H.B. 252

             1     

ABSENTEE BALLOT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jim Bird

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill repeals provisions allowing elections to be conducted entirely by absentee
             10      ballot.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    repeals provisions that allow elections to be conducted entirely by absentee ballot;
             14      and
             15          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22           20A-3-306 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 198, 219, 320 and last
             23      amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 198
             24           20A-3-605 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
             25      REPEALS:
             26           20A-3-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
             27     


             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 20A-3-306 is amended to read:
             30           20A-3-306. Voting ballot -- Returning ballot.
             31          (1) (a) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , to vote a mail-in absentee ballot, the
             32      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) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , to vote an absentee ballot in person at the
             41      office of the election officer, the absent 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) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , an absentee ballot is not valid unless:
             48          (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person, the ballot is:
             49          (i) applied for and cast in person at the office of the appropriate election officer no later
             50      than the Thursday before election day; or
             51          (ii) submitted on election day at a polling location in the political subdivision where
             52      the absentee voter resides;
             53          (b) in the case of an absentee ballot that is submitted by mail, the ballot is:
             54          (i) clearly postmarked before election day; and
             55          (ii) received in the office of the election officer before noon on the day of the official
             56      canvass following the election; or
             57          (c) in the case of a military-overseas ballot, the ballot is submitted in accordance with
             58      Section 20A-16-404 .


             59          (3) An absentee voter may submit a completed absentee ballot at a polling location in a
             60      political subdivision holding the election, if the absentee voter resides in the political
             61      subdivision.
             62          (4) An absentee voter may submit an incomplete absentee ballot at a polling location
             63      for the voting precinct where the voter resides, request that the ballot be declared spoiled, and
             64      vote in person.
             65          Section 2. Section 20A-3-605 is amended to read:
             66           20A-3-605. Exemptions from early voting.
             67          (1) (a) This part does not apply to an election of a board member of a local district.
             68          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), a local district may, at its discretion, provide
             69      early voting in accordance with this part for an election of a board member.
             70          (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 20A-3-601 , a municipality of the fifth
             71      class or a town as described in Section 10-2-301 may provide early voting as provided under
             72      this part for:
             73          (a) a municipal primary election; or
             74          (b) a municipal general election.
             75          [(3) A municipality or county that administers an election entirely by absentee ballot, in
             76      accordance with Section 20A-3-302 , is not required to conduct early voting for the election.]
             77          Section 3. Repealer.
             78          This bill repeals:
             79          Section 20A-3-302 , Conducting entire election by absentee ballot.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-5-13 3:42 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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