S.B. 54

             1     

ELECTIONS AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             5     
House Sponsor: Daniel McCay

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions of the Election Code relating to nomination of candidates,
             10      primary and general elections, and ballots.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms and modifies defined terms;
             14          .    modifies dates and other provisions relating to a notice of election;
             15          .    except as it relates to presidential candidates, prohibits a ballot or ballot sheet from
             16      indicating that a candidate is associated with a political party unless the candidate is
             17      nominated by petition or nominated by a qualified political party;
             18          .    changes dates relating to the establishment and publication of the master ballot
             19      position list;
             20          .    defines a qualified political party as a registered political party that:
             21              .    permits voters who are unaffiliated with any political party to vote for the         
             22                  registered political party's candidates in a primary election;
             23              .    permits members of the registered political party to vote for neighborhood
             24      delegates remotely or by absentee ballot;
             25              .    permits delegates for the registered political party to vote on a candidate
             26      nomination in the registered political party's convention remotely or permits the
             27      designation of an alternate delegate; and


             28              .    establishes, at 65% or higher, the minimum percentage of votes that a candidate
             29      must receive at the party caucus in order to avoid a primary;
             30          .    modifies provisions and dates relating to a declaration of candidacy;
             31          .    provides that candidates for elective office shall be nominated in direct primary
             32      elections, unless the candidates are listed on the ballot as unaffiliated or are
             33      nominated by a qualified political party;
             34          .    modifies provisions relating to the conduct of a primary election;
             35          .    describes petition requirements for appearing on a primary election ballot for
             36      nomination as a candidate for an identified political party;
             37          .    grants rulemaking authority to the lieutenant governor;
             38          .    describes duties of the lieutenant governor and county clerks in relation to the
             39      provisions of this bill;
             40          .    describes requirements and exceptions for a qualified political party;
             41          .    describes an alternate nomination procedure for a qualified political party; and
             42          .    makes technical and conforming changes.
             43      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             44          None
             45      Other Special Clauses:
             46          None
             47      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             48      AMENDS:
             49           20A-1-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 320
             50           20A-1-501 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             51           20A-5-101 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 291 and 292
             52           20A-6-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 68
             53           20A-6-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             54           20A-6-303 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             55           20A-6-304 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             56           20A-6-305 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             57           20A-9-101 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             58           20A-9-201 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 145 and 317


             59           20A-9-202 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             60           20A-9-403 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 317
             61           20A-9-701 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             62      ENACTS:
             63           20A-9-405 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             64           20A-9-406 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             65           20A-9-407 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             66     
             67      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             68          Section 1. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
             69           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             70          As used in this title:
             71          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             72      voter by the county clerk.
             73          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             74      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
             75          (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
             76      upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
             77          (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
             78      envelopes.
             79          [(5)] (4) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
             80          (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
             81      be voted on; and
             82          (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
             83          [(6)] (5) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to
             84      voters on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
             85          (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
             86          (b) a constitutional amendment;
             87          (c) an initiative;
             88          (d) a referendum;
             89          (e) a bond proposition;


             90          (f) a judicial retention question;
             91          (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
             92          (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
             93          [(4)] (6) "Ballot sheet":
             94          (a) means a ballot that:
             95          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             96          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
             97          (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             98          (7) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
             99      together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
             100      space reserved for securing the paper.
             101          (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
             102      20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
             103          (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
             104      the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             105          (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a
             106      bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             107          (11) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of
             108      charge by the sender.
             109          (12) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
             110      completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             111          (13) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
             112      election results by the board of canvassers.
             113          (14) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
             114      the canvass.
             115          (15) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
             116      or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
             117          (16) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
             118      delegates are selected.
             119          (17) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
             120      charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.


             121          (18) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
             122      election day.
             123          (19) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
             124      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             125          (20) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             126      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
             127      and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
             128          (21) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             129      elected.
             130          (22) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
             131          (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
             132      occurs; and
             133          (b) does not include:
             134          (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
             135          (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
             136      Voting.
             137          (23) "Elected official" means:
             138          (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
             139          (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
             140      Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
             141          (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
             142      Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
             143          (24) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             144      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             145      primary election, and a local district election.
             146          (25) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
             147      Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
             148          (26) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
             149      file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
             150          (27) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
             151          (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;


             152          (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
             153          (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
             154          (28) "Election officer" means:
             155          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
             156          (b) the county clerk for:
             157          (i) a county ballot and election; and
             158          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             159      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             160          (c) the municipal clerk for:
             161          (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
             162          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             163      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             164          (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
             165          (i) a local district ballot and election; and
             166          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             167      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or
             168          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
             169          (i) a school district ballot and election; and
             170          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             171      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
             172          (29) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
             173          (30) "Election results" means:
             174          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             175      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             176          (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
             177      proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
             178          (31) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, the military and overseas absentee voter
             179      registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any unprocessed absentee ballots, all
             180      counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition
             181      form, and the total votes cast form.
             182          (32) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting


             183      device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
             184          (33) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
             185      or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
             186      the record.
             187          (34) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
             188          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             189          (35) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
             190          (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
             191          (b) failed to respond to that notice.
             192          (36) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             193      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             194          (37) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
             195          (38) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
             196      court judge.
             197          (39) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
             198      Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district under Title
             199      17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
             200          (40) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required by law
             201      to be elected.
             202          (41) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special election, a
             203      local district election, and a bond election.
             204          (42) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local district, or a
             205      local school district.
             206          (43) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
             207      local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
             208      vote.
             209          (44) "Municipal executive" means:
             210          (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
             211      or
             212          (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
             213      10-3b-103 (6).


             214          (45) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and local
             215      districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year
             216      for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             217          (46) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
             218      municipal government.
             219          (47) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             220          (48) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
             221      elected.
             222          (49) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
             223      municipal office.
             224          (50) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
             225      workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
             226          (51) "Official endorsement" means:
             227          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             228          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             229          (ii) the date of the election; and
             230          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             231          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             232          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             233          (ii) the ballot number.
             234          (52) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
             235      election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
             236          (53) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             237          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             238      voted on; and
             239          (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
             240      ballot proposition.
             241          (54) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
             242      participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation
             243      and Procedures.
             244          (55) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an


             245      election, voting, or counting votes.
             246          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             247          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             248          (56) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
             249      cast votes.
             250          (57) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             251          (58) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
             252      in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
             253          [(62)] (59) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions [at which
             254      nominees for] held during the year of the regular [primary] general election [are selected].
             255          [(63)] (60) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
             256          (a) is built into a voting machine; and
             257          (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             258          [(59)] (61) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a
             259      contract or interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for
             260      the contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             261      20A-5-400.1 .
             262          [(60)] (62) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             263          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             264          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             265          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
             266          [(61)] (63) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form
             267      required by Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide
             268      information to verify a person's legal right to vote.
             269          (64) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
             270      duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             271          (65) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             272      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             273      after the voter has voted.
             274          (66) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
             275      registration form.


             276          (67) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             277          (68) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
             278      Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
             279      established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             280          (69) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
             281      each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and [nonpolitical groups]
             282      candidates for non-partisan local school board positions to advance to the regular general
             283      election.
             284          (70) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
             285          (71) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
             286      and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             287          (72) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then mark or
             288      punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political parties.
             289          (73) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the ballot into
             290      which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the secrecy of
             291      the voter's vote.
             292          (74) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-203 .
             293          (75) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             294          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             295          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
             296          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             297          (76) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
             298      Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             299          (77) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
             300          (78) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election officer to
             301      the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             302          (79) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each group of
             303      petitioners.
             304          (80) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             305      counting center.
             306          (81) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created by


             307      statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation,
             308      or other cause.
             309          (82) "Valid voter identification" means:
             310          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             311      include:
             312          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             313          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             314          (A) the state; or
             315          (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             316          (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             317          (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
             318          (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             319          (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
             320      photograph of the voter:
             321          (i) a valid tribal identification card;
             322          (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
             323          (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
             324          (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection (82)(a) or (b) but that bear
             325      the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct, which
             326      may include:
             327          (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
             328      election;
             329          (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             330          (iii) a certified birth certificate;
             331          (iv) a valid Social Security card;
             332          (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
             333          (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             334          (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             335          (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
             336          (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             337          (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;


             338          (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
             339          (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
             340          (A) a local government within the state;
             341          (B) an employer for an employee; or
             342          (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
             343      state; or
             344          (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
             345          (83) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in
             346      candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             347          (84) "Voter" means a person who:
             348          (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
             349          (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
             350          (c) is registered to vote; and
             351          (d) is listed in the official register book.
             352          (85) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
             353      20A-2-102.5 .
             354          (86) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             355      machines, and ballot box.
             356          (87) "Voting booth" means:
             357          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
             358      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             359          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             360          (88) "Voting device" means:
             361          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             362      piercing the ballots by the voter;
             363          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             364          (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
             365      electronically, or any component thereof;
             366          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             367          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             368      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.


             369          (89) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of recording
             370      and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             371          (90) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             372      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             373          (91) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by law
             374      within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             375          (92) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an inspecting
             376      poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             377          (93) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in Chapter 9,
             378      Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
             379          (94) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             380          (95) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on the
             381      ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
             382          Section 2. Section 20A-1-501 is amended to read:
             383           20A-1-501. Candidate vacancies -- Procedure for filling.
             384          (1) The state central committee of a political party, for candidates for United States
             385      senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state
             386      treasurer, and state auditor, and for legislative candidates whose legislative districts encompass
             387      more than one county, and the county central committee of a political party, for all other party
             388      candidates seeking an office elected at a regular general election, may certify the name of
             389      another candidate to the appropriate election officer if:
             390          (a) for a registered political party that will have a candidate on a ballot in a primary
             391      election, after the close of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing
             392      through the day before the day on which the lieutenant governor makes the certification
             393      described in Subsection 20A-9-403 [(2)(c)](4)(a):
             394          (i) only one or two candidates from that party have filed a declaration of candidacy for
             395      that office; and
             396          (ii) one or both:
             397          (A) dies;
             398          (B) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability, certified by a
             399      physician, that prevents the candidate from continuing the candidacy; or


             400          (C) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             401          (b) for a registered political party that does not have a candidate on the ballot in a
             402      primary, but that will have a candidate on the ballot for a general election, after the close of the
             403      period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing through the day before the day on
             404      which the lieutenant governor makes the certification described in Section 20A-5-409 , the
             405      party's candidate:
             406          (i) dies;
             407          (ii) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability as certified by a
             408      physician;
             409          (iii) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             410      or
             411          (iv) resigns to become a candidate for president or vice president of the United States;
             412      or
             413          (c) for a registered political party with a candidate certified as winning a primary
             414      election, after the deadline described in Subsection (1)(a) and continuing through the day
             415      before that day on which the lieutenant governor makes the certification described in Section
             416      20A-5-409 , the party's candidate:
             417          (i) dies;
             418          (ii) resigns because of acquiring a physical or mental disability as certified by a
             419      physician;
             420          (iii) is disqualified by an election officer for improper filing or nominating procedures;
             421      or
             422          (iv) resigns to become a candidate for president or vice president of the United States.
             423          (2) If no more than two candidates from a political party have filed a declaration of
             424      candidacy for an office elected at a regular general election and one resigns to become the party
             425      candidate for another position, the state central committee of that political party, for candidates
             426      for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and state auditor, and for
             427      legislative candidates whose legislative districts encompass more than one county, and the
             428      county central committee of that political party, for all other party candidates, may certify the
             429      name of another candidate to the appropriate election officer.
             430          (3) Each replacement candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy as required by


             431      Title 20A, Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy.
             432          (4) (a) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(a) after the
             433      deadline described in Subsection (1)(a) may not appear on the primary election ballot.
             434          (b) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(b) after the deadline
             435      described in Subsection (1)(b) may not appear on the general election ballot.
             436          (c) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (1)(c) after the deadline
             437      described in Subsection (1)(c) may not appear on the general election ballot.
             438          Section 3. Section 20A-5-101 is amended to read:
             439           20A-5-101. Notice of election.
             440          (1) On or before [February 1 in] November 15 in the year before each regular general
             441      election year, the lieutenant governor shall prepare and transmit a written notice to each county
             442      clerk that:
             443          (a) designates the offices to be filled at the next year's regular general election;
             444          (b) identifies the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy, and for submitting and
             445      certifying nomination petition signatures under Section 20A-9-403 , for those offices;
             446          (c) includes the master ballot position list for [the current year and] the next year and
             447      the year following as established under Section 20A-6-305 ; and
             448          (d) contains a description of any ballot propositions to be decided by the voters that
             449      have qualified for the ballot as of that date.
             450          (2) (a) No later than [February 15] November 15 in the year before the regular general
             451      election year, each county clerk shall:
             452          (i) publish a notice:
             453          (A) once in a newspaper published in that county; and
             454          (B) as required in Section 45-1-101 ; or
             455          (ii) (A) cause a copy of the notice to be posted in a conspicuous place most likely to
             456      give notice of the election to the voters in each voting precinct within the county; and
             457          (B) prepare an affidavit of that posting, showing a copy of the notice and the places
             458      where the notice was posted.
             459          (b) The notice required by Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             460          (i) designate the offices to be voted on in that election in that county, other than local
             461      district offices; and


             462          (ii) identify the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices.
             463          (3) Before each election, the election officer shall give written or printed notice of:
             464          (a) the date and place of election;
             465          (b) the hours during which the polls will be open;
             466          (c) the polling places for each voting precinct;
             467          (d) an election day voting center designated under Section 20A-3-703 ; and
             468          (e) the qualifications for persons to vote in the election.
             469          (4) To provide the notice required by Subsection (3), the election officer shall publish
             470      the notice at least two days before the election:
             471          (a) in a newspaper of general circulation common to the area or in which the election is
             472      being held; and
             473          (b) as required in Section 45-1-101 .
             474          Section 4. Section 20A-6-301 is amended to read:
             475           20A-6-301. Paper ballots -- Regular general election.
             476          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             477          (a) all paper ballots furnished for use at the regular general election contain:
             478          (i) no captions or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
             479          (ii) display no symbols, markings, or other descriptions of a political party or group,
             480      except for a registered political party that has chosen to nominate its candidates in accordance
             481      with Section 20A-9-403 ; and
             482          (iii) feature no indication that a candidate for elective office has been nominated by, or
             483      has been endorsed by, or is in any way affiliated with a political party or group, unless the
             484      candidate has been nominated by a registered political party in accordance with in accordance
             485      with Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5).
             486          (b) (i) the paper ballot contains a ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across the
             487      top of the ballot, and divided from the rest of ballot by a perforated line;
             488          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             489      stub; and
             490          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             491          (c) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             492      printed in 18 point bold type:


             493          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
             494          (ii) the date of the election; and
             495          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the county clerk and the words "county clerk";
             496          (d) each ticket is placed in a separate column on the ballot in the order specified under
             497      Section 20A-6-305 with the party emblem, followed by the party name, at the head of the
             498      column;
             499          (e) the party name or title is printed in capital letters not less than one-fourth of an inch
             500      high;
             501          (f) a circle one-half inch in diameter is printed immediately below the party name or
             502      title, and the top of the circle is placed not less than two inches below the perforated line;
             503          (g) unaffiliated candidates [and], candidates not affiliated with a registered political
             504      party, and all other candidates for elective office who were not nominated by a registered
             505      political party in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5), are
             506      listed in one column in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 , without a party circle,
             507      with the following instructions printed at the head of the column: "All candidates not affiliated
             508      with a political party are listed below. They are to be considered with all offices and
             509      candidates listed to the left. Only one vote is allowed for each office.";
             510          (h) the columns containing the lists of candidates, including the party name and device,
             511      are separated by heavy parallel lines;
             512          (i) the offices to be filled are plainly printed immediately above the names of the
             513      candidates for those offices;
             514          (j) the names of candidates are printed in capital letters, not less than one-eighth nor
             515      more than one-fourth of an inch high in heavy-faced type not smaller than 10 point, between
             516      lines or rules three-eighths of an inch apart;
             517          (k) a square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is
             518      printed immediately adjacent to the name of each candidate;
             519          (l) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor,
             520      one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is printed on the
             521      same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the names of the two candidates;
             522          (m) immediately adjacent to the unaffiliated ticket on the ballot, the ballot contains a
             523      write-in column long enough to contain as many written names of candidates as there are


             524      persons to be elected with:
             525          (i) for each office on the ballot, the office to be filled plainly printed immediately
             526      above:
             527          (A) a blank, horizontal line to enable the entry of a valid write-in candidate and a
             528      square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length printed immediately
             529      adjacent to the blank horizontal line; or
             530          (B) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant
             531      governor, two blank horizontal lines, one placed above the other, to enable the entry of two
             532      valid write-in candidates, and one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an
             533      inch in length printed on the same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the two
             534      blank horizontal lines; and
             535          (ii) the words "Write-In Voting Column" printed at the head of the column without a
             536      one-half inch circle;
             537          (n) when required, the ballot includes a nonpartisan ticket placed immediately adjacent
             538      to the write-in ticket with the word "NONPARTISAN" in reverse type in an 18 point solid rule
             539      running vertically the full length of the nonpartisan ballot copy; and
             540          (o) constitutional amendments or other questions submitted to the vote of the people,
             541      are printed on the ballot after the list of candidates.
             542          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             543          (a) each person nominated by any registered political party [or group of petitioners]
             544      under Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5), and no other person, is placed on
             545      the ballot:
             546          (i) under the [party] registered political party's name and emblem, if any; or
             547          (ii) under the title of the registered political party [or group] as designated by them in
             548      their certificates of nomination or petition, or, if none is designated, then under some suitable
             549      title;
             550          (b) the names of all unaffiliated candidates that qualify as required in Title 20A,
             551      Chapter 9, Part 5, Candidates not Affiliated with a Party, are placed on the ballot;
             552          (c) the names of the candidates for president and vice president are used on the ballot
             553      instead of the names of the presidential electors; and
             554          (d) the ballots contain no other names.


             555          (3) When the ballot contains a nonpartisan section, the election officer shall ensure
             556      that:
             557          (a) the designation of the office to be filled in the election and the number of
             558      candidates to be elected are printed in type not smaller than eight point;
             559          (b) the words designating the office are printed flush with the left-hand margin;
             560          (c) the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of candidates for
             561      which the voter may vote)" extend to the extreme right of the column;
             562          (d) the nonpartisan candidates are grouped according to the office for which they are
             563      candidates;
             564          (e) the names in each group are placed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             565      with the surnames last; and
             566          (f) each group is preceded by the designation of the office for which the candidates
             567      seek election, and the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of
             568      candidates for which the voter may vote)," according to the number to be elected.
             569          (4) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             570          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed on the ballot in
             571      accordance with Section 20A-6-107 ;
             572          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed on the ballot in accordance
             573      with Section 20A-6-107 ; and
             574          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
             575      title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             576          Section 5. Section 20A-6-302 is amended to read:
             577           20A-6-302. Paper ballots -- Placement of candidates' names.
             578          (1) Each election officer shall ensure, for paper ballots in regular general elections,
             579      that:
             580          (a) each candidate is listed by party, if nominated by a registered political party under
             581      Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5);
             582          (b) candidates' surnames are listed in alphabetical order on the ballots when two or
             583      more candidates' names are required to be listed on a ticket under the title of an office; and
             584          (c) the names of candidates are placed on the ballot in the order specified under Section
             585      20A-6-305 .


             586          (2) (a) When there is only one candidate for county attorney at the regular general
             587      election in counties that have three or fewer registered voters of the county who are licensed
             588      active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the county clerk shall cause that
             589      candidate's name and party affiliation, if any, to be placed on a separate section of the ballot
             590      with the following question: "Shall (name of candidate) be elected to the office of county
             591      attorney? Yes ____ No ____."
             592          (b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
             593      elected to the office of county attorney.
             594          (c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
             595      elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the end of the
             596      term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
             597          (d) When the name of only one candidate for county attorney is printed on the ballot
             598      under authority of this Subsection (2), the county clerk may not count any write-in votes
             599      received for the office of county attorney.
             600          (e) If no qualified person files for the office of county attorney or if the candidate is not
             601      elected by the voters, the county legislative body shall appoint the county attorney as provided
             602      in Section 20A-1-509.2 .
             603          (f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (2)(f), be placed on
             604      the ballot under Subsection (2)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (2)(a) to the
             605      two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate is seeking
             606      election, Subsection (2)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be considered to be an
             607      unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate for another office, unless a
             608      petition is filed with the county clerk before the date of that year's primary election that:
             609          (i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (2)(a) to be followed; and
             610          (ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number at
             611      least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the last election at
             612      which a governor was elected.
             613          (3) (a) When there is only one candidate for district attorney at the regular general
             614      election in a prosecution district that has three or fewer registered voters of the district who are
             615      licensed active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the county clerk shall cause
             616      that candidate's name and party affiliation, if any, to be placed on a separate section of the


             617      ballot with the following question: "Shall (name of candidate) be elected to the office of district
             618      attorney? Yes ____ No ____."
             619          (b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
             620      elected to the office of district attorney.
             621          (c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
             622      elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the end of the
             623      term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
             624          (d) When the name of only one candidate for district attorney is printed on the ballot
             625      under authority of this Subsection (3), the county clerk may not count any write-in votes
             626      received for the office of district attorney.
             627          (e) If no qualified person files for the office of district attorney, or if the only candidate
             628      is not elected by the voters under this subsection, the county legislative body shall appoint a
             629      new district attorney for a four-year term as provided in Section 20A-1-509.2 .
             630          (f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (3)(f), be placed on
             631      the ballot under Subsection (3)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (3)(a) to the
             632      two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate is seeking
             633      election, Subsection (3)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be considered to be an
             634      unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate for another office, unless a
             635      petition is filed with the county clerk before the date of that year's primary election that:
             636          (i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (3)(a) to be followed; and
             637          (ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number at
             638      least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the last election at
             639      which a governor was elected.
             640          Section 6. Section 20A-6-303 is amended to read:
             641           20A-6-303. Regular general election -- Ballot sheets.
             642          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             643          (a) copy on the ballot sheets or ballot labels, as applicable, are arranged in
             644      approximately the same order as paper ballots;
             645          (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are printed in vertical columns or in
             646      a series of separate pages;
             647          (c) the ballot sheet or any pages used for the ballot label are of sufficient number to


             648      include, after the list of candidates:
             649          (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
             650          (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
             651          (d) (i) a voting square or position is included where the voter may record a straight
             652      party ticket vote for all the candidates of one party by one mark or punch; and
             653          (ii) the name of each political party listed in the straight party selection area includes
             654      the word "party" at the end of the party's name;
             655          (e) the tickets are printed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 ;
             656          (f) the office titles are printed immediately adjacent to the names of candidates so as to
             657      indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
             658          (g) the party designation of each candidate who has been nominated by a registered
             659      political party under Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5) is printed
             660      immediately adjacent to the candidate's name; and
             661          (h) (i) if possible, all candidates for one office are grouped in one column or upon one
             662      page;
             663          (ii) if all candidates for one office cannot be listed in one column or grouped on one
             664      page:
             665          (A) the ballot sheet or ballot label shall be clearly marked to indicate that the list of
             666      candidates is continued on the following column or page; and
             667          (B) approximately the same number of names shall be printed in each column or on
             668      each page.
             669          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             670          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed in accordance with
             671      Section 20A-6-107 ;
             672          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed in accordance with Section
             673      20A-6-107 ; and
             674          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed under the title
             675      assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             676          Section 7. Section 20A-6-304 is amended to read:
             677           20A-6-304. Regular general election -- Electronic ballots.
             678          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:


             679          (a) the format and content of the electronic ballot is arranged in approximately the
             680      same order as paper ballots;
             681          (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are displayed in vertical columns or
             682      in a series of separate display screens;
             683          (c) the electronic ballot is of sufficient length to include, after the list of candidates:
             684          (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
             685          (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
             686          (d) (i) a voting square or position is included where the voter may record a straight
             687      party ticket vote for all the candidates of one party by making a single selection; and
             688          (ii) the name of each political party listed in the straight party selection area includes
             689      the word "party" at the end of the party's name;
             690          (e) the tickets are displayed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 ;
             691          (f) the office titles are displayed above or at the side of the names of candidates so as to
             692      indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
             693          (g) the party designation of each candidate who has been nominated by a registered
             694      political party under Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5) is displayed
             695      adjacent to the candidate's name; and
             696          (h) if possible, all candidates for one office are grouped in one column or upon one
             697      display screen.
             698          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             699          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are displayed in accordance with
             700      Section 20A-6-107 ;
             701          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are displayed in accordance with Section
             702      20A-6-107 ; and
             703          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are displayed under the title
             704      assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             705          Section 8. Section 20A-6-305 is amended to read:
             706           20A-6-305. Master ballot position list -- Random selection -- Procedures --
             707      Publication -- Surname -- Exemptions.
             708          (1) As used in this section, "master ballot position list" means an official list of the 26
             709      characters in the alphabet listed in random order and numbered from one to 26 as provided


             710      under Subsection (2).
             711          (2) The lieutenant governor shall:
             712          (a) [at the beginning of each general election year] by November 15 in the year before
             713      each regular general election, conduct a random selection to establish the master ballot position
             714      list for the [current year and] the next year and the year following in accordance with
             715      procedures established under Subsection (2)(c);
             716          (b) publish the master ballot position lists on the lieutenant governor's election website
             717      on or before [February 1 in] November 15 in the year before each regular general election
             718      [year]; and
             719          (c) establish written procedures for:
             720          (i) the election official to use the master ballot position list; and
             721          (ii) the lieutenant governor in:
             722          (A) conducting the random selection in a fair manner; and
             723          (B) providing a record of the random selection process used.
             724          (3) In accordance with the written procedures established under Subsection (2)(c)(i), an
             725      election officer shall use the master ballot position list for the current year to determine the
             726      order in which to list candidates on the ballot for an election held during the year.
             727          (4) To determine the order in which to list candidates on the ballot required under
             728      Subsection (3), the election officer shall apply the randomized alphabet using:
             729          (a) the candidate's surname;
             730          (b) for candidates with a surname that has the same spelling, the candidate's given
             731      name;
             732          (c) the surname of the president and the surname of the governor for an election for the
             733      offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor; and
             734          (d) if the ballot provides for a ticket or a straight party ticket, the registered political
             735      party name.
             736          (5) This section does not apply to:
             737          (a) an election for an office for which only one candidate is listed on the ballot; or
             738          (b) a judicial retention election under Section 20A-12-201 .
             739          Section 9. Section 20A-9-101 is amended to read:
             740           20A-9-101. Definitions.


             741          As used in this chapter:
             742          (1) (a) "Candidates for elective office" means persons [selected by a registered political
             743      party as party candidates] who file a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202 to run
             744      in a regular general election for a federal office, constitutional office, multi-county office, or
             745      county office.
             746          (b) "Candidates for elective office" does not mean candidates for:
             747          (i) justice or judge of court of record or not of record;
             748          (ii) presidential elector;
             749          (iii) any political party offices; and
             750          (iv) municipal or local district offices.
             751          (2) "Constitutional office" means the state offices of governor, lieutenant governor,
             752      attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer.
             753          (3) "Continuing political party" is as defined in Section 20A-8-101 .
             754          [(3)] (4) (a) "County office" means an elective office where the office holder is selected
             755      by voters entirely within one county.
             756          (b) "County office" does not mean:
             757          (i) the office of justice or judge of any court of record or not of record;
             758          (ii) the office of presidential elector;
             759          (iii) any political party offices;
             760          (iv) any municipal or local district offices; and
             761          (v) the office of United States Senator and United States Representative.
             762          [(4)] (5) "Federal office" means an elective office for United States Senator and United
             763      States Representative.
             764          [(5)] (6) "Filing officer" means:
             765          (a) the lieutenant governor, for:
             766          [(i) offices whose political division contains territory in two or more counties;]
             767          [(ii)] (i) the office of United States Senator and United States Representative; and
             768          [(iii)] (ii) all constitutional offices;
             769          (b) the county clerk, for county offices and local school district offices, and the county
             770      clerk in the filer's county of residence, for multi-county offices;
             771          (c) the city or town clerk, for municipal offices; and


             772          (d) the local district clerk, for local district offices.
             773          [(6)] (7) "Local district office" means an elected office in a local district.
             774          [(7)] (8) "Local government office" includes county offices, municipal offices, and
             775      local district offices and other elective offices selected by the voters from a political division
             776      entirely within one county.
             777          [(8)] (9) (a) "Multi-county office" means an elective office where the office holder is
             778      selected by the voters from more than one county.
             779          (b) "Multi-county office" does not mean:
             780          (i) a county office;
             781          (ii) a federal office;
             782          (iii) the office of justice or judge of any court of record or not of record;
             783          (iv) the office of presidential elector;
             784          (v) any political party offices; and
             785          (vi) any municipal or local district offices.
             786          [(9)] (10) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             787          [(10)] (11) (a) "Political division" means a geographic unit from which an office holder
             788      is elected and that an office holder represents.
             789          (b) "Political division" includes a county, a city, a town, a local district, a school
             790      district, a legislative district, and a county prosecution district.
             791          (12) "Qualified political party" means a registered political party that:
             792          (a) permits voters who are unaffiliated with any political party to vote for the registered
             793      political party's candidates in a primary election;
             794          (b) permits members of the registered political party to vote for neighborhood
             795      delegates remotely or by absentee ballot;
             796          (c) accepts a vote cast remotely or by absentee ballot, under Subsection (12)(b), for a
             797      period of not less than two days after the day on which:
             798          (i) all delegate nominees of the registered political party have been identified; and
             799          (ii) the name of each delegate nominee described in Subsection (12)(c)(i) is made
             800      available to members of the registered political party;
             801          (d) (i) permits a delegate for the registered political party to vote on a candidate
             802      nomination in the registered political party's convention remotely; or


             803          (ii) provides a procedure for designating an alternate delegate if a delegate is not
             804      present at the registered political party's convention; and
             805          (e) establishes, at 65% or higher, the minimum percentage of votes that a candidate
             806      must receive at the party caucus in order to avoid a primary.
             807          Section 10. Section 20A-9-201 is amended to read:
             808           20A-9-201. Declarations of candidacy -- Candidacy for more than one office or of
             809      more than one political party prohibited with exceptions -- General filing and form
             810      requirements -- Affidavit of impecuniosity.
             811          (1) Before filing a declaration of candidacy for election to any office, a person shall:
             812          (a) be a United States citizen; [and]
             813          (b) meet the legal requirements of that office[.]; and
             814          (c) if seeking a registered political party's nomination as a candidate for elective office,
             815      designate that registered political party as their preferred party affiliation on their declaration of
             816      candidacy.
             817          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person may not:
             818          (i) file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than one office in
             819      Utah during any election year; or
             820          (ii) appear on the ballot as the candidate of more than one political party.
             821          (b) (i) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, president
             822      or vice president of the United States and another office, if the person resigns the person's
             823      candidacy for the other office after the person is officially nominated for president or vice
             824      president of the United States.
             825          (ii) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than
             826      one justice court judge office.
             827          (iii) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for lieutenant governor even if the
             828      person filed a declaration of candidacy for another office in the same election year if the person
             829      withdraws as a candidate for the other office in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202 (6)
             830      before filing the declaration of candidacy for lieutenant governor.
             831          (3) (a) (i) Except for presidential candidates, before the filing officer may accept any
             832      declaration of candidacy, the filing officer shall:
             833          (A) read to the prospective candidate the constitutional and statutory qualification


             834      requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             835          (B) require the candidate to state whether or not the candidate meets those
             836      requirements.
             837          (ii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county attorney, the
             838      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing that declaration of candidacy is:
             839          (A) a United States citizen;
             840          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             841      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             842          (C) a registered voter in the county in which the person is seeking office; and
             843          (D) a current resident of the county in which the person is seeking office and either has
             844      been a resident of that county for at least one year or was appointed and is currently serving as
             845      county attorney and became a resident of the county within 30 days after appointment to the
             846      office.
             847          (iii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of district attorney, the
             848      county clerk shall ensure that, as of the date of the election, the person filing that declaration of
             849      candidacy is:
             850          (A) a United States citizen;
             851          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             852      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             853          (C) a registered voter in the prosecution district in which the person is seeking office;
             854      and
             855          (D) a current resident of the prosecution district in which the person is seeking office
             856      and either will have been a resident of that prosecution district for at least one year as of the
             857      date of the election or was appointed and is currently serving as district attorney and became a
             858      resident of the prosecution district within 30 days after receiving appointment to the office.
             859          (iv) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county sheriff, the
             860      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing the declaration of candidacy:
             861          (A) as of the date of filing:
             862          (I) is a United States citizen;
             863          (II) is a registered voter in the county in which the person seeks office;
             864          (III) (Aa) has successfully met the standards and training requirements established for


             865      law enforcement officers under Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 2, Peace Officer Training and
             866      Certification Act; or
             867          (Bb) has met the waiver requirements in Section 53-6-206 ; and
             868          (IV) is qualified to be certified as a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section
             869      53-13-103 ; and
             870          (B) as of the date of the election, shall have been a resident of the county in which the
             871      person seeks office for at least one year.
             872          (v) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of governor, lieutenant
             873      governor, state auditor, state treasurer, attorney general, state legislator, or State Board of
             874      Education member, the filing officer shall ensure:
             875          (A) that the person filing the declaration of candidacy also files the financial disclosure
             876      required by Section 20A-11-1603 ; and
             877          (B) if the filing officer is not the lieutenant governor, that the financial disclosure is
             878      provided to the lieutenant governor according to the procedures and requirements of Section
             879      20A-11-1603 .
             880          (b) If the prospective candidate states that the qualification requirements for the office
             881      are not met, the filing officer may not accept the prospective candidate's declaration of
             882      candidacy.
             883          (c) If the candidate meets the requirements of Subsection (3)(a) and states that the
             884      requirements of candidacy are met, the filing officer shall:
             885          (i) inform the candidate that:
             886          (A) the candidate's name will appear on the ballot as it is written on the declaration of
             887      candidacy;
             888          (B) the candidate may be required to comply with state or local campaign finance
             889      disclosure laws; and
             890          (C) the candidate is required to file a financial statement before the candidate's political
             891      convention under:
             892          (I) Section 20A-11-204 for a candidate for constitutional office;
             893          (II) Section 20A-11-303 for a candidate for the Legislature; or
             894          (III) local campaign finance disclosure laws, if applicable;
             895          (ii) except for a presidential candidate, provide the candidate with a copy of the current


             896      campaign financial disclosure laws for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the
             897      candidate that failure to comply will result in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the
             898      candidate's name from the ballot;
             899          (iii) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the Statewide
             900      Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the submission
             901      deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801 (4)(a);
             902          (iv) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
             903      described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             904          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             905          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer;
             906          (v) accept the candidate's declaration of candidacy; and
             907          (vi) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             908      declaration of candidacy to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
             909      candidate is a member.
             910          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             911      officer shall:
             912          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             913          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             914      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             915      member.
             916          (4) (a) Except for presidential candidates, the form of the declaration of candidacy shall
             917      be substantially as follows:
             918          "State of Utah, County of ____
             919              I, ______________, declare my [intention of becoming a candidate] candidacy
             920      for the office of ____ [as a candidate for], seeking the nomination of the ____ party,
             921      which is my preferred political party affiliation. I do solemnly swear that: I will meet
             922      the qualifications to hold the office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I
             923      reside at _____________ in the City or Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____ Phone No.
             924      ____; I will not knowingly violate any law governing campaigns and elections; I will
             925      file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I understand that
             926      failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office and


             927      removal of my name from the ballot. The mailing address that I designate for receiving official
             928      election notices is ___________________________.
             929      ____________________________________________________________________
             930          Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year).
             931     
Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath.)"

             932          (b) An agent designated to file a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202
             933      may not sign the form described in Subsection (4)(a).
             934          (5) (a) Except for presidential candidates, the fee for filing a declaration of candidacy
             935      is:
             936          (i) $50 for candidates for the local school district board; and
             937          (ii) $50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office legally paid to the
             938      person holding the office for all other federal, state, and county offices.
             939          (b) Except for presidential candidates, the filing officer shall refund the filing fee to
             940      any candidate:
             941          (i) who is disqualified; or
             942          (ii) who the filing officer determines has filed improperly.
             943          (c) (i) The county clerk shall immediately pay to the county treasurer all fees received
             944      from candidates.
             945          (ii) The lieutenant governor shall:
             946          (A) apportion to and pay to the county treasurers of the various counties all fees
             947      received for filing of nomination certificates or acceptances; and
             948          (B) ensure that each county receives that proportion of the total amount paid to the
             949      lieutenant governor from the congressional district that the total vote of that county for all
             950      candidates for representative in Congress bears to the total vote of all counties within the
             951      congressional district for all candidates for representative in Congress.
             952          (d) (i) A person who is unable to pay the filing fee may file a declaration of candidacy
             953      without payment of the filing fee upon a prima facie showing of impecuniosity as evidenced by
             954      an affidavit of impecuniosity filed with the filing officer and, if requested by the filing officer,
             955      a financial statement filed at the time the affidavit is submitted.
             956          (ii) A person who is able to pay the filing fee may not claim impecuniosity.
             957          (iii) (A) False statements made on an affidavit of impecuniosity or a financial


             958      statement filed under this section shall be subject to the criminal penalties provided under
             959      Sections 76-8-503 and 76-8-504 and any other applicable criminal provision.
             960          (B) Conviction of a criminal offense under Subsection (5)(d)(iii)(A) shall be
             961      considered an offense under this title for the purposes of assessing the penalties provided in
             962      Subsection 20A-1-609 (2).
             963          (iv) The filing officer shall ensure that the affidavit of impecuniosity is printed in
             964      substantially the following form:
             965          "Affidavit of Impecuniosity
             966      Individual Name
             967      ____________________________Address_____________________________
             968      Phone Number _________________
             969      I,__________________________(name), do solemnly [swear] [affirm], under penalty of law
             970      for false statements, that, owing to my poverty, I am unable to pay the filing fee required by
             971      law.
             972      Date ______________ Signature________________________________________________
             973      Affiant
             974      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________ (month\day\year)
             975     
______________________

             976     
(signature)

             977          Name and Title of Officer Authorized to Administer Oath
______________________"

             978          (v) The filing officer shall provide to a person who requests an affidavit of
             979      impecuniosity a statement printed in substantially the following form, which may be included
             980      on the affidavit of impecuniosity:
             981          "Filing a false statement is a criminal offense. In accordance with Section 20A-1-609 , a
             982      candidate who is found guilty of filing a false statement, in addition to being subject to criminal
             983      penalties, will be removed from the ballot."
             984          (vi) The filing officer may request that a person who makes a claim of impecuniosity
             985      under this Subsection (5)(d) file a financial statement on a form prepared by the election
             986      official.
             987          (6) (a) If there is no legislative appropriation for the Western States Presidential
             988      Primary election, as provided in Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary, a candidate for


             989      president of the United States who is affiliated with a registered political party and chooses to
             990      participate in the regular primary election shall:
             991          (i) file a declaration of candidacy, in person or via a designated agent, with the
             992      lieutenant governor:
             993          (A) on a form developed and provided by the lieutenant governor; and
             994          (B) on or after the second Friday in March and before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in
             995      March before the next regular primary election;
             996          (ii) identify the registered political party whose nomination the candidate is seeking;
             997          (iii) provide a letter from the registered political party certifying that the candidate may
             998      participate as a candidate for that party in that party's presidential primary election; and
             999          (iv) pay the filing fee of $500.
             1000          (b) An agent designated to file a declaration of candidacy may not sign the form
             1001      described in Subsection (6)(a)(i)(A).
             1002          (7) Any person who fails to file a declaration of candidacy or certificate of nomination
             1003      within the time provided in this chapter is ineligible for nomination to office.
             1004          (8) A declaration of candidacy filed under this section may not be amended or
             1005      modified after the final date established for filing a declaration of candidacy.
             1006          Section 11. Section 20A-9-202 is amended to read:
             1007           20A-9-202. Declarations of candidacy for regular general elections --
             1008      Requirements for candidates.
             1009          (1) (a) Each person seeking to become a candidate for an elective office [for any county
             1010      office] that is to be filled at the next regular general election shall:
             1011          (i) file a declaration of candidacy in person with the [county clerk on or after the
             1012      second Friday in March and before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in March before the next
             1013      regular general election] filing officer on or after November 15 in the year before the regular
             1014      general election year, and before the candidate circulates nomination petitions under Section
             1015      20A-9-405 ; and
             1016          (ii) pay the filing fee.
             1017          [(b) Each person intending to become a candidate for any legislative office or
             1018      multicounty office that is to be filled at the next regular general election shall:]
             1019          [(i) file a declaration of candidacy in person with either the lieutenant governor or the


             1020      county clerk in the candidate's county of residence on or after the second Friday in March and
             1021      before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in March before the next regular general election; and]
             1022          [(ii) pay the filing fee.]
             1023          [(c) (i)] (b) Each county clerk who receives a declaration of candidacy from a candidate
             1024      for multicounty office shall transmit the filing fee and a copy of the candidate's declaration of
             1025      candidacy to the lieutenant governor within one working day after it is filed.
             1026          [(ii)] (c) Each day during the filing period, each county clerk shall notify the lieutenant
             1027      governor electronically or by telephone of [legislative] candidates who have filed in their
             1028      office.
             1029          [(d) Each person seeking to become a candidate for elective office for any federal
             1030      office or constitutional office that is to be filled at the next regular general election shall]:
             1031          [(i) file a declaration of candidacy in person with the lieutenant governor on or after the
             1032      second Friday in March and before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in March before the next
             1033      regular general election; and]
             1034          [(ii) pay the filing fee.]
             1035          [(e)] (d) Each person seeking the office of lieutenant governor, the office of district
             1036      attorney, or the office of president or vice president of the United States shall comply with the
             1037      specific declaration of candidacy requirements established by this section.
             1038          (2) (a) Each person intending to become a candidate for the office of district attorney
             1039      within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at the next regular general election
             1040      shall:
             1041          (i) file a declaration of candidacy with the clerk designated in the interlocal agreement
             1042      creating the prosecution district on or after [the second Friday in March and before 5 p.m. on
             1043      the third Thursday in March before the next regular general election] November 15 in the year
             1044      before the regular general election year, and before the candidate circulates nomination
             1045      petitions under Section 20A-9-405 ; and
             1046          (ii) pay the filing fee.
             1047          (b) The designated clerk shall provide to the county clerk of each county in the
             1048      prosecution district a certified copy of each declaration of candidacy filed for the office of
             1049      district attorney.
             1050          (3) (a) [Within five working days of nomination] On or before 5 p.m. on the first


             1051      Monday after the third Saturday in April, each lieutenant governor candidate shall:
             1052          (i) file a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor; [and]
             1053          (ii) pay the filing fee[.]; and
             1054          (iii) submit a letter from a candidate for governor who has received certification for the
             1055      primary-election ballot under Section 20A-9-403 that names the lieutenant governor candidate
             1056      as a joint-ticket running mate.
             1057          (b) [(i)] Any candidate for lieutenant governor who fails to timely file [within five
             1058      working days] is disqualified. [(ii)] If a lieutenant governor is disqualified, another candidate
             1059      shall [be nominated] file to replace the disqualified candidate.
             1060          (4) Each registered political party shall:
             1061          (a) certify the names of its candidates for president and vice president of the United
             1062      States to the lieutenant governor no later than August 31; or
             1063          (b) provide written authorization for the lieutenant governor to accept the certification
             1064      of candidates for president and vice president of the United States from the national office of
             1065      the registered political party.
             1066          (5) (a) A declaration of candidacy filed under this section is valid unless a written
             1067      objection is filed with the clerk or lieutenant governor within five days after the last day for
             1068      filing.
             1069          (b) If an objection is made, the clerk or lieutenant governor shall:
             1070          (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
             1071      immediately; and
             1072          (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after it is filed.
             1073          (c) If the clerk or lieutenant governor sustains the objection, the candidate may cure the
             1074      problem by amending the declaration or petition within three days after the objection is
             1075      sustained or by filing a new declaration within three days after the objection is sustained.
             1076          (d) (i) The clerk's or lieutenant governor's decision upon objections to form is final.
             1077          (ii) The clerk's or lieutenant governor's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable
             1078      by a district court if prompt application is made to the court.
             1079          (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise
             1080      of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
             1081          (6) Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy may withdraw as a candidate by


             1082      filing a written affidavit with the clerk.
             1083          (7) Except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-201 (4)(b), notwithstanding a requirement
             1084      in this section to file a declaration of candidacy in person, a person may designate an agent to
             1085      file the form described in Subsection 20A-9-201 (4) in person with the filing officer if:
             1086          (a) the person is located outside the state during the filing period because:
             1087          (i) of employment with the state or the United States; or
             1088          (ii) the person is a member of:
             1089          (A) the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or
             1090      Coast Guard of the United States who is on active duty;
             1091          (B) the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the
             1092      commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United
             1093      States; or
             1094          (C) the National Guard on activated status;
             1095          (b) the person communicates with the filing officer using an electronic device that
             1096      allows the person and filing officer to see and hear each other; and
             1097          (c) the person provides the filing officer with an email address to which the filing
             1098      officer may send the copies described in Subsection 20A-9-201 (3).
             1099          Section 12. Section 20A-9-403 is amended to read:
             1100           20A-9-403. Regular primary elections.
             1101          (1) (a) Candidates for elective office that are to be filled at the next regular general
             1102      election shall be nominated in a regular primary election by direct vote of the people in the
             1103      manner prescribed in this section. The fourth Tuesday of June of each even-numbered year is
             1104      designated as regular primary election day. Nothing in this section shall affect a candidate's
             1105      ability to qualify for a regular general election's ballot as an unaffiliated candidate under
             1106      Section 20A-9-501 or to participate in a regular general election as a write-in candidate under
             1107      Section 20A-9-601 .
             1108          (b) Each registered political party that chooses to [use the primary election process to
             1109      nominate some or all] have the names of its candidates for elective office featured with party
             1110      affiliation on the ballot at a regular general election shall comply with the requirements of this
             1111      section and shall nominate its candidates for elective office in the manner prescribed in this
             1112      section.


             1113          (c) A filing officer may not permit an official ballot at a regular general election to be
             1114      produced or used if the ballot denotes affiliation between a registered political party or any
             1115      other political group and a candidate for elective office who was not nominated in the manner
             1116      prescribed in this section or in Subsection 20A-9-202 (4).
             1117          (d) Unless noted otherwise, the dates in this section refer to those that occur in each
             1118      even-numbered year in which a regular general election will be held.
             1119          (2) (a) [As a condition for using the state's election system, each] Each registered
             1120      political party [that wishes to participate in the primary election], in a statement filed with the
             1121      lieutenant governor, shall:
             1122          (i) either declare their intent to participate in the next regular primary election or
             1123      declare that the registered political party chooses not to have the names of its candidates for
             1124      elective office featured on the ballot at the next regular general election;
             1125          (ii) if the registered political party participates in the upcoming regular primary
             1126      election, identify one or more registered political parties whose members may vote for the
             1127      registered political party's candidates and whether or not persons identified as unaffiliated with
             1128      a political party may vote for the registered political party's candidates; and
             1129          [(iii) certify that information to the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on March 1
             1130      of each even-numbered year.]
             1131          [(b) As a condition for using the state's election system, each registered political party
             1132      that wishes to participate in the primary election shall:]
             1133          [(i) certify the name and office of all of the registered political party's candidates to the
             1134      lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third Saturday in April of
             1135      each even-numbered year and indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot;
             1136      and]
             1137          [(ii) certify the name and office of each of its county candidates to the county clerks by
             1138      5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third Saturday in April of each even-numbered year and
             1139      indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot.]
             1140          [(c) By 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday after the third Saturday in April of each
             1141      even-numbered year, the lieutenant governor shall send the county clerks a certified list of the
             1142      names of all statewide candidates, multicounty candidates, or single county candidates that
             1143      shall be printed on the primary ballot and the order the candidates are to appear on the ballot in


             1144      accordance with Section 20A-6-305 .]
             1145          [(d) Except for presidential candidates, if a registered political party does not wish to
             1146      participate in the primary election, it shall submit the names of its county candidates to the
             1147      county clerks and the names of all of its candidates to the lieutenant governor by 5 p.m. on May
             1148      30 of each even-numbered year.]
             1149          (iii) if the registered political party participates in the upcoming regular primary
             1150      election, indicate whether it chooses to nominate unopposed candidates without their name
             1151      appearing on the ballot, as described under Subsection (5)(c).
             1152          (b) A registered political party that is a continuing political party must file the
             1153      statement described in Subsection (2)(a) with the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on
             1154      November 15 of each odd-numbered year. An organization that is seeking to become a
             1155      registered political party under Section 20A-8-103 must file the statement described in
             1156      Subsection (2)(b) no later than 5 p.m. on February 15.
             1157          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(e), a person who has submitted a
             1158      declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202 shall appear as a candidate for elective
             1159      office on the regular primary ballot of the registered political party listed on the declaration of
             1160      candidacy only if the person is certified by the appropriate filing officer as having submitted a
             1161      set of nomination petitions that was:
             1162          (i) circulated and completed in accordance with Section 20A-9-405 ; and
             1163          (ii) signed by at least two percent of the registered political party's members who reside
             1164      in the political division of the office that the person seeks.
             1165          (b) A candidate for elective office shall submit nomination petitions to the appropriate
             1166      filing officer for verification and certification no later than 5 p.m. on the final day in March.
             1167      Candidates may supplement their submissions at any time on or before the filing deadline.
             1168          (c) The lieutenant governor shall determine for each elective office the total number of
             1169      signatures that must be submitted under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) by counting the aggregate number
             1170      of persons residing in each elective office's political division who have designated a particular
             1171      registered political party on their voter registration forms as of November 1 of each
             1172      odd-numbered year. The lieutenant governor shall publish this determination for each elective
             1173      office no later than November 15 of each odd-numbered year.
             1174          (d) The filing officer shall:


             1175          (i) verify signatures on nomination petitions in a transparent and orderly manner;
             1176          (ii) for all qualifying candidates for elective office who submitted nomination petitions
             1177      to the filing officer, issue certifications referenced in Subsection (3)(a) no later than 5 p.m. on
             1178      the first Monday after the third Saturday in April;
             1179          (iii) consider active and inactive voters eligible to sign nomination petitions;
             1180          (iv) consider a person who signs a nomination petition a member of a registered
             1181      political party for purposes of Subsection 3(a)(ii) if the person has designated that registered
             1182      political party as their preferred party affiliation on their voter registration form prior to 5 p.m.
             1183      on the final day in March; and
             1184          (v) utilize procedures described in Section 20A-7-206.3 to verify submitted nomination
             1185      petition signatures, or use statistical sampling procedures to verify submitted nomination
             1186      petition signatures pursuant to rules issued by the lieutenant governor under Subsection (3)(f).
             1187          (e) Notwithstanding any other provision in Subsection (3), a candidate for lieutenant
             1188      governor may appear on the regular primary ballot of a registered political party without
             1189      submitting nomination petitions if the candidate files a declaration of candidacy and complies
             1190      with Subsection 20A-9-202 (3).
             1191          (f) The lieutenant governor shall issue rules that provide for the use of statistical
             1192      sampling procedures for filing officers to verify signatures under Subsection (3)(d). The
             1193      statistical sampling procedures shall reflect a bona fide effort to determine the validity of a
             1194      candidate's entire submission, using widely recognized statistical sampling techniques. The
             1195      lieutenant governor may also issue supplemental rules and guidance that provide for the
             1196      transparent, orderly, and timely submission, verification, and certification of nomination
             1197      petition signatures.
             1198          [(3)] (g) The county clerk shall:
             1199          [(a)] (i) review the declarations of candidacy filed by candidates for local boards of
             1200      education to determine if more than two candidates have filed for the same seat;
             1201          [(b)] (ii) place the names of all candidates who have filed a declaration of candidacy
             1202      for a local board of education seat on the nonpartisan section of the ballot if more than two
             1203      candidates have filed for the same seat; and
             1204          [(c)] (iii) determine the order of the local board of education candidates' names on the
             1205      ballot in accordance with Section 20A-6-305 .


             1206          (4) (a) By 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday after the third Saturday in April, the lieutenant
             1207      governor shall provide to the county clerks:
             1208          (i) a list of the names of all candidates for federal, constitutional, multi-county, and
             1209      county offices who have received certifications under Subsection (3), along with instructions
             1210      on how those names shall appear on the primary-election ballot in accordance with Section
             1211      20A-6-305 ; and
             1212          (ii) a list of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by a
             1213      registered political party under Subsection (5)(c) and instruct the county clerks to exclude such
             1214      candidates from the primary-election ballot.
             1215          (b) a candidate for lieutenant governor and a candidate governor campaigning as
             1216      joint-ticket running mates shall appear jointly on the primary-election ballot.
             1217          [(4)] (c) After the county clerk receives the certified list from [a registered political
             1218      party] the lieutenant governor under Subsection (4)(a), the county clerk shall post or publish a
             1219      primary election notice in substantially the following form:
             1220          "Notice is given that a primary election will be held Tuesday, June ____,
             1221      ________(year), to nominate party candidates for the parties and [nonpartisan offices]
             1222      candidates for non-partisan local school board positions listed on the primary ballot. The
             1223      polling place for voting precinct ____ is ____. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and continue open
             1224      until 8 p.m. of the same day. Attest: county clerk."
             1225          (5) (a) Candidates, other than presidential candidates, receiving the highest number of
             1226      votes cast for each office at the regular primary election are nominated by their registered
             1227      political party [or nonpartisan group] for that office or are nominated as a candidate for a
             1228      non-partisan local school board position.
             1229          (b) If two or more candidates, other than presidential candidates, are to be elected to
             1230      the office at the regular general election, those party candidates equal in number to positions to
             1231      be filled who receive the highest number of votes at the regular primary election are the
             1232      nominees of their party for those positions.
             1233          (c) A candidate who is unopposed for an elective office in the regular primary election
             1234      of a registered political party is nominated by the party for that office without appearing on the
             1235      primary ballot, provided that the party has chosen to nominate unopposed candidates under
             1236      Subsection (2)(a)(iii). A candidate is "unopposed" if no person other than the candidate has


             1237      received a certification under Subsection (3) for the regular primary election ballot of the
             1238      candidate's registered political party for a particular elective office.
             1239          (6) (a) When a tie vote occurs in any primary election for any national, state, or other
             1240      office that represents more than one county, the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney
             1241      general shall, at a public meeting called by the governor and in the presence of the candidates
             1242      involved, select the nominee by lot cast in whatever manner the governor determines.
             1243          (b) When a tie vote occurs in any primary election for any county office, the district
             1244      court judges of the district in which the county is located shall, at a public meeting called by
             1245      the judges and in the presence of the candidates involved, select the nominee by lot cast in
             1246      whatever manner the judges determine.
             1247          (7) The expense of providing all ballots, blanks, or other supplies to be used at any
             1248      primary election provided for by this section, and all expenses necessarily incurred in the
             1249      preparation for or the conduct of that primary election shall be paid out of the treasury of the
             1250      county or state, in the same manner as for the regular general elections.
             1251          Section 13. Section 20A-9-405 is enacted to read:
             1252          20A-9-405. Nomination petitions for regular primary elections.
             1253          (1) This section shall apply to the form and circulation of nomination petitions for
             1254      regular primary elections described in Subsection 20A-9-403 (3)(a).
             1255          (2) A candidate for elective office, and the agents of the candidate, may not circulate
             1256      nomination petitions until the candidate has submitted a declaration of candidacy in accordance
             1257      with Subsection 20A-9-202 (1).
             1258          (3) The nomination petitions shall be in substantially the following form:
             1259          (a) The petition shall be printed on paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
             1260          (b) The petition shall be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the
             1261      space above that line blank for purposes of binding;
             1262          (c) The petition shall be headed by a caption stating the purpose of the petition and the
             1263      name of the proposed candidate;
             1264          (d) The petition shall feature the word "Warning" followed by the following statement
             1265      in no less than eight-point, single leaded type: "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to
             1266      knowingly sign a certificate of nomination signature sheet with any name other than the
             1267      person's own name or more than once for the same candidate or if the person is not registered


             1268      to vote in this state and does not intend to become registered to vote in this state before
             1269      signatures are certified by a filing officer.";
             1270          (e) The petition shall feature ten lines spaced one-half inch apart and consecutively
             1271      numbered one through ten.
             1272          (f) The signature portion of the petition shall be divided into columns headed by the
             1273      following titles:
             1274          (i) Registered Voter's Printed Name;
             1275          (ii) Signature of Registered Voter;
             1276          (iii) Party Affiliation of Registered Voter;
             1277          (iv) Birth Date or Age (Optional);
             1278          (v) Street Address, City, Zip Code; and
             1279          (vi) Date of Signature.
             1280          (e) A photograph of the candidate may appear on the nomination petition.
             1281          (4) If one or more nomination petitions are bound together, a page shall be bound to
             1282      the nomination petition(s) that features the following printed verification statement to be signed
             1283      and dated by the petition circulator:
             1284          "Verification
             1285          State of Utah, County of ____
             1286          I, ____, of ____, hereby state under that:
             1287          I am a Utah resident and am at least 18 years old;
             1288          All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were, to the best of
             1289      my knowledge, signed by the persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on
             1290      the signature sheets, and each of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my
             1291      presence;
             1292          I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
             1293      street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or will register to vote
             1294      in Utah before the county clerk certifies the signatures on the signature sheet."
             1295          (5) The lieutenant governor shall prepare and make public model nomination petition
             1296      forms and associated instructions.
             1297          (6) A nomination petition circulator must be 18 years old and a resident of the State,
             1298      but may affiliate with any political party.


             1299          (7) It is unlawful for any person to:
             1300          (a) knowingly sign the nomination petition sheet described in Subsection (3):
             1301          (i) with any name other than the person's own name;
             1302          (ii) more than once for the same candidate; or
             1303          (iii) if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to become
             1304      registered to vote in this state prior to 5 p.m. on the final day in March.
             1305          (b) sign the verification of a certificate of nomination signature sheet described in
             1306      Subsection (4) if the person:
             1307          (i) does not meet the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105 ;
             1308          (ii) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
             1309      certificate of nomination signature sheet; or
             1310          (iii) knows that a person whose signature appears on the certificate of nomination
             1311      signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to become registered to
             1312      vote in this state;
             1313          (c) pay compensation to any person to sign a nomination petition.
             1314          (d) pay compensation to any person to circulate a nomination petition, if the
             1315      compensation is based directly on the number of signatures submitted to a filing officer rather
             1316      than on the number of signatures verified or on some other basis.
             1317          (e) Any person violating this Subsection (7) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
             1318          (8) Withdrawal of petition signatures shall not be permitted.
             1319          Section 14. Section 20A-9-406 is enacted to read:
             1320          20A-9-406. Qualified political party -- Requirements and exemptions.
             1321          (1) The provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and Section 20A-9-405 :
             1322          (a) do not apply to a nomination for a qualified political party; and
             1323          (b) may not be used by an individual to obtain a nomination for a qualified political
             1324      party if the qualified political party chooses to nominate some or all of its candidates in
             1325      accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-407 .
             1326          (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-301 (1)(a), (1)(g), or (2)(a), each election officer
             1327      shall ensure that a ballot described in Section 20A-6-301 includes each person nominated by a
             1328      qualified political party:
             1329          (a) under the qualified political party's name and emblem, if any; or


             1330          (b) under the title of the qualified registered political party as designated by each
             1331      qualified political party in that party's certificates of nomination or petition, or, if none is
             1332      designated, then under some suitable title.
             1333          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-302 (1)(a), each election officer shall ensure, for
             1334      paper ballots in regular general elections, that each candidate who is nominated by a qualified
             1335      political party in accordance with Section 20A-9-407 is listed by party.
             1336          (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-303 (1)(g), each election officer shall ensure
             1337      that the party designation of each candidate who is nominated by a qualified political party in
             1338      accordance with Section 20A-9-407 is printed immediately adjacent to the candidate's name on
             1339      ballot sheets or ballot labels.
             1340          (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-304 (1)(g), each election officer shall ensure
             1341      that the party designation of each candidate who is nominated by a qualified political party in
             1342      accordance with Section 20A-9-407 is displayed adjacent to the candidate's name on an
             1343      electronic ballot.
             1344          (6) "Candidates for elective office," defined in Subsection 20A-9-101 (1)(a), also
             1345      includes an individual who files a declaration of candidacy under Subsection (10) to run in a
             1346      regular general election for a federal office, constitutional office, multi-county office, or county
             1347      office.
             1348          (7) An individual is not required to comply with Subsection 20A-9-201 (1)(c) if the
             1349      individual is nominated by, or seeking the nomination of, a qualified political party under
             1350      Section 20A-9-407 .
             1351          (8) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201 (4)(a), the form of the declaration of
             1352      candidacy for an individual who is nominated by, or who is seeking the nomination of, a
             1353      qualified political party shall be substantially as follows:
             1354          "State of Utah, County of ____
             1355          I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of
             1356      ____ as a candidate for the ____ party. I do solemnly swear that: I will meet the qualifications
             1357      to hold the office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at _____________ in
             1358      the City or Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____, Phone No. ____; I will not knowingly violate
             1359      any law governing campaigns and elections; I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports
             1360      as required by law; and I understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a


             1361      candidate for this office and removal of my name from the ballot. The mailing address that I
             1362      designate for receiving official election notices is ___________________________.
             1363      ____________________________________________________________________
             1364          Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year). Notary Public (or
             1365      other officer qualified to administer oath.)"
             1366          (9) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202 (1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
             1367      20A-9-202 (4), an individual who, under Section 20A-9-407 is seeking the nomination of a
             1368      qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at the next general election,
             1369      shall:
             1370          (a) file a declaration of candidacy in person with the filing officer on or after
             1371      November 15 in the year before the regular general election year and before 5 p.m. on the third
             1372      Thursday in March in the year of the regular general election; and
             1373          (b) pay the filing fee.
             1374          (10) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202 (2)(a), an individual who, under Section
             1375      20A-9-407 is seeking the nomination of a qualified political party for the office of district
             1376      attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at the next general
             1377      election, shall:
             1378          (a) file a declaration of candidacy with the county clerk designated in the interlocal
             1379      agreement creating the prosecution district on or after November 15 in the year before the
             1380      regular general election year and before 5 p.m. on the third Thursday in March in the year of
             1381      the regular general election; and
             1382          (b) pay the filing fee.
             1383          (11) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the certification described in Subsection
             1384      20A-9-701 (1) also includes the names of each candidate nominated by a qualified political
             1385      party under Section 20A-9-407 .
             1386          (12) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701 (2), the ballot shall, for each candidate
             1387      who is nominated by a qualified political party under Section 20A-9-407 , designate the
             1388      qualified political party that nominated the candidate.
             1389          Section 15. Section 20A-9-407 is enacted to read:
             1390          20A-9-407. Alternate nomination process for qualified political party.
             1391          (1) The fourth Tuesday of June of each even-numbered year is designated as a regular


             1392      primary election day.
             1393          (2) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and
             1394      Section 20A-9-405 , if a qualified political party chooses to use the primary election process
             1395      described in this section to nominate some or all of its candidates, rather than in the manner
             1396      described in Subsections 20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and Section 20A-9-405 , the qualified political
             1397      party shall comply with the requirements of this section.
             1398          (b) If a qualified political party complies with the requirements of this section:
             1399          (i) the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and Section 20A-9-405 do not
             1400      apply with respect to the qualified political party;
             1401          (ii) the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (3) through (7) apply with respect to the
             1402      qualified political party, except that the reference in Subsection 20A-9-403 (5)(c) to Subsection
             1403      20A-9-403 (2)(a)(iii) shall, with respect to the qualified political party, be to Subsection
             1404      20A-9-407 (3)(a)(iii); and
             1405          (iii) notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and Section
             1406      20A-9-405 , the qualified political party is entitled to have the names of its candidates for
             1407      elective office featured with party affiliation on the ballot at a regular general election.
             1408          (3) Each qualified political party that wishes to participate in the primary election in
             1409      the manner described in this section, rather than in the manner described in Subsections
             1410      20A-9-403 (1) and (2) and Section 20A-9-405 , shall certify:
             1411          (a) to the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on March 1 of each even-numbered
             1412      year:
             1413          (i) the party's intent to participate in the primary election in the manner described in
             1414      this section;
             1415          (ii) the identity of one or more registered political parties whose members may vote for
             1416      the qualified political party's candidates; and
             1417          (iii) whether the qualified political party chooses to nominate unopposed candidates
             1418      without their name appearing on the ballot, as described in Subsection 20A-9-403 (5)(c);
             1419          (b) to the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third
             1420      Saturday in April of each even-numbered year, the name and office of all of the qualified
             1421      political party's candidates and indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot;
             1422      and


             1423          (c) to the county clerks no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday after the third Saturday
             1424      in April of each even-numbered year, the name and office of each of the qualified political
             1425      party's county candidates and indicate which of the candidates will be on the primary ballot.
             1426          Section 16. Section 20A-9-701 is amended to read:
             1427           20A-9-701. Certification of party candidates to county clerks -- Display on ballot.
             1428          (1) No later than August 31 of each regular general election year, the lieutenant
             1429      governor shall certify to each county clerk the names of each candidate[, including candidates
             1430      for president and vice president, certified by each registered political party as that party's
             1431      nominees] nominated under Subsection 20A-9-202 (4) or Subsection 20A-9-403 (5) for offices
             1432      to be voted upon at the regular general election in that county clerk's county.
             1433          (2) The names shall be certified by the lieutenant governor and shall be displayed on
             1434      the ballot as they are provided on the candidate's declaration of candidacy. No other names
             1435      may appear on the ballot as affiliated with, endorsed by, or nominated by any other registered
             1436      political party, political party, or other political group.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-3-14 9:55 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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