S.J.R. 5

1

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT
2 OF ELECTRONIC VOTING
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Scott N. Howell
6 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE URGING THE LT. GOVERNOR AND
7 THE COUNTY CLERKS TO STUDY THE USE OF ELECTRONIC PROCESSES SUCH AS
8 COMPUTER CONNECTIVITY TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS, EFFICIENCY, AND
9 INTEGRITY IN EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
10 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
11 WHEREAS Article IV of the Utah Constitution affirms the right of all citizens of the state
12 of Utah to vote;
13 WHEREAS electronic processes such as computer connectivity can provide greater access
14 for all citizens to vote, especially those disabled and physically absent;
15 WHEREAS the use of electronic processes such as computer connectivity can improve the
16 efficiency of voting administration, speed, accuracy, timeliness, and vote counts;
17 WHEREAS the use of electronic processes such as computer connectivity can reduce the
18 possibility of fraud and thereby preserve the anonymity and integrity of the voting process; and
19 WHEREAS the cost of voting may be reduced by using computers and network
20 connections located in every public school and library in the state of Utah:
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Legislature of the state of Utah urges the
22 Lt. Governor and the County Clerks to study the design, development, and implementation of
23 electronic process such as computer connectivity to empower all citizens of the great state of Utah
24 in their constitutional right of suffrage.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Lt. Governor and County Clerks in their study of the
26 use of electronic processes in voting, ensure the ease, efficiency, and integrity of such a voting
27 process for Utah's citizens.

1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Lt. Governor and the County Clerks report the
2 findings of their study to the Utah Legislature's interim Government Operations Committee, Public
3 Utilities and Technology Committee, and the Information Technology Commission by September
4 30, 1998.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent by electronic means
6 as well as paper to the Lt. Governor, the League of Cities and Towns, the Utah Association of
7 Counties, the League of Women Voters, and Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-19-97 2:51 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Committee Note

The Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee recommended this bill.

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