H.B. 369

             1     

MISSED ELECTIONS AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jon Cox

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions of the Election Code and Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local
             10      Government Entities - Local Districts, to provide for a late municipal general election
             11      in the event that a municipal general election is not held, but should have been held.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines and modifies terms;
             15          .    provides that, unless a municipal general election is cancelled pursuant to law, a
             16      municipal clerk is responsible to ensure that:
             17              .    the election is held on the date required; and
             18              .    the ballot includes each municipal and local district office that is required to be
             19      on the ballot for the current year;
             20          .    provides notice requirements in the event that a municipal clerk fails to ensure that a
             21      municipal general election is held as required by law;
             22          .    provides that, if a municipal clerk fails to ensure that a municipal general election is
             23      held as required by law:
             24              .    the lieutenant governor shall schedule a late municipal general election and
             25      provide written instructions in relation to the election; and
             26              .    the municipality is responsible to pay the costs of the late municipal general
             27      election; and


             28          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             29      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             30          None
             31      Other Special Clauses:
             32          None
             33      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             34      AMENDS:
             35           17B-1-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 209
             36           20A-1-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
             37           20A-1-206 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 97
             38      ENACTS:
             39           20A-1-202.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40     
             41      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             42          Section 1. Section 17B-1-301 is amended to read:
             43           17B-1-301. Board of trustees duties and powers.
             44          (1) (a) Each local district shall be governed by a board of trustees which shall manage
             45      and conduct the business and affairs of the district and shall determine all questions of district
             46      policy.
             47          (b) All powers of a local district are exercised through the board of trustees.
             48          (2) The board of trustees may:
             49          (a) fix the location of the local district's principal place of business and the location of
             50      all offices and departments, if any;
             51          (b) fix the times of meetings of the board of trustees;
             52          (c) select and use an official district seal;
             53          (d) subject to Subsections (3) and (4), employ employees and agents, or delegate to
             54      district officers power to employ employees and agents, for the operation of the local district
             55      and its properties and prescribe or delegate to district officers the power to prescribe the duties,
             56      compensation, and terms and conditions of employment of those employees and agents;
             57          (e) require district officers and employees charged with the handling of district funds to
             58      provide surety bonds in an amount set by the board or provide a blanket surety bond to cover


             59      officers and employees;
             60          (f) contract for or employ professionals to perform work or services for the local
             61      district that cannot satisfactorily be performed by the officers or employees of the district;
             62          (g) through counsel, prosecute on behalf of or defend the local district in all court
             63      actions or other proceedings in which the district is a party or is otherwise involved;
             64          (h) adopt bylaws for the orderly functioning of the board;
             65          (i) adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the orderly operation of the local district
             66      or for carrying out the district's purposes;
             67          (j) prescribe a system of civil service for district employees;
             68          (k) on behalf of the local district, enter into contracts that the board considers to be for
             69      the benefit of the district;
             70          (l) acquire, construct or cause to be constructed, operate, occupy, control, and use
             71      buildings, works, or other facilities for carrying out the purposes of the local district;
             72          (m) on behalf of the local district, acquire, use, hold, manage, occupy, and possess
             73      property necessary to carry out the purposes of the district, dispose of property when the board
             74      considers it appropriate, and institute and maintain in the name of the district any action or
             75      proceeding to enforce, maintain, protect, or preserve rights or privileges associated with district
             76      property;
             77          (n) delegate to a district officer the exercise of a district duty; and
             78          (o) exercise all powers and perform all functions in the operation of the local district
             79      and its properties as are ordinarily exercised by the governing body of a political subdivision of
             80      the state and as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of the district.
             81          (3) (a) As used in this Subsection (3), "interim vacancy period" means:
             82          (i) if any member of the local district board is elected, the period of time that:
             83          (A) begins on the day on which a municipal general election described in Section
             84      17B-1-306 , or a late municipal general election described in Section 20A-1-202.5 , is held to
             85      elect a local district board member; and
             86          (B) ends on the day on which the local district board member-elect begins the
             87      member's term; or
             88          (ii) if any member of the local district board is appointed, the period of time that:
             89          (A) begins on the day on which an appointing authority posts a notice of vacancy in


             90      accordance with Section 17B-1-304 ; and
             91          (B) ends on the day on which the person who is appointed by the local district board to
             92      fill the vacancy begins the person's term.
             93          (b) (i) The local district may not hire during an interim vacancy period a manager, a
             94      chief executive officer, a chief administrative officer, or a similar position to perform executive
             95      and administrative duties or functions.
             96          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(b)(i):
             97          (A) the local district may hire an interim manager, a chief executive officer, a chief
             98      administrative officer, or a similar position during an interim vacancy period; and
             99          (B) the interim manager's, chief executive officer's, chief administrative officer's, or
             100      similar position's employment shall terminate once a new manager, chief executive officer,
             101      chief administrative officer, or similar position is hired by the new local district board after the
             102      interim vacancy period has ended.
             103          (c) Subsection (3)(b) does not apply if:
             104          (i) all the elected local district board members who held office on the day of the
             105      municipal general election or the late municipal general election whose [term] terms of office
             106      [was] were vacant for the election are re-elected to the local district board; and
             107          (ii) all the appointed local district board members who were appointed whose term of
             108      appointment was expiring are re-appointed to the local district board.
             109          (4) A local district board that hires an interim manager, a chief executive officer, a
             110      chief administrative officer, or a similar position in accordance with this section may not, on or
             111      after May 10, 2011, enter into an employment contract that contains an automatic renewal
             112      provision with the interim manager, chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, or
             113      similar position.
             114          Section 2. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
             115           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             116          As used in this title:
             117          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             118      voter by the county clerk.
             119          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             120      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.


             121          (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
             122      upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
             123          (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
             124      envelopes.
             125          [(5)] (4) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
             126          (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
             127      be voted on; and
             128          (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
             129          [(6)] (5) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to
             130      voters on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
             131          (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
             132          (b) a constitutional amendment;
             133          (c) an initiative;
             134          (d) a referendum;
             135          (e) a bond proposition;
             136          (f) a judicial retention question;
             137          (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
             138          (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
             139          [(4)] (6) "Ballot sheet":
             140          (a) means a ballot that:
             141          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             142          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
             143          (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             144          (7) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
             145      together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
             146      space reserved for securing the paper.
             147          (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
             148      20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
             149          (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
             150      the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             151          (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a


             152      bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             153          (11) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of
             154      charge by the sender.
             155          (12) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
             156      completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             157          (13) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
             158      election results by the board of canvassers.
             159          (14) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
             160      the canvass.
             161          (15) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
             162      or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
             163          (16) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
             164      delegates are selected.
             165          (17) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
             166      charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
             167          (18) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
             168      election day.
             169          (19) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
             170      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             171          (20) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             172      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
             173      and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
             174          (21) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             175      elected.
             176          (22) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
             177          (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
             178      occurs; and
             179          (b) does not include:
             180          (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
             181          (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
             182      Voting.


             183          (23) "Elected official" means:
             184          (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
             185          (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
             186      Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
             187          (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
             188      Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
             189          (24) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             190      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             191      primary election, [and] a local district election, or a late municipal general election.
             192          (25) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
             193      Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
             194          (26) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
             195      file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
             196          (27) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
             197          (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
             198          (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
             199          (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
             200          (28) "Election officer" means:
             201          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
             202          (b) the county clerk for:
             203          (i) a county ballot and election; and
             204          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             205      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             206          (c) the municipal clerk for:
             207          (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
             208          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             209      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             210          (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
             211          (i) a local district ballot and election; and
             212          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             213      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or


             214          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
             215          (i) a school district ballot and election; and
             216          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             217      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
             218          (29) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
             219          (30) "Election results" means:
             220          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             221      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             222          (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
             223      proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
             224          (31) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, the military and overseas absentee voter
             225      registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any unprocessed absentee ballots, all
             226      counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition
             227      form, and the total votes cast form.
             228          (32) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
             229      device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
             230          (33) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
             231      or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
             232      the record.
             233          (34) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
             234          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             235          (35) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
             236          (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
             237          (b) failed to respond to that notice.
             238          (36) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             239      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             240          (37) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
             241          (38) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
             242      court judge.
             243          (39) (a) "Late municipal general election" means a municipal general election that,
             244      pursuant to Section 20A-1-202.5 , is held later than the normal date described in Subsection


             245      20A-1-202 (1) for a municipal general election.
             246          (b) "Late municipal general election" includes the election for each office that is
             247      required to be included in the municipal general election, for the year that the municipal
             248      general election should have been held, including the office of:
             249          (i) a municipal elected official; and
             250          (ii) an elected official for a local district that is partially or completely within the
             251      municipality.
             252          [(39)] (40) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited
             253      Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district
             254      under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
             255          [(40)] (41) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required
             256      by law to be elected.
             257          [(41)] (42) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special
             258      election, a local district election, and a bond election.
             259          [(42)] (43) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local
             260      district, or a local school district.
             261          [(43)] (44) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing
             262      body of a local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political
             263      subdivision may vote.
             264          [(44)] (45) "Municipal executive" means:
             265          (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
             266      or
             267          (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
             268      10-3b-103 (6).
             269          [(45)] (46) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and
             270      local districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered
             271      year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             272          [(46)] (47) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any
             273      form of municipal government.
             274          [(47)] (48) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             275          [(48)] (49) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by


             276      law to be elected.
             277          [(49)] (50) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate
             278      candidates for municipal office.
             279          [(50)] (51) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the
             280      poll workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
             281          [(51)] (52) "Official endorsement" means:
             282          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             283          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             284          (ii) the date of the election; and
             285          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             286          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             287          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             288          (ii) the ballot number.
             289          [(52)] (53) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials
             290      by the election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
             291          [(53)] (54) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             292          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             293      voted on; and
             294          (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
             295      ballot proposition.
             296          [(54)] (55) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has
             297      qualified to participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party
             298      Formation and Procedures.
             299          (56) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
             300      cast votes.
             301          (57) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             302          [(55)] (58) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist
             303      with an election, voting, or counting votes.
             304          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             305          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             306          [(58)] (59) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a


             307      ballot in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
             308          [(62)] (60) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions at which
             309      nominees for the regular primary election are selected.
             310          [(63)] (61) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
             311          (a) is built into a voting machine; and
             312          (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             313          [(59)] (62) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a
             314      contract or interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for
             315      the contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             316      20A-5-400.1 .
             317          [(60)] (63) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             318          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             319          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             320          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
             321          [(61)] (64) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form
             322      required by Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide
             323      information to verify a person's legal right to vote.
             324          [(64)] (65) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin
             325      performing the duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             326          [(65)] (66) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             327      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             328      after the voter has voted.
             329          [(66)] (67) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail
             330      voter registration form.
             331          [(67)] (68) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             332          [(68)] (69) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on
             333      the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the
             334      purposes established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             335          [(69)] (70) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of
             336      June of each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and nonpolitical
             337      groups to advance to the regular general election.


             338          [(70)] (71) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in
             339      Utah.
             340          [(71)] (72) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot
             341      printed and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             342          [(72)] (73) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then
             343      mark or punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political
             344      parties.
             345          [(73)] (74) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the
             346      ballot into which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the
             347      secrecy of the voter's vote.
             348          [(74)] (75) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section
             349      20A-1-203 .
             350          [(75)] (76) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             351          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             352          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
             353          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             354          [(76)] (77) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor
             355      or the Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             356          [(77)] (78) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
             357          [(78)] (79) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election
             358      officer to the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             359          [(79)] (80) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each
             360      group of petitioners.
             361          [(80)] (81) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             362      counting center.
             363          [(81)] (82) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created
             364      by statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification,
             365      resignation, or other cause.
             366          [(82)] (83) "Valid voter identification" means:
             367          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             368      include:


             369          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             370          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             371          (A) the state; or
             372          (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             373          (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             374          (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
             375          (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             376          (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
             377      photograph of the voter:
             378          (i) a valid tribal identification card;
             379          (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
             380          (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
             381          (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection [(82)] (83)(a) or (b) but that
             382      bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
             383      which may include:
             384          (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
             385      election;
             386          (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             387          (iii) a certified birth certificate;
             388          (iv) a valid Social Security card;
             389          (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
             390          (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             391          (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             392          (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
             393          (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             394          (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
             395          (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
             396          (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
             397          (A) a local government within the state;
             398          (B) an employer for an employee; or
             399          (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the


             400      state; or
             401          (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
             402          [(83)] (84) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a
             403      write-in candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             404          [(84)] (85) "Voter" means a person who:
             405          (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
             406          (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
             407          (c) is registered to vote; and
             408          (d) is listed in the official register book.
             409          [(85)] (86) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in
             410      Section 20A-2-102.5 .
             411          [(86)] (87) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             412      machines, and ballot box.
             413          [(87)] (88) "Voting booth" means:
             414          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
             415      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             416          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             417          [(88)] (89) "Voting device" means:
             418          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             419      piercing the ballots by the voter;
             420          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             421          (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
             422      electronically, or any component thereof;
             423          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             424          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             425      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
             426          [(89)] (90) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of
             427      recording and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             428          [(90)] (91) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             429      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             430          [(91)] (92) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by


             431      law within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             432          [(92)] (93) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an
             433      inspecting poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             434          [(93)] (94) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in
             435      Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
             436          [(94)] (95) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             437          [(95)] (96) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on
             438      the ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
             439          Section 3. Section 20A-1-202.5 is enacted to read:
             440          20A-1-202.5. Duty of municipal clerk to ensure municipal general election held --
             441      Late municipal general election -- Cost of election.
             442          (1) Except for an election that is cancelled under Section 20A-1-206 , a municipal clerk
             443      is responsible to ensure that:
             444          (a) a municipal general election is held on the date described in Subsection
             445      20A-1-202 (1); and
             446          (b) the ballot for the municipal general election includes:
             447          (i) for the municipality and each local district that is partially or completely within the
             448      municipality, each office that is required to be included in the municipal general election for
             449      the current year; and
             450          (ii) each ballot proposition relating to the municipality and to each local district that is
             451      partially or completely within the municipality.
             452          (2) If a municipal clerk fails to comply with the provisions of Subsection (1):
             453          (a) the municipal clerk shall immediately notify the lieutenant governor and the county
             454      clerk, in writing, of the failure; and
             455          (b) the municipality shall pay all expenses of a late municipal general election,
             456      including the expenses of the lieutenant governor and the county clerk in relation to conducting
             457      the election.
             458          (3) If a municipal clerk fails to provide the notice described in Subsection (2)(a), the
             459      lieutenant governor shall, within five business days after the day on which the lieutenant
             460      governor discovers that a municipal clerk failed to comply with the provisions of Subsection
             461      (1), notify the municipal clerk and the county clerk, in writing, of the failure.


             462          (4) (a) Within 14 days after the earlier of the day on which the municipal clerk
             463      provides the notice described in Subsection (2)(a) or the lieutenant governor provides the
             464      notice described in Subsection (3), the lieutenant governor shall:
             465          (i) schedule a late municipal general election to be held as soon as practicable; and
             466          (ii) provide the municipal clerk and the county clerk with a written list of instructions
             467      to ensure that the late municipal general election is conducted:
             468          (A) in an expedited manner;
             469          (B) in a manner that preserves the rights of the candidates and voters; and
             470          (C) subject to Subsection (4)(a)(ii)(A), to the extent possible, in a manner consistent
             471      with the requirements of this chapter.
             472          (b) The lieutenant governor shall include in the written instructions described in
             473      Subsection (4)(a)(ii):
             474          (i) the date of the late municipal general election;
             475          (ii) procedures and tasks that the municipal clerk and county clerk are required to
             476      comply with and complete in relation to conducting the late municipal general election;
             477          (iii) deadlines for tasks and other events in relation to the late municipal general
             478      election;
             479          (iv) procedures for voting on election day;
             480          (v) procedures for early voting, if early voting will be available;
             481          (vi) procedures for the transmittal or voting of an absentee ballot or military-overseas
             482      ballot;
             483          (vii) procedures for the counting of an absentee ballot or military-overseas ballot;
             484          (viii) procedures for canvassing election returns; and
             485          (ix) other instructions that the lieutenant governor determines are needed.
             486          (5) (a) The lieutenant governor may, as necessary, amend the list of instructions
             487      described in Subsections (4)(a)(ii) and (4)(b).
             488          (b) The governing body of the municipality, the municipal clerk, and the county clerk
             489      shall comply with the instructions provided by the lieutenant governor under Subsections (4)
             490      and (5)(a).
             491          (c) The lieutenant governor may cancel a late municipal general election for the same
             492      reasons, and using the same procedure, as the reasons and procedure used by a municipal


             493      legislative body or a local district board under Section 20A-1-206 .
             494          (d) If the lieutenant governor cancels a late municipal general election under Section
             495      20A-1-206 , the municipality is required to pay all expenses incurred to date, including
             496      cancellation expenses, relating to the late municipal general election.
             497          (6) (a) Within 60 days after the day on which the late municipal general election is
             498      held, the lieutenant governor and the county clerk shall deliver to the governing body of the
             499      municipality an invoice for the expenses of the late municipal general election.
             500          (b) The governing body of the municipality shall pay the full amount of the invoice
             501      described in Subsection (6)(a) within the later of:
             502          (i) 30 days after the day on which the governing body receives the invoice; or
             503          (ii) a date agreed to in writing by the governing body of the municipality, the county
             504      clerk, and the lieutenant governor.
             505          (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Utah Code, the term of office for an
             506      elected official who holds an office that will be subject to election in the late municipal general
             507      election shall end at the later of:
             508          (a) the day on which the elected official's term of office normally ends; or
             509          (b) the day after the day on which the county clerk declares a winner of the office in the
             510      late municipal general election.
             511          (8) (a) As used in this Subsection (8), "late office taker" means a candidate who, due to
             512      a late municipal general election, takes office later than the candidate would have taken office
             513      if the municipal general election had been held on the regular date for a municipal general
             514      election.
             515          (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Utah Code, the term of office for a late
             516      office taker:
             517          (i) begins on the day after the day on which the county clerk declares a winner of the
             518      office in the late municipal general election; and
             519          (ii) ends on the day on which the late office taker's term of office would have ended
             520      had the late office taker been elected on the day on which the municipal general election should
             521      have been held.
             522          Section 4. Section 20A-1-206 is amended to read:
             523           20A-1-206. Cancellation of local election -- Municipalities -- Local districts --


             524      Notice.
             525          (1) A municipal legislative body may cancel a local election if:
             526          (a) (i) (A) all municipal officers are elected in an at-large election under Subsection
             527      10-3-205.5 (1); and
             528          (B) the number of municipal officer candidates, including any eligible write-in
             529      candidates under Section 20A-9-601 , for the at-large municipal offices does not exceed the
             530      number of open at-large municipal offices for which the candidates have filed; or
             531          (ii) (A) the municipality has adopted an ordinance under Subsection 10-3-205.5 (2);
             532          (B) the number of municipal officer candidates, including any eligible write-in
             533      candidates under Section 20A-9-601 , for the at-large municipal offices, if any, does not exceed
             534      the number of open at-large municipal offices for which the candidates have filed; and
             535          (C) each municipal officer candidate, including any eligible write-in candidates under
             536      Section 20A-9-601 , in each district is unopposed;
             537          (b) there are no other municipal ballot propositions; and
             538          (c) the municipal legislative body passes, no later than 20 days before the day of the
             539      scheduled election, a resolution that cancels the election and certifies that:
             540          (i) each municipal officer candidate is:
             541          (A) unopposed; or
             542          (B) a candidate for an at-large municipal office for which the number of candidates
             543      does not exceed the number of open at-large municipal offices; and
             544          (ii) a candidate described in Subsection (1)(c)(i) is considered to be elected to office.
             545          (2) A municipal legislative body that cancels a local election in accordance with
             546      Subsection (1) shall give notice that the election is cancelled by posting notice:
             547          (a) subject to Subsection (5), on the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website as
             548      described in Section 20A-7-801 for 15 consecutive days before the day of the scheduled
             549      election;
             550          (b) if the municipality has a public website, on the municipality's public website for 15
             551      days before the day of the scheduled election;
             552          (c) if the municipality publishes a newsletter or other periodical, in the next scheduled
             553      newsletter or other periodical published before the day of the scheduled election; and
             554          (d) (i) at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality


             555      before the day of the scheduled election; or
             556          (ii) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the municipality, in at least
             557      three conspicuous places within the boundaries of the municipality at least 10 days before the
             558      day of the scheduled election.
             559          (3) A local district board may cancel an election as described in Section 17B-1-306 if:
             560          (a) (i) (A) any local district officers are elected in an at-large election; and
             561          (B) the number of local district officer candidates for the at-large local district offices,
             562      including any eligible write-in candidates under Section 20A-9-601 , does not exceed the
             563      number of open at-large local district offices for which the candidates have filed; or
             564          (ii) (A) the local district has divided the local district into divisions under Section
             565      17B-1-306.5 ;
             566          (B) the number of local district officer candidates, including any eligible write-in
             567      candidates under Section 20A-9-601 , for the at-large local district offices within the local
             568      district, if any, does not exceed the number of open at-large local district offices for which the
             569      candidates have filed; and
             570          (C) each local district officer candidate, including any eligible write-in candidates
             571      under Section 20A-9-601 , in each division of the local district is unopposed;
             572          (b) there are no other local district ballot propositions; and
             573          (c) the local district governing body, no later than 20 days before the day of the
             574      scheduled election, adopts a resolution that cancels the election and certifies that:
             575          (i) each local district officer candidate is:
             576          (A) unopposed; or
             577          (B) a candidate for an at-large local district office for which the number of candidates
             578      does not exceed the number of open at-large local district offices; and
             579          (ii) a candidate described in Subsection (3)(c)(i) is considered to be elected to office.
             580          (4) A local district that cancels a local election in accordance with Subsection (3) shall
             581      give notice that the election is cancelled by posting notice:
             582          (a) subject to Subsection (5), on the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website as
             583      described in Section 20A-7-801 for 15 consecutive days before the day of the scheduled
             584      election;
             585          (b) if the local district has a public website, on the local district's public website for 15


             586      days before the day of the scheduled election;
             587          (c) if the local district publishes a newsletter or other periodical, in the next scheduled
             588      newsletter or other periodical published before the day of the scheduled election; and
             589          (d) (i) at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the local district
             590      before the day of the scheduled election; or
             591          (ii) if there is no newspaper of general circulation within the local district, in at least
             592      three conspicuous places within the boundaries of the local district at least 10 days before the
             593      day of the scheduled election.
             594          (5) A municipal legislative body that posts a notice in accordance with Subsection
             595      (2)(a) [or], a local district that posts a notice in accordance with Subsection (4)(a), or the
             596      lieutenant governor who posts a notice in accordance with this section and Section
             597      20A-1-202.5 , is not liable for a notice that fails to post due to technical or other error by the
             598      publisher of the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-6-14 10:13 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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