot to be voted by me at the election.
             52          Date ________ (month\day\year) Signed ___________________________
             53                                      Voter"; and
             54          (b) [The] the lieutenant governor or election officer shall [prepare blank applications
             55      for absentee ballot applications] approve an application form for regular primary elections and
             56      for the Western States Presidential Primary in substantially the following form:
             57          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah


             58      apply for an official absentee ballot for the _______________ political party to be voted by me
             59      at the primary election.
             60          I understand that I must be affiliated with or authorized to vote the political party's
             61      ballot that I request.
             62          Dated _________ (month\day\year) ____ Signed ___________________________
             63                                          Voter"
             64          (c) If requested by the applicant, the election officer shall:
             65          (i) mail or fax the application [blank] form to the absentee voter; or
             66          (ii) deliver the application [blank] form to any voter who personally applies for it at the
             67      office of the election officer.
             68          [(3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a]
             69          (3) As it relates to an absentee ballot application to be filled out for, and finished and
             70      signed by, a voter:
             71          (a) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), the lieutenant governor or election officer
             72      shall approve an application form for absentee ballot applications in substantially the following
             73      form:
             74          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah
             75      apply for an official absentee ballot to be voted by me at the election.
             76          I understand that a person that collects this absentee ballot application is required to file
             77      it with the appropriate election official before the earlier of fourteen days after the day on
             78      which I sign the application or the Friday before the next election.
             79          This form is provided by (insert name of person or organization).
             80          I have verified that the information on this application is correct.
             81          I understand that I will receive a ballot at the following address: (insert address and an
             82      adjacent check box);
             83          OR
             84          I request that the ballot be mailed to the following address: (insert blank space for an
             85      address and an adjacent check box).


             86          Date ________ (month\day\year) Signed ___________________________
             87          Voter"; and
             88          (b) the lieutenant governor or election officer shall approve an application form for
             89      regular primary elections and for the Western States Presidential Primary in substantially the
             90      following form:
             91          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah
             92      apply for an official absentee ballot for the _______________ political party to be voted by me
             93      at the primary election.
             94          I understand that I must be affiliated with or authorized to vote the political party's
             95      ballot that I request. I understand that a person that collects this absentee ballot application is
             96      required to file it with the appropriate election official before the earlier of fourteen days after
             97      the day on which I sign the application or the Friday before the next primary election.
             98          This form is provided by (insert name of person or organization).
             99          I have verified that the information on this application is correct.
             100          I understand that I will receive a ballot at the following address: (insert address and an
             101      adjacent check box);
             102          OR
             103          I request that the ballot be mailed to the following address: (insert blank space for an
             104      address and an adjacent check box).
             105          Dated _________ (month\day\year) ____ Signed ___________________________
             106          Voter"
             107          (4) The forms described in Subsections (2) and (3) shall contain instructions on how a
             108      voter may cancel an absentee ballot application.
             109          (5) A voter who wishes to vote by absentee ballot shall file the application for an
             110      absentee ballot with the lieutenant governor or appropriate election officer no later than the
             111      Friday before election day.
             112          [(b) Overseas applicants shall file their applications with the appropriate election
             113      officer no later than 20 days before election day.]


             114          [(4)] (6) (a) A county clerk may establish a permanent absentee voter list.
             115          (b) The clerk shall place on the list the name of any person who:
             116          (i) requests permanent absentee voter status; and
             117          (ii) meets the requirements of this section.
             118          (c) (i) Each year, the clerk shall mail a questionnaire to each person whose name is on
             119      the absentee voter list.
             120          (ii) The questionnaire shall allow the absentee person to verify the voter's residence.
             121          (iii) The clerk may remove the names of any voter from the absentee voter registration
             122      list if:
             123          (A) the voter is no longer listed in the official register; or
             124          (B) the voter fails to verify the voter's residence and absentee status.
             125          (d) The clerk shall provide a copy of the permanent absentee voter list to election
             126      officers for use in elections.
             127          Section 2. Coordinating S.B. 24 with H.B. 204 -- Substantive amendments.
             128          If this S.B. 24 and H.B. 204, Election Amendments, both pass and become law, it is the
             129      intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in
             130      preparing the Utah Code database for publication, modify Subsections 20A-3-304 (1)(b)(ii) and
             131      (3) by deleting the word "Friday" and replacing it with the word "Thursday".


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