H.B. 415
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill provides that, except in relation to an elected member of a municipal special
11 service district administrative control board, a local district election and a special
12 service district election are held at the same time as a regular general election.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . revises the definition of "municipal general election";
16 . provides that a local district board of trustees election is held at the same time as a
17 regular general election;
18 . establishes provisions for the election of a local district board member whose
19 election falls in an odd-numbered year;
20 . provides that an elected member of a county special service district administrative
21 control board is elected during a regular general election;
22 . changes the filing deadline for a declaration of candidacy in a local district that
23 authorizes a primary election;
24 . establishes a deadline for a local district to authorize a primary election; and
25 . makes technical and conforming changes.
26 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 None
28 Other Special Clauses:
29 None
30 Utah Code Sections Affected:
31 AMENDS:
32 17B-1-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 209
33 17B-1-303 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 448
34 17B-1-305 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
35 17B-1-306 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 402 and 448
36 17B-2a-404 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 97
37 17D-1-106 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapters 97 and 347
38 20A-1-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
39 20A-1-201 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 241
40 20A-1-202 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 40
41 20A-3-101 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 276
42 20A-5-101 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 291 and 292
43
44 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
45 Section 1. Section 17B-1-301 is amended to read:
46 17B-1-301. Board of trustees duties and powers.
47 (1) (a) Each local district shall be governed by a board of trustees which shall manage
48 and conduct the business and affairs of the district and shall determine all questions of district
49 policy.
50 (b) All powers of a local district are exercised through the board of trustees.
51 (2) The board of trustees may:
52 (a) fix the location of the local district's principal place of business and the location of
53 all offices and departments, if any;
54 (b) fix the times of meetings of the board of trustees;
55 (c) select and use an official district seal;
56 (d) subject to Subsections (3) and (4), employ employees and agents, or delegate to
57 district officers power to employ employees and agents, for the operation of the local district
58 and its properties and prescribe or delegate to district officers the power to prescribe the duties,
59 compensation, and terms and conditions of employment of those employees and agents;
60 (e) require district officers and employees charged with the handling of district funds to
61 provide surety bonds in an amount set by the board or provide a blanket surety bond to cover
62 officers and employees;
63 (f) contract for or employ professionals to perform work or services for the local
64 district that cannot satisfactorily be performed by the officers or employees of the district;
65 (g) through counsel, prosecute on behalf of or defend the local district in all court
66 actions or other proceedings in which the district is a party or is otherwise involved;
67 (h) adopt bylaws for the orderly functioning of the board;
68 (i) adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the orderly operation of the local district
69 or for carrying out the district's purposes;
70 (j) prescribe a system of civil service for district employees;
71 (k) on behalf of the local district, enter into contracts that the board considers to be for
72 the benefit of the district;
73 (l) acquire, construct or cause to be constructed, operate, occupy, control, and use
74 buildings, works, or other facilities for carrying out the purposes of the local district;
75 (m) on behalf of the local district, acquire, use, hold, manage, occupy, and possess
76 property necessary to carry out the purposes of the district, dispose of property when the board
77 considers it appropriate, and institute and maintain in the name of the district any action or
78 proceeding to enforce, maintain, protect, or preserve rights or privileges associated with district
79 property;
80 (n) delegate to a district officer the exercise of a district duty; and
81 (o) exercise all powers and perform all functions in the operation of the local district
82 and its properties as are ordinarily exercised by the governing body of a political subdivision of
83 the state and as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of the district.
84 (3) (a) As used in this Subsection (3), "interim vacancy period" means:
85 (i) if any member of the local district board is elected, the period of time that:
86 (A) begins on the day on which a [
87 Section 17B-1-306 is held to elect a local district board member; and
88 (B) ends on the day on which the local district board member-elect begins the
89 member's term; or
90 (ii) if any member of the local district board is appointed, the period of time that:
91 (A) begins on the day on which an appointing authority posts a notice of vacancy in
92 accordance with Section 17B-1-304 ; and
93 (B) ends on the day on which the person who is appointed by the local district board to
94 fill the vacancy begins the person's term.
95 (b) (i) The local district may not hire during an interim vacancy period a manager, a
96 chief executive officer, a chief administrative officer, or a similar position to perform executive
97 and administrative duties or functions.
98 (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(b)(i):
99 (A) the local district may hire an interim manager, a chief executive officer, a chief
100 administrative officer, or a similar position during an interim vacancy period; and
101 (B) the interim manager's, chief executive officer's, chief administrative officer's, or
102 similar position's employment shall terminate once a new manager, chief executive officer,
103 chief administrative officer, or similar position is hired by the new local district board after the
104 interim vacancy period has ended.
105 (c) Subsection (3)(b) does not apply if:
106 (i) all the elected local district board members who held office on the day of the
107 [
108 re-elected to the local district board; and
109 (ii) all the appointed local district board members who were appointed whose term of
110 appointment was expiring are re-appointed to the local district board.
111 (4) A local district board that hires an interim manager, a chief executive officer, a
112 chief administrative officer, or a similar position in accordance with this section may not, on or
113 after May 10, 2011, enter into an employment contract that contains an automatic renewal
114 provision with the interim manager, chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, or
115 similar position.
116 Section 2. Section 17B-1-303 is amended to read:
117 17B-1-303. Term of board of trustees members -- Oath of office -- Bond.
118 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (1)(b) and (c), the term of each member of a
119 board of trustees shall begin at noon on the January 1 following the member's election or
120 appointment.
121 (b) The term of each member of the initial board of trustees of a newly created local
122 district shall begin:
123 (i) upon appointment, for an appointed member; and
124 (ii) upon the member taking the oath of office after the canvass of the election at which
125 the member is elected, for an elected member.
126 (c) The term of each water conservancy district board member appointed by the
127 governor as provided in Subsection 17B-2a-1005 (2)(c) shall begin on the date on which the
128 senate consents to the appointment.
129 (2) (a) (i) [
130 (2)(a)(ii), the term of each member of a board of trustees shall be four years, except that
131 approximately half the members of the initial board of trustees, chosen by lot, shall serve a
132 two-year term so that the term of approximately half the board members expires every two
133 years.
134 (ii) (A) If the terms of members of the initial board of trustees of a newly created local
135 district do not begin on January 1 because of application of Subsection (1)(b), the terms of
136 those members shall be adjusted as necessary, subject to Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(B), to result in
137 the terms of their successors complying with:
138 (I) the requirement under Subsection (1)(a) for a term to begin on January 1 following
139 a member's election or appointment; and
140 (II) the requirement under Subsection (2)(a)(i) that terms be four years.
141 (B) An adjustment under Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(A) may not add more than a year to or
142 subtract more than a year from a member's term.
143 (b) Each board of trustees member shall serve until a successor is duly elected or
144 appointed and qualified, unless the member earlier is removed from office or resigns or
145 otherwise leaves office.
146 (c) If a member of a board of trustees no longer meets the qualifications of Subsection
147 17B-1-302 (1), or if the member's term expires without a duly elected or appointed successor:
148 (i) the member's position is considered vacant, subject to Subsection (2)(c)(ii); and
149 (ii) the member may continue to serve until a successor is duly elected or appointed
150 and qualified.
151 (3) (a) (i) Before entering upon the duties of office, each member of a board of trustees
152 shall take the oath of office specified in Utah Constitution, Article IV, Section 10.
153 (ii) An oath of office may be administered by a judge, county clerk, notary public, or
154 the local district clerk.
155 (b) Each oath of office shall be filed with the clerk of the local district.
156 (c) The failure of a board of trustees member to take the oath required by Subsection
157 (3)(a) does not invalidate any official act of that member.
158 (4) A board of trustees member is not limited in the number of terms the member may
159 serve.
160 (5) Except as provided in Subsection (6), each midterm vacancy in a board of trustees
161 position shall be filled as provided in Section 20A-1-512 .
162 (6) (a) For purposes of this Subsection (6):
163 (i) "Appointed official" means a person who:
164 (A) is appointed as a member of a local district board of trustees by a county or
165 municipality entitled to appoint a member to the board; and
166 (B) holds an elected position with the appointing county or municipality.
167 (ii) "Appointing entity" means the county or municipality that appointed the appointed
168 official to the board of trustees.
169 (b) The board of trustees shall declare a midterm vacancy for the board position held
170 by an appointed official if:
171 (i) during the appointed official's term on the board of trustees, the appointed official
172 ceases to hold the elected position with the appointing entity; and
173 (ii) the appointing entity submits a written request to the board to declare the vacancy.
174 (c) Upon the board's declaring a midterm vacancy under Subsection (6)(b), the
175 appointing entity shall appoint another person to fill the remaining unexpired term on the board
176 of trustees.
177 (7) (a) Each member of a board of trustees shall give a bond for the faithful
178 performance of the member's duties, in the amount and with the sureties prescribed by the
179 board of trustees.
180 (b) The local district shall pay the cost of each bond required under Subsection (7)(a).
181 (8) The term of an elected local district board member whose election falls in an
182 odd-numbered year is extended one year so that the elected board member's election is held in a
183 regular general election the following even-numbered year.
184 Section 3. Section 17B-1-305 is amended to read:
185 17B-1-305. Notice of offices to be filled.
186 On or before February 1 of each [
187 local district shall prepare and transmit to the clerk of each county in which any part of the
188 district is located a written notice that:
189 (1) designates the offices to be filled at that year's [
190 and
191 (2) identifies the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices.
192 Section 4. Section 17B-1-306 is amended to read:
193 17B-1-306. Local district board -- Election procedures.
194 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (11), each elected board member shall be selected
195 as provided in this section.
196 (2) (a) Each election of a local district board member shall be held:
197 (i) at the same time as the [
198 (ii) at polling places designated by the county clerk in consultation with the local
199 district for each county in which the local district is located, which polling places shall coincide
200 with [
201 (b) The county clerk may consolidate two or more polling places to enable voters from
202 more than one district to vote at one consolidated polling place.
203 (c) (i) Subject to Subsections (4)(f) and (g), the number of polling places under
204 Subsection (2)(a)(ii) in an election of board members of an irrigation district shall be one
205 polling place per division of the district, designated by the district board.
206 (ii) Each polling place designated by an irrigation district board under Subsection
207 (2)(c)(i) shall coincide with a polling place designated by the county clerk under Subsection
208 (2)(a)(ii).
209 (3) (a) The clerk of each local district with a board member position to be filled at the
210 next [
211 (i) each elective position of the local district to be filled at the next [
212 general election;
213 (ii) the constitutional and statutory qualifications for each position; and
214 (iii) the dates and times for filing a declaration of candidacy.
215 (b) The notice required under Subsection (3)(a) shall be:
216 (i) posted in at least five public places within the local district at least 10 days before
217 the first day for filing a declaration of candidacy; or
218 (ii) (A) published in a newspaper of general circulation within the local district at least
219 three but no more than 10 days before the first day for filing a declaration of candidacy; and
220 (B) published, in accordance with Section 45-1-101 , for 10 days before the first day for
221 filing a declaration of candidacy.
222 (4) (a) To become a candidate for an elective local district board position, the
223 prospective candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in person with the local district[
224 (i) if the local district does not authorize a primary election under Subsection (5),
225 during office hours and not later than the close of normal office hours between June 1 and June
226 7 of any [
227 (ii) if the local district authorizes a primary election under Subsection (5), before the
228 filing deadline established for a county office at the regular general election under Section
229 20A-9-202 .
230 (b) When June 7 is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the filing time shall be extended
231 until the close of normal office hours on the following regular business day.
232 (c) (i) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy, the filing
233 officer shall:
234 (A) read to the prospective candidate the constitutional and statutory qualification
235 requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
236 (B) require the candidate to state whether or not the candidate meets those
237 requirements.
238 (ii) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
239 office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy.
240 (iii) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy,
241 the filing officer shall accept the declaration of candidacy.
242 (d) The declaration of candidacy shall substantially comply with the following form:
243 "I, (print name) ____________, being first duly sworn, say that I reside at (Street)
244 ____________, City of ________________, County of ________________, State of Utah,
245 (Zip Code) ______, (Telephone Number, if any)____________; that I meet the qualifications
246 for the office of board of trustees member for _______________________ (state the name of
247 the local district); that I am a candidate for that office to be voted upon at the next election, and
248 I hereby request that my name be printed upon the official ballot for that election.
249 (Signed) _________________________________________
250 Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____________ on this ______ day
251 of ____________, ____.
252 (Signed) ________________________
253 (Clerk or Notary Public)"
254 (e) Each person wishing to become a valid write-in candidate for an elective local
255 district board position is governed by Section 20A-9-601 .
256 (f) If at least one person does not file a declaration of candidacy as required by this
257 section, a person shall be appointed to fill that board position by following the procedures and
258 requirements for appointment established in Section 20A-1-512 .
259 (g) If only one candidate files a declaration of candidacy and there is no write-in
260 candidate who complies with Section 20A-9-601 , the board, in accordance with Section
261 20A-1-206 , may:
262 (i) consider the candidate to be elected to the position; and
263 (ii) cancel the election.
264 (5) (a) A primary election may be held if:
265 (i) the election is authorized by the local district board before February 1 of the year in
266 which the primary election is to be held; and
267 (ii) the number of candidates for a particular local board position or office exceeds
268 twice the number of persons needed to fill that position or office.
269 (b) The primary election shall be conducted:
270 (i) on the same date as the [
271 Section 20A-1-201.5 ; and
272 (ii) according to the procedures for [
273 under Title 20A, Election Code.
274 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(c), within one business day after the filing
275 deadline for a declaration of candidacy, the local district clerk shall certify the candidate names
276 to the clerk of each county in which the local district is located [
277
278 (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(c) and in accordance with Section
279 20A-6-305 , the clerk of each county in which the local district is located shall coordinate the
280 placement of the name of each candidate for local district office in the nonpartisan section of
281 the [
282 (ii) If consolidation of the local district election ballot with the [
283 general election ballot is not feasible, the county clerk shall provide for a separate local district
284 election ballot to be administered by poll workers at polling locations designated under
285 Subsection (2).
286 (c) (i) Subsections (6)(a) and (b) do not apply to an election of a member of the board
287 of an irrigation district established under Chapter 2a, Part 5, Irrigation District Act.
288 (ii) (A) Subject to Subsection (6)(c)(ii)(B), the board of each irrigation district shall
289 prescribe the form of the ballot for each board member election.
290 (B) Each ballot for an election of an irrigation district board member shall be in a
291 nonpartisan format.
292 (C) The name of each candidate shall be placed on the ballot in the order specified
293 under Section 20A-6-305 .
294 (7) (a) Each voter at an election for a board of trustees member of a local district shall:
295 (i) be a registered voter within the district, except for an election of:
296 (A) an irrigation district board of trustees member; or
297 (B) a basic local district board of trustees member who is elected by property owners;
298 and
299 (ii) meet the requirements to vote established by the district.
300 (b) Each voter may vote for as many candidates as there are offices to be filled.
301 (c) The candidates who receive the highest number of votes are elected.
302 (8) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the election of local district board
303 members is governed by Title 20A, Election Code.
304 (9) (a) A person elected to serve on a local district board shall serve a four-year term,
305 beginning at noon on the January 1 after the person's election.
306 (b) A person elected shall be sworn in as soon as practical after January 1.
307 (10) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (10)(b), each local district shall reimburse
308 the county or municipality holding an election under this section for the costs of the election
309 attributable to that local district.
310 (b) Each irrigation district shall bear its own costs of each election it holds under this
311 section.
312 (11) This section does not apply to an improvement district that provides electric or gas
313 service.
314 (12) Except as provided in Subsection 20A-3-605 (1)(b), the provisions of Title 20A,
315 Chapter 3, Part 6, Early Voting, do not apply to an election under this section.
316 Section 5. Section 17B-2a-404 is amended to read:
317 17B-2a-404. Improvement district board of trustees.
318 (1) As used in this section:
319 (a) "County district" means an improvement district that does not include within its
320 boundaries any territory of a municipality.
321 (b) "County member" means a member of a board of trustees of a county district.
322 (c) "Electric district" means an improvement district that was created for the purpose of
323 providing electric service.
324 (d) "Included municipality" means a municipality whose boundaries are entirely
325 contained within but do not coincide with the boundaries of an improvement district.
326 (e) "Municipal district" means an improvement district whose boundaries coincide
327 with the boundaries of a single municipality.
328 (f) "Regular district" means an improvement district that is not a county district,
329 electric district, or municipal district.
330 (g) "Remaining area" means the area of a regular district that:
331 (i) is outside the boundaries of an included municipality; and
332 (ii) includes the area of an included municipality whose legislative body elects, under
333 Subsection (4)(a)(ii), not to appoint a member to the board of trustees of the regular district.
334 (h) "Remaining area member" means a member of a board of trustees of a regular
335 district who is appointed, or, if applicable, elected to represent the remaining area of the
336 district.
337 (2) The legislative body of the municipality included within a municipal district may:
338 (a) elect, at the time of the creation of the district, to be the board of trustees of the
339 district; and
340 (b) adopt at any time a resolution providing for:
341 (i) the election of board of trustees members, as provided in Section 17B-1-306 ; or
342 (ii) the appointment of board of trustees members, as provided in Section 17B-1-304 .
343 (3) The legislative body of a county whose unincorporated area is partly or completely
344 within a county district may:
345 (a) elect, at the time of the creation of the district, to be the board of trustees of the
346 district; and
347 (b) adopt at any time a resolution providing for:
348 (i) the election of board of trustees members, as provided in Section 17B-1-306 ; or
349 (ii) the appointment of board of trustees members, as provided in Section 17B-1-304 .
350 (4) (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(a)(ii), the legislative body of each
351 included municipality shall each appoint one member to the board of trustees of a regular
352 district.
353 (ii) The legislative body of an included municipality may elect not to appoint a member
354 to the board under Subsection (4)(a)(i).
355 (b) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the legislative body of each county whose
356 boundaries include a remaining area shall appoint all other members to the board of trustees of
357 a regular district.
358 (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), each remaining area member of a regular district
359 and each county member of a county district shall be elected, as provided in Section
360 17B-1-306 , if:
361 (a) the petition or resolution initiating the creation of the district provides for remaining
362 area or county members to be elected;
363 (b) the district holds an election to approve the district's issuance of bonds;
364 (c) for a regular district, an included municipality elects, under Subsection (4)(a)(ii),
365 not to appoint a member to the board of trustees; or
366 (d) (i) at least 90 days before the [
367 with the district's board of trustees requesting remaining area members or county members, as
368 the case may be, to be elected; and
369 (ii) the petition is signed by registered voters within the remaining area or county
370 district, as the case may be, equal in number to at least 10% of the number of registered voters
371 within the remaining area or county district, respectively, who voted in the last gubernatorial
372 election.
373 (6) Subject to Section 17B-1-302 , the number of members of a board of trustees of a
374 regular district shall be:
375 (a) the number of included municipalities within the district, if:
376 (i) the number is an odd number; and
377 (ii) the district does not include a remaining area;
378 (b) the number of included municipalities plus one, if the number of included
379 municipalities within the district is even; and
380 (c) the number of included municipalities plus two, if:
381 (i) the number of included municipalities is odd; and
382 (ii) the district includes a remaining area.
383 (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), each remaining area member of the
384 board of trustees of a regular district shall reside within the remaining area.
385 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(a) and subject to Subsection (7)(c), each remaining
386 area member shall be chosen from the district at large if:
387 (i) the population of the remaining area is less than 5% of the total district population;
388 or
389 (ii) (A) the population of the remaining area is less than 50% of the total district
390 population; and
391 (B) the majority of the members of the board of trustees are remaining area members.
392 (c) Application of Subsection (7)(b) may not prematurely shorten the term of any
393 remaining area member serving the remaining area member's elected or appointed term on May
394 11, 2010.
395 (8) If the election of remaining area or county members of the board of trustees is
396 required because of a bond election, as provided in Subsection (5)(b):
397 (a) a person may file a declaration of candidacy if:
398 (i) the person resides within:
399 (A) the remaining area, for a regular district; or
400 (B) the county district, for a county district; and
401 (ii) otherwise qualifies as a candidate;
402 (b) the board of trustees shall, if required, provide a ballot separate from the bond
403 election ballot, containing the names of candidates and blanks in which a voter may write
404 additional names; and
405 (c) the election shall otherwise be governed by Title 20A, Election Code.
406 (9) (a) (i) This Subsection (9) applies to the board of trustees members of an electric
407 district.
408 (ii) Subsections (2) through (8) do not apply to an electric district.
409 (b) The legislative body of the county in which an electric district is located may
410 appoint the initial board of trustees of the electric district as provided in Section 17B-1-304 .
411 (c) After the initial board of trustees is appointed as provided in Subsection (9)(b), each
412 member of the board of trustees of an electric district shall be elected by persons using
413 electricity from and within the district.
414 (d) Each member of the board of trustees of an electric district shall be a user of
415 electricity from the district and, if applicable, the division of the district from which elected.
416 (e) The board of trustees of an electric district may be elected from geographic
417 divisions within the district.
418 (f) A municipality within an electric district is not entitled to automatic representation
419 on the board of trustees.
420 Section 6. Section 17D-1-106 is amended to read:
421 17D-1-106. Special service districts subject to other provisions.
422 (1) A special service district is, to the same extent as if it were a local district, subject
423 to and governed by:
424 (a) (i) Sections 17B-1-105 , 17B-1-107 , 17B-1-108 , 17B-1-110 , 17B-1-111 , 17B-1-112 ,
425 17B-1-113 , 17B-1-116 , 17B-1-118 , 17B-1-119 , 17B-1-120 , 17B-1-121 , 17B-1-304 ,
426 [
427 17B-1-314 ;
428 (ii) Sections 17B-1-305 and 17B-1-306 , to the extent that a county legislative body has
429 delegated authority to elected officers of an administrative control board under Section
430 17D-1-301 ; and
431 (iii) Sections 17B-1-305 and 17B-1-306 , to the extent that a municipal legislative body
432 has delegated authority to elected officers of an administrative control board under Section
433 17D-1-301 , except that each reference to a regular general election in Sections 17B-1-305 and
434 17B-1-306 means a municipal general election;
435 (b) except as provided by Subsection (3), Subsections:
436 (i) 17B-1-301 (3) and (4); and
437 (ii) 17B-1-303 (1), (2)(a) and (b), (3), (4), (5), (6), [
438 (c) Section 20A-1-512 ;
439 (d) Title 17B, Chapter 1, Part 6, Fiscal Procedures for Local Districts;
440 (e) Title 17B, Chapter 1, Part 7, Local District Budgets and Audit Reports;
441 (f) Title 17B, Chapter 1, Part 8, Local District Personnel Management; and
442 (g) Title 17B, Chapter 1, Part 9, Collection of Service Fees and Charges.
443 (2) For purposes of applying the provisions listed in Subsection (1) to a special service
444 district, each reference in those provisions to the local district board of trustees means the
445 governing body and each reference to a local district means a special service district.
446 (3) For a municipal legislative body, to the extent that the municipal legislative body
447 has delegated authority to elected members of an administrative control board under Section
448 17D-1-301 :
449 (a) each reference to a regular general election in Subsection 17B-1-301 (3) means a
450 municipal general election; and
451 (b) Subsection 17B-1-303 (8) does not apply to the special service district's governing
452 body.
453 Section 7. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
454 20A-1-102. Definitions.
455 As used in this title:
456 (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
457 voter by the county clerk.
458 (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
459 and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
460 (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
461 upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
462 (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
463 envelopes.
464 (4) "Ballot sheet":
465 (a) means a ballot that:
466 (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
467 (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
468 (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
469 (5) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
470 (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
471 be voted on; and
472 (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
473 (6) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters
474 on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
475 (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
476 (b) a constitutional amendment;
477 (c) an initiative;
478 (d) a referendum;
479 (e) a bond proposition;
480 (f) a judicial retention question;
481 (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
482 (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
483 (7) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
484 together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
485 space reserved for securing the paper.
486 (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
487 20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
488 (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
489 the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
490 (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a
491 bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
492 (11) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of
493 charge by the sender.
494 (12) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
495 completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
496 (13) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
497 election results by the board of canvassers.
498 (14) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
499 the canvass.
500 (15) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
501 or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
502 (16) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
503 delegates are selected.
504 (17) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
505 charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
506 (18) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
507 election day.
508 (19) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
509 20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
510 (20) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
511 immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
512 and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
513 (21) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
514 elected.
515 (22) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
516 (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
517 occurs; and
518 (b) does not include:
519 (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
520 (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
521 Voting.
522 (23) "Elected official" means:
523 (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
524 (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
525 Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
526 (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
527 Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
528 (24) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
529 statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
530 primary election, and a local district election.
531 (25) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
532 Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
533 (26) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
534 file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
535 (27) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
536 (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
537 (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
538 (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
539 (28) "Election officer" means:
540 (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
541 (b) the county clerk for:
542 (i) a county ballot and election; and
543 (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
544 20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
545 (c) the municipal clerk for:
546 (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
547 (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
548 20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
549 (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
550 (i) a local district ballot and election; and
551 (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
552 20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or
553 (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
554 (i) a school district ballot and election; and
555 (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
556 20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
557 (29) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
558 (30) "Election results" means:
559 (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
560 the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
561 (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
562 proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
563 (31) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, the military and overseas absentee voter
564 registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any unprocessed absentee ballots, all
565 counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition
566 form, and the total votes cast form.
567 (32) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
568 device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
569 (33) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
570 or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
571 the record.
572 (34) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
573 (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
574 (35) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
575 (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
576 (b) failed to respond to that notice.
577 (36) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
578 witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
579 (37) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
580 (38) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
581 court judge.
582 (39) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
583 Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district under Title
584 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
585 (40) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required by law
586 to be elected.
587 (41) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special election, a
588 local district election, and a bond election.
589 (42) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local district, or a
590 local school district.
591 (43) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
592 local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
593 vote.
594 (44) "Municipal executive" means:
595 (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
596 or
597 (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
598 10-3b-103 (6).
599 (45) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities [
600
601 for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
602 (46) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
603 municipal government.
604 (47) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
605 (48) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
606 elected.
607 (49) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
608 municipal office.
609 (50) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
610 workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
611 (51) "Official endorsement" means:
612 (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
613 (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
614 (ii) the date of the election; and
615 (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
616 (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
617 (i) the poll worker's initials; and
618 (ii) the ballot number.
619 (52) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
620 election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
621 (53) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
622 (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
623 voted on; and
624 (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
625 ballot proposition.
626 (54) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
627 participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation
628 and Procedures.
629 (55) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
630 election, voting, or counting votes.
631 (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
632 (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
633 (56) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
634 cast votes.
635 (57) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
636 (58) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
637 in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
638 [
639 nominees for the regular primary election are selected.
640 [
641 (a) is built into a voting machine; and
642 (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
643 [
644 contract or interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for
645 the contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
646 20A-5-400.1 .
647 [
648 (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
649 (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
650 (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
651 [
652 required by Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide
653 information to verify a person's legal right to vote.
654 (64) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
655 duties of the position for which the person was elected.
656 (65) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
657 official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
658 after the voter has voted.
659 (66) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
660 registration form.
661 (67) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
662 (68) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
663 Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
664 established in Section 20A-1-201 .
665 (69) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
666 each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and nonpolitical groups to
667 advance to the regular general election.
668 (70) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
669 (71) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
670 and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
671 (72) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then mark or
672 punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political parties.
673 (73) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the ballot into
674 which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the secrecy of
675 the voter's vote.
676 (74) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-203 .
677 (75) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
678 (a) is spoiled by the voter;
679 (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
680 (c) lacks the official endorsement.
681 (76) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
682 Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
683 (77) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
684 (78) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election officer to
685 the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
686 (79) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each group of
687 petitioners.
688 (80) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
689 counting center.
690 (81) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created by
691 statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation,
692 or other cause.
693 (82) "Valid voter identification" means:
694 (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
695 include:
696 (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
697 (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
698 (A) the state; or
699 (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
700 (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
701 (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
702 (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
703 (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
704 photograph of the voter:
705 (i) a valid tribal identification card;
706 (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
707 (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
708 (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection (82)(a) or (b) but that bear
709 the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct, which
710 may include:
711 (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
712 election;
713 (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
714 (iii) a certified birth certificate;
715 (iv) a valid Social Security card;
716 (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
717 (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
718 (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
719 (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
720 (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
721 (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
722 (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
723 (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
724 (A) a local government within the state;
725 (B) an employer for an employee; or
726 (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
727 state; or
728 (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
729 (83) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in
730 candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
731 (84) "Voter" means a person who:
732 (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
733 (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
734 (c) is registered to vote; and
735 (d) is listed in the official register book.
736 (85) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
737 20A-2-102.5 .
738 (86) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
739 machines, and ballot box.
740 (87) "Voting booth" means:
741 (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
742 of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
743 (b) a voting device that is free standing.
744 (88) "Voting device" means:
745 (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
746 piercing the ballots by the voter;
747 (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
748 (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
749 electronically, or any component thereof;
750 (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
751 (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
752 by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
753 (89) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of recording
754 and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
755 (90) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
756 witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
757 (91) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by law
758 within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
759 (92) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an inspecting
760 poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
761 (93) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in Chapter 9,
762 Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
763 (94) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
764 (95) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on the
765 ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
766 Section 8. Section 20A-1-201 is amended to read:
767 20A-1-201. Date and purpose of regular general elections.
768 (1) A regular general election shall be held throughout the state on the first Tuesday
769 after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.
770 (2) At the regular general election, the voters shall:
771 (a) choose persons to serve the terms established by law for the following offices:
772 (i) electors of President and Vice President of the United States;
773 (ii) United States Senators;
774 (iii) Representatives to the United States Congress;
775 (iv) governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and state auditor;
776 (v) senators and representatives to the Utah Legislature;
777 (vi) county officers;
778 (vii) State School Board members;
779 (viii) local school board members; [
780 (ix) except as provided by Subsection (3), local district officers; and
781 [
782 (b) approve or reject:
783 (i) any proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution that have qualified for the ballot
784 under procedures established in the Utah Code;
785 (ii) any proposed initiatives or referenda that have qualified for the ballot under
786 procedures established in the Utah Code; and
787 (iii) any other ballot propositions submitted to the voters that are authorized by the
788 Utah Code.
789 (3) In a special service district, this section:
790 (a) does not apply to the county or municipal legislative body having authority over the
791 special service district; and
792 (b) applies to an administrative control board of a special service district to the extent
793 that a county or municipal legislative body has delegated authority to elected members of the
794 administrative control board under Section 17D-1-301 .
795 Section 9. Section 20A-1-202 is amended to read:
796 20A-1-202. Date and purpose of municipal general election.
797 (1) Except as provided in Section 20A-1-206 , a municipal general election shall be
798 held in municipalities [
799 legislative body of a municipality that has delegated authority to an elected member of an
800 administrative control board under Section 17D-1-301 on the first Tuesday after the first
801 Monday in November of each odd-numbered year.
802 (2) At the municipal general election, the voters shall:
803 (a) (i) choose persons to serve as municipal officers; and
804 [
805 (ii) to the extent that a municipal legislative body has delegated authority to an elected
806 member of an administrative control board under Section 17D-1-301 , choose the elected
807 members of the administrative control board; and
808 (b) approve or reject:
809 (i) any proposed initiatives or referenda that have qualified for the ballot as provided
810 by law; and
811 (ii) any other ballot propositions submitted to the voters that are authorized by the Utah
812 Code.
813 Section 10. Section 20A-3-101 is amended to read:
814 20A-3-101. Residency and age requirements of voters.
815 (1) [
816 regular general election or statewide special election if that person has registered to vote in
817 accordance with Title 20A, Chapter 2, Voter Registration.
818 (2) A person may vote in the Western States Presidential Primary election or a regular
819 primary election if:
820 (a) that person has registered to vote in accordance with Title 20A, Chapter 2, Voter
821 Registration; and
822 (b) that person's political party affiliation, or unaffiliated status, allows the person to
823 vote in the election.
824 (3) A person may vote in a municipal general election, municipal primary, in a local
825 special election, in a local district election, and in a bond election if that person:
826 (a) has registered to vote in accordance with Title 20A, Chapter 2, Voter Registration;
827 and
828 (b) is a resident of a voting district or precinct within the local entity that is holding the
829 election.
830 Section 11. Section 20A-5-101 is amended to read:
831 20A-5-101. Notice of election.
832 (1) On or before February 1 in each regular general election year, the lieutenant
833 governor shall prepare and transmit a written notice to each county clerk that:
834 (a) designates the offices to be filled at the regular general election;
835 (b) identifies the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices;
836 (c) includes the master ballot position list for the current year and the next year as
837 established under Section 20A-6-305 ; and
838 (d) contains a description of any ballot propositions to be decided by the voters that
839 have qualified for the ballot as of that date.
840 (2) (a) No later than February 15, each county clerk shall:
841 (i) publish a notice:
842 (A) once in a newspaper published in that county; and
843 (B) as required in Section 45-1-101 ; or
844 (ii) (A) cause a copy of the notice to be posted in a conspicuous place most likely to
845 give notice of the election to the voters in each voting precinct within the county; and
846 (B) prepare an affidavit of that posting, showing a copy of the notice and the places
847 where the notice was posted.
848 (b) The notice required by Subsection (2)(a) shall:
849 (i) designate the offices to be voted on in that election in that county[
850
851 (ii) identify the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices.
852 (3) Before each election, the election officer shall give written or printed notice of:
853 (a) the date and place of election;
854 (b) the hours during which the polls will be open;
855 (c) the polling places for each voting precinct;
856 (d) an election day voting center designated under Section 20A-3-703 ; and
857 (e) the qualifications for persons to vote in the election.
858 (4) To provide the notice required by Subsection (3), the election officer shall publish
859 the notice at least two days before the election:
860 (a) in a newspaper of general circulation common to the area or in which the election is
861 being held; and
862 (b) as required in Section 45-1-101 .
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-24-14 5:34 PM