H.B. 9

1

ABSENTEE BALLOT AMENDMENTS
2 2004 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard
5
6 LONG TITLE
7 General Description:
8 This bill eliminates barriers to people voting by absentee ballot.
9 Highlighted Provisions:
10 This bill:
11 . allows anyone to vote an absentee ballot either by mail or at the election officer's
12 office;
13 . expands the ability of the county legislative body to administer an election in a
14 voting precinct entirely by absentee ballot; and
15 . makes technical corrections.
16 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 20A-3-301, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1996
23 20A-3-302, as last amended by Chapter 183, Laws of Utah 1997
24 20A-3-304, as last amended by Chapter 167, Laws of Utah 2002
25 20A-3-305, as last amended by Chapter 37, Laws of Utah 2003
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Section 20A-3-301 is amended to read:
29 20A-3-301. Voting by absentee ballot.
30 (1) Any person who is registered to vote may vote by absentee ballot[, if, on the day of
31 election, the person is an absent elector as defined in Section 20A-3-304 ].
32 (2) [Any] A registered voter [who unexpectedly returns to his voting precinct before or
33 on election day] may not vote in person if [his] the voter voted by absentee ballot [has not
34 already been deposited in the ballot box].
35 Section 2. Section 20A-3-302 is amended to read:
36 20A-3-302. Absentee voting -- No polling place for remote districts.
37 (1) Whenever, on the 60th day before an election, there are [300] 500 or less persons
38 registered to vote in a voting precinct, the county legislative body of the county in which the
39 voting precinct is located may elect to administer an election entirely by absentee ballot.
40 (2) If the county legislative body of the county in which the voting precinct is located
41 decides to administer an election entirely by absentee ballot, the county clerk shall mail to each
42 registered voter within that voting precinct:
43 (a) an absentee ballot;
44 (b) a statement that there will be no polling place for the election;
45 (c) instructions for returning the ballot that include an express notice about any
46 relevant deadlines that the voter must meet in order for his vote to be counted; and
47 (d) a warning, on a separate page of colored paper in bold face print, indicating that if
48 the voter fails to follow the instructions included with the absentee ballot, he will be unable to
49 vote in that election because there will be no polling place in the voting precinct on the day of
50 the election.
51 (3) Any voter who votes by absentee ballot under this subsection is not required to
52 apply for an absentee ballot as required by this part.
53 (4) (a) The county clerk of a county that administers an election entirely by absentee
54 ballot shall:
55 (i) obtain, in person, the signatures of each voter within that voting precinct before the
56 election; and
57 (ii) maintain the signatures on file in the county clerk's office.
58 (b) (i) Upon receiving the returned absentee ballots, the county clerk shall compare the

59 signature on each absentee ballot with the voter's signature that is maintained on file and verify
60 that the signatures are the same.
61 (ii) If the county clerk questions the authenticity of the signature on the absentee ballot,
62 the clerk shall immediately contact the voter to verify the signature.
63 (iii) If the voter does not confirm his signature on the absentee ballot, the county clerk
64 shall:
65 (A) immediately send another absentee ballot and other voting materials as required by
66 this subsection to the voter; and
67 (B) disqualify the initial absentee ballot.
68 Section 3. Section 20A-3-304 is amended to read:
69 20A-3-304. Application for absentee ballot -- Time for filing and voting.
70 [(1) As used in this section, "absent elector" means a person who:]
71 [(a) is physically, emotionally, or mentally impaired;]
72 [(b) will be serving as an election judge or who has election duties in another voting
73 precinct;]
74 [(c) is detained or incarcerated in a jail or prison as a penalty for committing a
75 misdemeanor;]
76 [(d) has a legal disability;]
77 [(e) is prevented from voting in a particular location because of religious tenets or other
78 strongly held personal values;]
79 [(f) is called for jury duty in state or federal court; or]
80 [(g) otherwise expects to be absent from the voting precinct during the hours the polls
81 are open on election day.]
82 [(2) A] (1) Any registered voter who [is or will be an absent elector] wishes to vote an
83 absentee ballot may either:
84 (a) file an absentee ballot application with the appropriate election officer for an
85 official absentee ballot[.] as provided in this section; or
86 (b) vote in person at the office of the appropriate election officer as provided in Section
87 20A-3-306 .
88 [(3)] (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection [(3)] (2)(b), each election officer shall
89 prepare blank applications for absentee ballot applications in substantially the following form:

90 "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah [to
91 my best knowledge and belief am entitled to vote by absentee ballot at the next election.
92 I] apply for an official absentee ballot to be voted by me at the election.
93 Date ________ (month\day\year) Signed ___________________________
94 Voter"
95 (b) Each election officer shall prepare blank applications for absentee ballot
96 applications for regular primary elections and for the Western States Presidential Primary in
97 substantially the following form:
98 "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah [to
99 my best knowledge and belief am entitled to vote by absentee ballot at the next election.
100 I] apply for an official absentee ballot for the _______________ political party to be
101 voted by me at the primary election.
102 I understand that I must be affiliated with or authorized to vote the political party's
103 ballot that I request.
104 Dated _________ (month\day\year) ____ Signed ___________________________
105 Voter"
106 (c) If requested by the applicant, the election officer shall:
107 (i) mail or fax the application blank to the absentee voter; or
108 (ii) deliver the application blank to any voter who personally applies for it at the office
109 of the election officer.
110 [(4)] (3) (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsections [(4)] (3)(a)(ii) and (iii), the voters
111 shall file the application for an absentee ballot with the appropriate election officer no later
112 than the Friday before election day.
113 (ii) Overseas applicants shall file their applications with the appropriate election officer
114 no later than 20 days before the day of election.
115 (iii) Voters applying for an absentee ballot for the Western States Presidential Primary
116 shall file the application for an absentee ballot with the appropriate election officer not later
117 than the Tuesday before election day.
118 (b) Persons voting an absentee ballot at the office of the election officer shall apply for
119 and cast their ballot no later than the day before the election.
120 [(5)] (4) (a) A county clerk may establish a permanent absentee voter list.

121 (b) The clerk shall place on the list the name of any person who:
122 (i) requests permanent absentee voter status; and
123 (ii) meets the requirements of this section.
124 (c) (i) Each year, the clerk shall mail a questionnaire to each person whose name is on
125 the absentee voter list.
126 (ii) The questionnaire shall allow the absentee person to verify the voter's residence
127 [and inability to vote at the voting precinct on election day].
128 (iii) The clerk may remove the names of any voter from the absentee voter registration
129 list if:
130 (A) the voter is no longer listed in the official register; or
131 (B) the voter fails to verify the voter's residence and absentee status.
132 (d) The clerk shall provide a copy of the permanent absentee voter list to election
133 officers for use in elections.
134 Section 4. Section 20A-3-305 is amended to read:
135 20A-3-305. Mailing of ballot to voter -- Enclose self-addressed envelope --
136 Affidavit.
137 (1) Upon timely receipt of an absentee voter application properly filled out and signed,
138 or as soon after receipt of the application as the official absentee ballots for the voting precinct
139 in which the applicant resides have been printed, the election officer shall either:
140 (a) give the applicant an official absentee ballot and envelope to vote in the office; or
141 (b) mail an official absentee ballot, postage paid, to the absentee voter and enclose an
142 envelope printed as required in Subsection (2).
143 (2) The election officer shall ensure that:
144 (a) the name, official title, and post office address of the election officer is printed on
145 the front of the envelope; and
146 (b) a printed affidavit in substantially the following form is printed on the back of the
147 envelope:
148 "County of ____ State of ____
149 I, ____, solemnly swear that: I am a qualified resident voter of the ____ voting precinct
150 in ____ County, Utah[;] and that I am entitled to vote in that voting precinct at the next
151 election[; and I am entitled by law to vote an absentee ballot]. I am not a convicted felon

152 currently incarcerated for commission of a felony.
153

______________________________

154

Signature of Absentee Voter"

155 (3) If the election officer determines that the absentee voter is required to show proof
156 of identity or proof of residence as indicated in the official register, the election officer shall:
157 (a) issue the voter a provisional ballot in accordance with Section 20A-3-105.5 ;
158 (b) instruct the voter to include a valid form of proof of identity and proof of residence
159 with the return ballot;
160 (c) provide the voter clear instructions on how to vote a provisional ballot; and
161 (d) comply with the requirements of Subsection (2).




Legislative Review Note
as of 10-15-03 11:40 AM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

Interim Committee Note
as of 12-09-03 8:52 AM

The Government Operations Interim Committee recommended this bill.