H.B. 69

             1     

PRIMARY ELECTION PROCESS AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Kraig Powell

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends the Election Code in relation to primary and general elections.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines the term "undesignated candidate";
             13          .    provides that, as a condition of having its candidates for elective office featured
             14      with party affiliation on the ballot at a regular general election, a registered political
             15      party shall, in addition to other requirements already existing in law:
             16              .    participate in the primary for each office where at least two candidates are
             17      seeking the nomination of the registered political party; and
             18              .    for each office where at least two candidates are seeking the nomination of the
             19      registered political party, submit to the election official, for the primary ballot,
             20      the names of at least two candidates for nomination as the registered political
             21      party's candidate; and
             22          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             28      AMENDS:
             29           20A-1-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
             30           20A-1-501 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             31           20A-6-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 68
             32           20A-6-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             33           20A-6-303 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             34           20A-6-304 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             35           20A-9-403 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             36           20A-9-701 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             37     
             38      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             39          Section 1. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
             40           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             41          As used in this title:
             42          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             43      voter by the county clerk.
             44          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             45      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
             46          (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
             47      upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
             48          (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
             49      envelopes.
             50          (4) "Ballot sheet":
             51          (a) means a ballot that:
             52          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             53          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
             54          (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             55          (5) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
             56          (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
             57      be voted on; and
             58          (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.


             59          (6) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters
             60      on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
             61          (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
             62          (b) a constitutional amendment;
             63          (c) an initiative;
             64          (d) a referendum;
             65          (e) a bond proposition;
             66          (f) a judicial retention question;
             67          (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
             68          (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
             69          (7) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
             70      together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
             71      space reserved for securing the paper.
             72          (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
             73      20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
             74          (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
             75      the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             76          (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a
             77      bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             78          (11) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of
             79      charge by the sender.
             80          (12) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
             81      completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             82          (13) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
             83      election results by the board of canvassers.
             84          (14) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
             85      the canvass.
             86          (15) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
             87      or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
             88          (16) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
             89      delegates are selected.


             90          (17) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
             91      charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
             92          (18) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
             93      election day.
             94          (19) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
             95      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             96          (20) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             97      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
             98      and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
             99          (21) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             100      elected.
             101          (22) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
             102          (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
             103      occurs; and
             104          (b) does not include:
             105          (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
             106          (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
             107      Voting.
             108          (23) "Elected official" means:
             109          (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
             110          (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
             111      Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
             112          (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
             113      Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
             114          (24) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             115      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             116      primary election, and a local district election.
             117          (25) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
             118      Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
             119          (26) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
             120      file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.


             121          (27) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
             122          (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
             123          (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
             124          (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
             125          (28) "Election officer" means:
             126          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
             127          (b) the county clerk for:
             128          (i) a county ballot and election; and
             129          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             130      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             131          (c) the municipal clerk for:
             132          (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
             133          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             134      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             135          (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
             136          (i) a local district ballot and election; and
             137          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             138      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or
             139          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
             140          (i) a school district ballot and election; and
             141          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             142      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
             143          (29) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
             144          (30) "Election results" means:
             145          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             146      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             147          (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
             148      proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
             149          (31) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, the military and overseas absentee voter
             150      registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any unprocessed absentee ballots, all
             151      counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition


             152      form, and the total votes cast form.
             153          (32) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
             154      device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
             155          (33) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
             156      or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
             157      the record.
             158          (34) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
             159          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             160          (35) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
             161          (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
             162          (b) failed to respond to that notice.
             163          (36) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             164      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             165          (37) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
             166          (38) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
             167      court judge.
             168          (39) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
             169      Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district under Title
             170      17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
             171          (40) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required by law
             172      to be elected.
             173          (41) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special election, a
             174      local district election, and a bond election.
             175          (42) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local district, or a
             176      local school district.
             177          (43) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
             178      local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
             179      vote.
             180          (44) "Municipal executive" means:
             181          (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
             182      or


             183          (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
             184      10-3b-103 (6).
             185          (45) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and local
             186      districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year
             187      for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             188          (46) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
             189      municipal government.
             190          (47) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             191          (48) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
             192      elected.
             193          (49) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
             194      municipal office.
             195          (50) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
             196      workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
             197          (51) "Official endorsement" means:
             198          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             199          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             200          (ii) the date of the election; and
             201          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             202          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             203          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             204          (ii) the ballot number.
             205          (52) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
             206      election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
             207          (53) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             208          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             209      voted on; and
             210          (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
             211      ballot proposition.
             212          (54) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
             213      participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation


             214      and Procedures.
             215          (55) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
             216      election, voting, or counting votes.
             217          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             218          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             219          (56) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
             220      cast votes.
             221          (57) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             222          (58) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
             223      in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
             224          [(62)] (59) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions at which
             225      nominees for the regular primary election are selected.
             226          [(59)] (60) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a
             227      contract or interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for
             228      the contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             229      20A-5-400.1 .
             230          [(60)] (61) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             231          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             232          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             233          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
             234          [(61)] (62) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form
             235      required by Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide
             236      information to verify a person's legal right to vote.
             237          (63) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
             238          (a) is built into a voting machine; and
             239          (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             240          (64) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
             241      duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             242          (65) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             243      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             244      after the voter has voted.


             245          (66) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
             246      registration form.
             247          (67) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             248          (68) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
             249      Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
             250      established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             251          (69) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
             252      each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and nonpolitical groups to
             253      advance to the regular general election.
             254          (70) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
             255          (71) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
             256      and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             257          (72) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then mark or
             258      punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political parties.
             259          (73) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the ballot into
             260      which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the secrecy of
             261      the voter's vote.
             262          (74) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-203 .
             263          (75) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             264          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             265          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
             266          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             267          (76) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
             268      Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             269          (77) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
             270          (78) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election officer to
             271      the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             272          (79) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each group of
             273      petitioners.
             274          (80) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             275      counting center.


             276          (81) "Undesignated candidate" means a candidate who is affiliated with a registered
             277      political party that:
             278          (a) did not comply with the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1)(b) and (2) with
             279      respect to the candidate; and
             280          (b) complied with Subsection 20A-9-403 (3)(b) with respect to the candidate.
             281          [(81)] (82) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created
             282      by statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification,
             283      resignation, or other cause.
             284          [(82)] (83) "Valid voter identification" means:
             285          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             286      include:
             287          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             288          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             289          (A) the state; or
             290          (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             291          (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             292          (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
             293          (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             294          (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
             295      photograph of the voter:
             296          (i) a valid tribal identification card;
             297          (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
             298          (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
             299          (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection [(82)] (83)(a) or (b) but that
             300      bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
             301      which may include:
             302          (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
             303      election;
             304          (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             305          (iii) a certified birth certificate;
             306          (iv) a valid Social Security card;


             307          (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
             308          (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             309          (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             310          (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
             311          (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             312          (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
             313          (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
             314          (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
             315          (A) a local government within the state;
             316          (B) an employer for an employee; or
             317          (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
             318      state; or
             319          (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
             320          [(83)] (84) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a
             321      write-in candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             322          [(84)] (85) "Voter" means a person who:
             323          (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
             324          (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
             325          (c) is registered to vote; and
             326          (d) is listed in the official register book.
             327          [(85)] (86) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in
             328      Section 20A-2-102.5 .
             329          [(86)] (87) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             330      machines, and ballot box.
             331          [(87)] (88) "Voting booth" means:
             332          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
             333      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             334          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             335          [(88)] (89) "Voting device" means:
             336          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             337      piercing the ballots by the voter;


             338          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             339          (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
             340      electronically, or any component thereof;
             341          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             342          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             343      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
             344          [(89)] (90) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of
             345      recording and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             346          [(90)] (91) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             347      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             348          [(91)] (92) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by
             349      law within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             350          [(92)] (93) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an
             351      inspecting poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             352          [(93)] (94) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in
             353      Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
             354          [(94)] (95) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             355          [(95)] (96) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on
             356      the ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
             357          Section 2. Section 20A-1-501 is amended to read:
             358           20A-1-501. Candidate vacancies -- Procedure for filling.
             359          (1) The state central committee of a political party, for candidates for United States
             360      senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state
             361      treasurer, and state auditor, and for legislative candidates whose legislative districts encompass
             362      more than one county, and the county central committee of a political party, for all other party
             363      candidates seeking an office elected at a regular general election, may certify the name of
             364      another candidate to the appropriate election officer if:
             365          (a) for a registered political party that will have a candidate on a ballot in a primary
             366      election, after the close of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing
             367      through the day before the day on which the lieutenant governor makes the certification
             368      described in Subsection 20A-9-403 [(2)(c)](3)(a):


             369          (i) only one or two candidates from that party have filed a declaration of candidacy for
             370      that office; and
             371          (ii) one or both:
             372          (A) dies;
             373          (B) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability, certified by a
             374      physician, that prevents the candidate from continuing the candidacy; or
             375          (C) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             376          (b) for a registered political party that does not have a candidate on the ballot in a
             377      primary, but that will have a candidate on the ballot for a general election, after the close of the
             378      period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing through the day before the day on
             379      which the lieutenant governor makes the certification described in Section 20A-5-409 , the
             380      party's candidate:
             381          (i) dies;
             382          (ii) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability as certified by a
             383      physician;
             384          (iii) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             385      or
             386          (iv) resigns to become a candidate for president or vice president of the United States;
             387      or
             388          (c) for a registered political party with a candidate certified as winning a primary
             389      election, after the deadline described in Subsection (1)(a) and continuing through the day
             390      before that day on which the lieutenant governor makes the certification described in Section
             391      20A-5-409 , the party's candidate:
             392          (i) dies;
             393          (ii) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability as certified by a
             394      physician;
             395          (iii) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             396      or
             397          (iv) resigns to become a candidate for president or vice president of the United States.
             398          (2) If no more than two candidates from a political party have filed a declaration of
             399      candidacy for an office elected at a regular general election and one resigns to become the party


             400      candidate for another position, the state central committee of that political party, for candidates
             401      for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and state auditor, and for
             402      legislative candidates whose legislative districts encompass more than one county, and the
             403      county central committee of that political party, for all other party candidates, may certify the
             404      name of another candidate to the appropriate election officer.
             405          (3) Each replacement candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy as required by
             406      Title 20A, Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy.
             407          (4) (a) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(a) after the
             408      deadline described in Subsection (1)(a) may not appear on the primary election ballot.
             409          (b) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(b) after the deadline
             410      described in Subsection (1)(b) may not appear on the general election ballot.
             411          (c) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(c) after the deadline
             412      described in Subsection (1)(c) may not appear on the general election ballot.
             413          Section 3. Section 20A-6-301 is amended to read:
             414           20A-6-301. Paper ballots -- Regular general election.
             415          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             416          (a) all paper ballots furnished for use at the regular general election contain no captions
             417      or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
             418          (b) (i) the paper ballot contains a ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across the
             419      top of the ballot, and divided from the rest of ballot by a perforated line;
             420          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             421      stub; and
             422          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             423          (c) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             424      printed in 18 point bold type:
             425          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
             426          (ii) the date of the election; and
             427          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the county clerk and the words "county clerk";
             428          (d) except as provided in Subsection (5), each ticket is placed in a separate column on
             429      the ballot in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 with the party emblem, followed by
             430      the party name, at the head of the column;


             431          (e) except as provided in Subsection (5), the party name or title is printed in capital
             432      letters not less than one-fourth of an inch high;
             433          (f) except as provided in Subsection (5), a circle one-half inch in diameter is printed
             434      immediately below the party name or title, and the top of the circle is placed not less than two
             435      inches below the perforated line;
             436          (g) unaffiliated candidates [and], candidates not affiliated with a registered political
             437      party, and undesignated candidates, are listed in one column in the order specified under
             438      Section 20A-6-305 , without a party circle, with the following instructions printed at the head of
             439      the column: "All candidates not affiliated with a political party, or whose party affiliation is not
             440      designated, are listed below. They are to be considered with all offices and candidates listed to
             441      the left. Only one vote is allowed for each office.";
             442          (h) the columns containing the lists of candidates, including the party name and device,
             443      are separated by heavy parallel lines;
             444          (i) the offices to be filled are plainly printed immediately above the names of the
             445      candidates for those offices;
             446          (j) the names of candidates are printed in capital letters, not less than one-eighth nor
             447      more than one-fourth of an inch high in heavy-faced type not smaller than 10 point, between
             448      lines or rules three-eighths of an inch apart;
             449          (k) a square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is
             450      printed immediately adjacent to the name of each candidate;
             451          (l) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor,
             452      one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is printed on the
             453      same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the names of the two candidates;
             454          (m) immediately adjacent to the unaffiliated ticket on the ballot, the ballot contains a
             455      write-in column long enough to contain as many written names of candidates as there are
             456      persons to be elected with:
             457          (i) for each office on the ballot, the office to be filled plainly printed immediately
             458      above:
             459          (A) a blank, horizontal line to enable the entry of a valid write-in candidate and a
             460      square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length printed immediately
             461      adjacent to the blank horizontal line; or


             462          (B) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant
             463      governor, two blank horizontal lines, one placed above the other, to enable the entry of two
             464      valid write-in candidates, and one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an
             465      inch in length printed on the same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the two
             466      blank horizontal lines; and
             467          (ii) the words "Write-In Voting Column" printed at the head of the column without a
             468      one-half inch circle;
             469          (n) when required, the ballot includes a nonpartisan ticket placed immediately adjacent
             470      to the write-in ticket with the word "NONPARTISAN" in reverse type in an 18 point solid rule
             471      running vertically the full length of the nonpartisan ballot copy; and
             472          (o) constitutional amendments or other questions submitted to the vote of the people,
             473      are printed on the ballot after the list of candidates.
             474          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             475          (a) except as provided in Subsection (5), each person nominated by any political party
             476      or group of petitioners is placed on the ballot:
             477          (i) under the party name and emblem, if any; or
             478          (ii) under the title of the party or group as designated by them in their certificates of
             479      nomination or petition, or, if none is designated, then under some suitable title;
             480          (b) the names of all unaffiliated candidates that qualify as required in Title 20A,
             481      Chapter 9, Part 5, Candidates not Affiliated with a Party, are placed on the ballot;
             482          (c) the names of all undesignated candidates are placed on the ballot;
             483          [(c)] (d) the names of the candidates for president and vice president are used on the
             484      ballot instead of the names of the presidential electors; and
             485          [(d)] (e) the ballots contain no other names.
             486          (3) When the ballot contains a nonpartisan section, the election officer shall ensure
             487      that:
             488          (a) the designation of the office to be filled in the election and the number of
             489      candidates to be elected are printed in type not smaller than eight point;
             490          (b) the words designating the office are printed flush with the left-hand margin;
             491          (c) the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of candidates for
             492      which the voter may vote)" extend to the extreme right of the column;


             493          (d) the nonpartisan candidates are grouped according to the office for which they are
             494      candidates;
             495          (e) the names in each group are placed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             496      with the surnames last; and
             497          (f) each group is preceded by the designation of the office for which the candidates
             498      seek election, and the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of
             499      candidates for which the voter may vote)," according to the number to be elected.
             500          (4) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             501          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed on the ballot in
             502      accordance with Section 20A-6-107 ;
             503          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed on the ballot in accordance
             504      with Section 20A-6-107 ; and
             505          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
             506      title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             507          (5) An undesignated candidate whose name appears on the ballot may not appear with
             508      the candidate's party affiliation on the ballot.
             509          Section 4. Section 20A-6-302 is amended to read:
             510           20A-6-302. Paper ballots -- Placement of candidates' names.
             511          (1) Each election officer shall ensure, for paper ballots in regular general elections,
             512      that:
             513          (a) except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5), each candidate is listed by party;
             514          (b) candidates' surnames are listed in alphabetical order on the ballots when two or
             515      more candidates' names are required to be listed on a ticket under the title of an office; and
             516          (c) the names of candidates are placed on the ballot in the order specified under Section
             517      20A-6-305 .
             518          (2) (a) When there is only one candidate for county attorney at the regular general
             519      election in counties that have three or fewer registered voters of the county who are licensed
             520      active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the county clerk shall cause that
             521      candidate's name and, except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5), party affiliation, if any,
             522      to be placed on a separate section of the ballot with the following question: "Shall (name of
             523      candidate) be elected to the office of county attorney? Yes ____ No ____."


             524          (b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
             525      elected to the office of county attorney.
             526          (c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
             527      elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the end of the
             528      term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
             529          (d) When the name of only one candidate for county attorney is printed on the ballot
             530      under authority of this Subsection (2), the county clerk may not count any write-in votes
             531      received for the office of county attorney.
             532          (e) If no qualified person files for the office of county attorney or if the candidate is not
             533      elected by the voters, the county legislative body shall appoint the county attorney as provided
             534      in Section 20A-1-509.2 .
             535          (f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (2)(f), be placed on
             536      the ballot under Subsection (2)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (2)(a) to the
             537      two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate is seeking
             538      election, Subsection (2)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be considered to be an
             539      unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate for another office, unless a
             540      petition is filed with the county clerk before the date of that year's primary election that:
             541          (i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (2)(a) to be followed; and
             542          (ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number at
             543      least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the last election at
             544      which a governor was elected.
             545          (3) (a) When there is only one candidate for district attorney at the regular general
             546      election in a prosecution district that has three or fewer registered voters of the district who are
             547      licensed active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the county clerk shall cause
             548      that candidate's name and, except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5), party affiliation, if
             549      any, to be placed on a separate section of the ballot with the following question: "Shall (name
             550      of candidate) be elected to the office of district attorney? Yes ____ No ____."
             551          (b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
             552      elected to the office of district attorney.
             553          (c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
             554      elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the end of the


             555      term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
             556          (d) When the name of only one candidate for district attorney is printed on the ballot
             557      under authority of this Subsection (3), the county clerk may not count any write-in votes
             558      received for the office of district attorney.
             559          (e) If no qualified person files for the office of district attorney, or if the only candidate
             560      is not elected by the voters under this subsection, the county legislative body shall appoint a
             561      new district attorney for a four-year term as provided in Section 20A-1-509.2 .
             562          (f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (3)(f), be placed on
             563      the ballot under Subsection (3)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (3)(a) to the
             564      two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate is seeking
             565      election, Subsection (3)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be considered to be an
             566      unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate for another office, unless a
             567      petition is filed with the county clerk before the date of that year's primary election that:
             568          (i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (3)(a) to be followed; and
             569          (ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number at
             570      least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the last election at
             571      which a governor was elected.
             572          Section 5. Section 20A-6-303 is amended to read:
             573           20A-6-303. Regular general election -- Ballot sheets.
             574          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             575          (a) copy on the ballot sheets or ballot labels, as applicable, are arranged in
             576      approximately the same order as paper ballots;
             577          (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are printed in vertical columns or in
             578      a series of separate pages;
             579          (c) the ballot sheet or any pages used for the ballot label are of sufficient number to
             580      include, after the list of candidates:
             581          (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
             582          (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
             583          (d) except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5):
             584          [(d)] (i) a voting square or position is included where the voter may record a straight
             585      party ticket vote for all the candidates of one party by one mark or punch; and


             586          (ii) the name of each political party listed in the straight party selection area includes
             587      the word "party" at the end of the party's name;
             588          (e) the tickets are printed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 ;
             589          (f) the office titles are printed immediately adjacent to the names of candidates so as to
             590      indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
             591          (g) except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5), the party designation of each
             592      candidate is printed immediately adjacent to the candidate's name; and
             593          (h) (i) if possible, all candidates for one office are grouped in one column or upon one
             594      page;
             595          (ii) if all candidates for one office cannot be listed in one column or grouped on one
             596      page:
             597          (A) the ballot sheet or ballot label shall be clearly marked to indicate that the list of
             598      candidates is continued on the following column or page; and
             599          (B) approximately the same number of names shall be printed in each column or on
             600      each page.
             601          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             602          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed in accordance with
             603      Section 20A-6-107 ;
             604          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed in accordance with Section
             605      20A-6-107 ; and
             606          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed under the title
             607      assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             608          Section 6. Section 20A-6-304 is amended to read:
             609           20A-6-304. Regular general election -- Electronic ballots.
             610          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             611          (a) the format and content of the electronic ballot is arranged in approximately the
             612      same order as paper ballots;
             613          (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are displayed in vertical columns or
             614      in a series of separate display screens;
             615          (c) the electronic ballot is of sufficient length to include, after the list of candidates:
             616          (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and


             617          (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
             618          (d) except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5):
             619          [(d)] (i) a voting square or position is included where the voter may record a straight
             620      party ticket vote for all the candidates of one party by making a single selection; and
             621          (ii) the name of each political party listed in the straight party selection area includes
             622      the word "party" at the end of the party's name;
             623          (e) the tickets are displayed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 ;
             624          (f) the office titles are displayed above or at the side of the names of candidates so as to
             625      indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
             626          (g) except as provided in Subsection 20A-6-301 (5), the party designation of each
             627      candidate is displayed adjacent to the candidate's name; and
             628          (h) if possible, all candidates for one office are grouped in one column or upon one
             629      display screen.
             630          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             631          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are displayed in accordance with
             632      Section 20A-6-107 ;
             633          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are displayed in accordance with Section
             634      20A-6-107 ; and
             635          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are displayed under the title
             636      assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             637          Section 7. Section 20A-9-403 is amended to read:
             638           20A-9-403. Regular primary elections.
             639          (1) (a) The fourth Tuesday of June of each even-numbered year is designated as regular
             640      primary election day.
             641          (b) Each registered political party that [chooses to use the primary election process to
             642      nominate some or all of its candidates shall] desires to have the names of the registered
             643      political party's candidates for elective office featured with party affiliation on the ballot at a
             644      regular general election shall:
             645          (i) participate in the primary election for each office for which at least two candidates
             646      are seeking the nomination of the registered political party; and
             647          (ii) comply with the requirements of [this section] Subsections (2) and (3)(b).


             648          (2) (a) [As a condition for using the state's election system, each] Before 5 p.m. on
             649      March 1 of each even-numbered year, each registered political party that [wishes to] will
             650      participate in the primary election shall:
             651          (i) declare [their] the political party's intent to participate in the primary election; and
             652          (ii) identify one or more registered political parties whose members may vote for the
             653      registered political party's candidates and whether or not persons identified as unaffiliated with
             654      a political party may vote for the registered political party's candidates[; and].
             655          [(iii) certify that information to the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on March 1
             656      of each even-numbered year.]
             657          (b) [As a condition for using the state's election system] Before 5 p.m. on the first
             658      Monday after the third Saturday in April of each even-numbered year, each registered political
             659      party that [wishes to] will participate in the primary election shall:
             660          [(i) certify the name and office of all of the registered political party's candidates to the
             661      lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third Saturday in April of
             662      each even-numbered year and indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot;
             663      and]
             664          [(ii) certify the name and office of each of its county candidates to the county clerks by
             665      5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third Saturday in April of each even-numbered year and
             666      indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot.]
             667          (i) for each office for which the registered political party will have a candidate, certify
             668      to the lieutenant governor:
             669          (A) the names of at least two candidates to appear on the primary election ballot as the
             670      registered political party's candidates for that office; or
             671          (B) if only one candidate sought the registered political party's nomination, the name of
             672      that candidate; and
             673          (ii) for each county office for which the registered political party will have a candidate,
             674      certify to the county clerk:
             675          (A) the names of at least two candidates to appear on the primary election ballot as the
             676      registered political party's candidates for that office; or
             677          (B) if only one candidate sought the registered political party's nomination, the name of
             678      that candidate.


             679          [(c)] (3) (a) By 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday after the third Saturday in April of each
             680      even-numbered year, the lieutenant governor shall send the county clerks a certified list of the
             681      names of all statewide candidates, multicounty candidates, or single county candidates that
             682      shall be printed on the primary ballot and the order the candidates are to appear on the ballot in
             683      accordance with Section 20A-6-305 .
             684          [(d)] (b) Except for presidential candidates, if a registered political party [does not wish
             685      to] will not participate in the primary election, [it] the registered political party shall submit the
             686      names of its county candidates to the county clerks and the names of all of its candidates to the
             687      lieutenant governor by 5 p.m. on May 30 of each even-numbered year.
             688          [(3)] (4) The county clerk shall:
             689          (a) review the declarations of candidacy filed by candidates for local boards of
             690      education to determine if more than two candidates have filed for the same seat;
             691          (b) place the names of all candidates who have filed a declaration of candidacy for a
             692      local board of education seat on the nonpartisan section of the ballot if more than two
             693      candidates have filed for the same seat; and
             694          (c) determine the order of the candidates' names on the ballot in accordance with
             695      Section 20A-6-305 .
             696          [(4)] (5) After the county clerk receives the certified list from a registered political
             697      party, the county clerk shall post or publish a primary election notice in substantially the
             698      following form:
             699          "Notice is given that a primary election will be held Tuesday, June ____,
             700      ________(year), to nominate party candidates for the parties and nonpartisan offices listed on
             701      the primary ballot. The polling place for voting precinct ____ is ____. The polls will open at 7
             702      a.m. and continue open until 8 p.m. of the same day. Attest: county clerk."
             703          [(5)] (6) (a) Candidates, other than presidential candidates, receiving the highest
             704      number of votes cast for each office at the regular primary election are nominated by their party
             705      or nonpartisan group for that office.
             706          (b) If two or more candidates, other than presidential candidates, are to be elected to
             707      the office at the regular general election, those party candidates equal in number to positions to
             708      be filled who receive the highest number of votes at the regular primary election are the
             709      nominees of their party for those positions.


             710          [(6)] (7) (a) When a tie vote occurs in any primary election for any national, state, or
             711      other office that represents more than one county, the governor, lieutenant governor, and
             712      attorney general shall, at a public meeting called by the governor and in the presence of the
             713      candidates involved, select the nominee by lot cast in whatever manner the governor
             714      determines.
             715          (b) When a tie vote occurs in any primary election for any county office, the district
             716      court judges of the district in which the county is located shall, at a public meeting called by
             717      the judges and in the presence of the candidates involved, select the nominee by lot cast in
             718      whatever manner the judges determine.
             719          [(7)] (8) The expense of providing all ballots, blanks, or other supplies to be used at
             720      any primary election provided for by this section, and all expenses necessarily incurred in the
             721      preparation for or the conduct of that primary election shall be paid out of the treasury of the
             722      county or state, in the same manner as for the regular general elections.
             723          Section 8. Section 20A-9-701 is amended to read:
             724           20A-9-701. Certification of party candidates to county clerks -- Display on ballot.
             725          (1) No later than August 31 of each regular general election year, the lieutenant
             726      governor shall certify to each county clerk the names of each candidate, including candidates
             727      for president and vice president, certified by each registered political party as that party's
             728      nominees for offices to be voted upon at the regular general election in that county clerk's
             729      county.
             730          (2) The names shall be certified by the lieutenant governor and shall be displayed on
             731      the ballot as they are provided on the candidate's declaration of candidacy.
             732          (3) A candidate whose name appears on the regular general election ballot may not
             733      appear with the candidate's party affiliation on the ballot, unless the registered political party
             734      for which the candidate is a nominee complied, on behalf of the candidate, with the provisions
             735      of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1)(b) and (2).




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-10-14 8:21 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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