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H.B. 223 Enrolled

             1     

VOTER INFORMATION WEBSITE

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Election Code and the Lieutenant Governor Chapter by
             10      establishing the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program administered
             11      by the lieutenant governor.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    establishes the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program
             15      administered by the lieutenant governor in cooperation with the county clerks;
             16          .    requires the lieutenant governor to develop and implement a website that includes
             17      all information currently provided in the voter information pamphlet and to include
             18      information on local races, candidates, and ballot propositions;
             19          .    requires local election officials to submit information to the lieutenant governor for
             20      each ballot label under the election official's direct responsibility so the information
             21      may be placed on the website;
             22          .    provides certain deadlines for submitting the election information;
             23          .    provides for the lieutenant governor's review of submitted information;
             24          .    requires certain frequently asked voter questions and answers to be included on the
             25      website;
             26          .    provides a deadline for the website to be ready for use;
             27          .    allows the expansion of the information to include other elections;
             28          .    requires the filing clerk to inform qualified candidates of the program;
             29          .    amends the duties of the lieutenant governor to provide election information to the


             30      public by providing it on the Internet; and
             31          .    makes technical changes.
             32      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             33          None
             34      Other Special Clauses:
             35          None
             36      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             37      AMENDS:
             38          20A-9-201, as last amended by Chapter 226, Laws of Utah 2006
             39          20A-9-203, as last amended by Chapters 28 and 226, Laws of Utah 2006
             40          67-1a-2, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 2005, First Special Session
             41      ENACTS:
             42          20A-7-801, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43     
             44      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             45          Section 1. Section 20A-7-801 is enacted to read:
             46     
Part 8. Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website

             47          20A-7-801. Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program -- Duties of
             48      the lieutenant governor -- Content -- Duties of local election officials -- Deadlines --
             49      Frequently asked voter questions -- Other elections.
             50          (1) There is established the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program
             51      administered by the lieutenant governor in cooperation with the county clerks for general
             52      elections and municipal authorities for municipal elections.
             53          (2) In accordance with this section, and as resources become available, the lieutenant
             54      governor, in cooperation with county clerks, shall develop, establish, and maintain a
             55      state-provided Internet website designed to help inform the voters of the state of:
             56          (a) the offices and candidates up for election; and
             57          (b) the content, effect, operation, fiscal impact, and supporting and opposing arguments


             58      of ballot propositions submitted to the voters.
             59          (3) Except as provided under Subsection (6), the website shall include:
             60          (a) all information currently provided in the Utah voter information pamphlet under
             61      Title 20A, Chapter 7, Voter Information Pamphlet, including a section prepared, analyzed, and
             62      submitted by the Judicial Council describing the judicial selection and retention process;
             63          (b) all information submitted by election officers under Subsection (4) on local office
             64      races, local office candidates, and local ballot propositions; and
             65          (c) other information determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor that is
             66      currently being provided by law, rule, or ordinance in relation to candidates and ballot
             67      questions.
             68          (4) (a) An election official shall submit the following information for each ballot label
             69      under the election official's direct responsibility under this title:
             70          (i) a list of all candidates for each office;
             71          (ii) if submitted by the candidate to the election official's office on or before August 20
             72      at 5 p.m.:
             73          (A) a statement of qualifications, not exceeding 200 words in length, for each
             74      candidate;
             75          (B) the following biographical information if desired by the candidate, current:
             76          (I) age;
             77          (II) occupation;
             78          (III) city of residence;
             79          (IV) years of residence in current city; and
             80          (V) email address; and
             81          (C) a single web address where voters may access more information about the
             82      candidate and the candidate's views; and
             83          (iii) factual information pertaining to all ballot propositions submitted to the voters,
             84      including:
             85          (A) a copy of the number and ballot title of each ballot proposition;


             86          (B) the final vote cast for each ballot proposition, if any, by a legislative body if the
             87      vote was required to place the ballot proposition on the ballot;
             88          (C) a complete copy of the text of each ballot proposition, with all new language
             89      underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets; and
             90          (D) other factual information determined helpful by the election official.
             91          (b) The information under Subsection (4)(a) shall be submitted to the lieutenant
             92      governor no later than one business day after the deadline under Subsection (4)(a) for each
             93      general election year and each municipal election year.
             94          (c) The lieutenant governor shall:
             95          (i) review the information submitted under this section prior to placing it on the
             96      website to determine compliance under this section;
             97          (ii) refuse to post information submitted under this section on the website if it is not in
             98      compliance with the provisions of this section; and
             99          (iii) organize, format, and arrange the information submitted under this section for the
             100      website.
             101          (d) The lieutenant governor may refuse to include information the lieutenant governor
             102      determines is not in keeping with:
             103          (i) Utah voter needs;
             104          (ii) public decency; or
             105          (iii) the purposes, organization, or uniformity of the website.
             106          (e) A refusal under Subsection (4)(d) is subject to appeal in accordance with
             107      Subsection (5).
             108          (5) (a) A person whose information is refused under Subsection (4), and who is
             109      aggrieved by the determination, may appeal by submitting a written notice of appeal to the
             110      lieutenant governor within ten business days after the date of the determination. A notice of
             111      appeal submitted under this Subsection (5)(a) shall contain:
             112          (i) a listing of each objection to the lieutenant governor's determination; and
             113          (ii) the basis for each objection.


             114          (b) The lieutenant governor shall review the notice of appeal and shall issue a written
             115      response within ten business days after the notice of appeal is submitted.
             116          (c) An appeal of the response of the lieutenant governor shall be made to the district
             117      court, which shall review the matter de novo.
             118          (6) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that each voter will be able to conveniently
             119      enter the voter's address information on the website to retrieve information on which offices,
             120      candidates, and ballot propositions will be on the voter's ballot at the next general election or
             121      municipal election.
             122          (b) The information on the website will anticipate and answer frequent voter questions
             123      including the following:
             124          (i) what offices are up in the current year for which the voter may cast a vote;
             125          (ii) who is running for what office and who is the incumbent, if any;
             126          (iii) what address each candidate may be reached at and how the candidate may be
             127      contacted;
             128          (iv) for partisan races only, what, if any, is each candidate's party affiliation;
             129          (v) what qualifications have been submitted by each candidate;
             130          (vi) where additional information on each candidate may be obtained;
             131          (vii) what ballot propositions will be on the ballot; and
             132          (viii) what judges are up for retention election.
             133          (7) By not later than March 1, 2008, the lieutenant governor shall have the Statewide
             134      Electronic Voter Information Website Program ready for use in the next election in accordance
             135      with this section.
             136          (8) As resources are made available and in cooperation with the county clerks, the
             137      lieutenant governor may expand the electronic voter information website program to include
             138      the same information as provided under this section for special elections and primary elections.
             139          Section 2. Section 20A-9-201 is amended to read:
             140           20A-9-201. Declarations of candidacy -- Candidacy for more than one office or of
             141      more than one political party prohibited with exceptions -- General filing and form


             142      requirements.
             143          (1) Before filing a declaration of candidacy for election to any office, a person shall:
             144          (a) be a United States citizen; and
             145          (b) meet the legal requirements of that office.
             146          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person may not:
             147          (i) file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, more than one office in
             148      Utah during any election year; or
             149          (ii) appear on the ballot as the candidate of more than one political party.
             150          (b) A person may file a declaration of candidacy for, or be a candidate for, President or
             151      Vice President of the United States and another office, if the person resigns the person's
             152      candidacy for the other office after the person is officially nominated for President or Vice
             153      President of the United States.
             154          (3) If the final date established for filing a declaration of candidacy is a Saturday or
             155      Sunday, the filing time shall be extended until 5 p.m. on the following business day.
             156          (4) (a) (i) Except for presidential candidates, before the filing officer may accept any
             157      declaration of candidacy, the filing officer shall:
             158          (A) read to the prospective candidate the constitutional and statutory qualification
             159      requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             160          (B) require the candidate to state whether or not the candidate meets those
             161      requirements.
             162          (ii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county attorney, the
             163      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing that declaration of candidacy is:
             164          (A) a United States citizen;
             165          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             166      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             167          (C) a registered voter in the county in which he is seeking office; and
             168          (D) a current resident of the county in which he is seeking office and either has been a
             169      resident of that county for at least one year or was appointed and is currently serving as county


             170      attorney and became a resident of the county within 30 days after appointment to the office.
             171          (iii) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of district attorney, the
             172      county clerk shall ensure that, as of the date of the election, the person filing that declaration of
             173      candidacy is:
             174          (A) a United States citizen;
             175          (B) an attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good
             176      standing of the Utah State Bar;
             177          (C) a registered voter in the prosecution district in which he is seeking office; and
             178          (D) a current resident of the prosecution district in which he is seeking office and either
             179      will have been a resident of that prosecution district for at least one year as of the date of the
             180      election or was appointed and is currently serving as district attorney and became a resident of
             181      the prosecution district within 30 days after receiving appointment to the office.
             182          (iv) Before accepting a declaration of candidacy for the office of county sheriff, the
             183      county clerk shall ensure that the person filing the declaration of candidacy:
             184          (A) as of the date of filing:
             185          (I) is a United States citizen;
             186          (II) is a registered voter in the county in which the person seeks office;
             187          (III) (Aa) has successfully met the standards and training requirements established for
             188      law enforcement officers under Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 2, Peace Officer Training and
             189      Certification Act; or
             190          (Bb) has passed a certification examination as provided in Section 53-6-206 ; and
             191          (IV) is qualified to be certified as a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section
             192      53-13-103 ; and
             193          (B) as of the date of the election, shall have been a resident of the county in which the
             194      person seeks office for at least one year.
             195          (b) If the prospective candidate states that he does not meet the qualification
             196      requirements for the office, the filing officer may not accept the prospective candidate's
             197      declaration of candidacy.


             198          (c) If the candidate states that he meets the requirements of candidacy, the filing officer
             199      shall:
             200          (i) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the Statewide
             201      Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the submission
             202      deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801 (4)(a);
             203          [(i)] (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
             204      described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             205          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             206          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer;
             207          [(ii)] (iii) accept the candidate's declaration of candidacy; and
             208          [(iii)] (iv) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             209      declaration of candidacy to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
             210      candidate is a member.
             211          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             212      officer shall:
             213          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             214          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             215      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             216      member.
             217          (5) Except for presidential candidates, the form of the declaration of candidacy shall be
             218      substantially as follows:
             219          "State of Utah, County of ____
             220          I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of
             221      ____ as a candidate for the ____ party. I do solemnly swear that: I can qualify to hold that
             222      office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at _____________ in the City or
             223      Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____ Phone No. ____; I will not knowingly violate any law
             224      governing campaigns and elections; and I will qualify for the office if elected to it. The
             225      mailing address that I designate for receiving official election notices is


             226      ___________________________.
             227      ____________________________________________________________________
             228          Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year).
             229     
Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath.)"

             230          (6) (a) Except for presidential candidates, the fee for filing a declaration of candidacy
             231      is:
             232          (i) $25 for candidates for the local school district board; and
             233          (ii) 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office legally paid to the person
             234      holding the office, but not less than $5, for all other federal, state, and county offices.
             235          (b) Except for presidential candidates, the filing officer shall refund the filing fee to
             236      any candidate:
             237          (i) who is disqualified; or
             238          (ii) who the filing officer determines has filed improperly.
             239          (c) (i) The county clerk shall immediately pay to the county treasurer all fees received
             240      from candidates.
             241          (ii) The lieutenant governor shall:
             242          (A) apportion to and pay to the county treasurers of the various counties all fees
             243      received for filing of nomination certificates or acceptances; and
             244          (B) ensure that each county receives that proportion of the total amount paid to the
             245      lieutenant governor from the congressional district that the total vote of that county for all
             246      candidates for representative in Congress bears to the total vote of all counties within the
             247      congressional district for all candidates for representative in Congress.
             248          (d) (i) Each person who is unable to pay the filing fee may file a declaration of
             249      candidacy without payment upon a prima facie showing of impecuniosity as evidenced by an
             250      affidavit of impecuniosity filed with the filing officer.
             251          (ii) The filing officer shall ensure that the affidavit of impecuniosity is printed in
             252      substantially the following form:
             253          "Affidavit of Impecuniosity


             254      Individual Name
             255      ____________________________Address_____________________________
             256      Phone Number _________________
             257      I,__________________________(name), do solemnly [swear] [affirm] that, owing to my
             258      poverty, I am unable to pay the filing fee required by law.
             259      Date ______________ Signature________________________________________________
             260      Affiant
             261      Subscribed and sworn to before me on ___________ (month\day\year)
             262     
______________________

             263     
(signature)

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

             265          (7) Any person who fails to file a declaration of candidacy or certificate of nomination
             266      within the time provided in this chapter is ineligible for nomination to office.
             267          Section 3. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
             268           20A-9-203. Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general elections.
             269          (1) (a) A person may become a candidate for any municipal office if the person is a
             270      registered voter and:
             271          (i) the person has resided within the municipality in which that person seeks to hold
             272      elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election; or
             273          (ii) if the territory in which the person resides was annexed into the municipality, the
             274      person has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality for 12 months.
             275          (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1)(a), candidates for a municipal
             276      council position under the council-mayor or council-manager alternative forms of municipal
             277      government shall, if elected from districts, be residents of the council district from which they
             278      are elected.
             279          (c) In accordance with Utah Constitution Article IV, Section 6, any mentally
             280      incompetent person, any person convicted of a felony, or any person convicted of treason or a
             281      crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the right to hold


             282      elective office is restored under Section 20A-2-101.5 .
             283          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c), each person seeking to
             284      become a candidate for a municipal office shall file a declaration of candidacy in person with
             285      the city recorder or town clerk during office hours and not later than 5 p.m. between July 15
             286      and August 15 of any odd numbered year and pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal
             287      ordinance.
             288          (b) (i) As used in this Subsection (2)(b), "registered voters" means the number of
             289      persons registered to vote in the municipality on the January 1 of the municipal election year.
             290          (ii) A third, fourth, or fifth class city that used the convention system to nominate
             291      candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the
             292      process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last municipal election or a town that used the
             293      convention system to nominate candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by
             294      Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last
             295      municipal election may, by ordinance, require, in lieu of the convention system, that candidates
             296      for municipal office file a nominating petition signed by a percentage of registered voters at the
             297      same time that the candidate files a declaration of candidacy.
             298          (iii) The ordinance shall specify the number of signatures that the candidate must
             299      obtain on the nominating petition in order to become a candidate for municipal office under
             300      this Subsection (2), but that number may not exceed 5% of registered voters.
             301          (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by
             302      filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk during office hours but not
             303      later than 5 p.m. between July 15 and August 15 of any odd numbered year and pay the filing
             304      fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             305          (d) When August 15 is a Saturday or Sunday, the filing time shall be extended until 5
             306      p.m. on the following Monday.
             307          (3) (a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
             308      petition, the filing officer shall:
             309          (i) read to the prospective candidate or person filing the petition the constitutional and


             310      statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             311          (ii) require the candidate or person filing the petition to state whether or not the
             312      candidate meets those requirements.
             313          (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
             314      office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             315          (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
             316      filing officer shall:
             317          (i) provide the candidate with a copy of Section 20A-7-801 regarding the Statewide
             318      Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the submission
             319      deadline under Subsection 20A-7-801 (4)(a);
             320          [(i)] (ii) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
             321      described under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             322          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             323          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
             324          [(ii)] (iii) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             325          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             326      officer shall:
             327          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             328          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             329      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             330      member.
             331          (4) The declaration of candidacy shall substantially comply with the following form:
             332          "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn, say that I reside at ____ Street, City of ____,
             333      County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number (if any) ____; that I am a
             334      registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____ (stating the term). I request
             335      that my name be printed upon the applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
             336          Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
             337      __________(month\day\year).


             338          (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)"
             339          (5) (a) In all first and second class cities, and in third, fourth, or fifth class cities that
             340      have not passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b) and in towns that have not
             341      passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated
             342      for municipal office by submitting a petition signed by:
             343          (i) 25 residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old; or
             344          (ii) 20% of the residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old.
             345          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             346     
"NOMINATION PETITION

             347          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             348      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of ____ for the (two or four-year term, whichever is
             349      applicable)."
             350          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             351      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             352          (6) (a) In third, fourth, and fifth class cities that have passed the ordinance authorized
             353      by Subsection (2)(b), and in towns that have passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection
             354      (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated for municipal office by submitting a petition
             355      signed by the same percentage of registered voters in the municipality as required by the
             356      ordinance passed under authority of Subsection (2)(b).
             357          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             358          "NOMINATION PETITION
             359          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             360      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of (name of office) for the (two or four-year term,
             361      whichever is applicable)."
             362          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             363      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             364          (7) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
             365      nomination is for the two or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination to be for


             366      the four-year term.
             367          (8) (a) The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
             368      voters.
             369          (b) Any candidate who is not registered to vote is disqualified and the clerk may not
             370      print the candidate's name on the ballot.
             371          (9) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the
             372      clerk shall:
             373          (a) cause the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot to be published
             374      in at least two successive publications of a newspaper with general circulation in the
             375      municipality; and
             376          (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
             377      the ballot.
             378          (10) (a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section is
             379      valid unless a written objection is filed with the clerk within five days after the last day for
             380      filing.
             381          (b) If an objection is made, the clerk shall:
             382          (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
             383      immediately; and
             384          (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after it is filed.
             385          (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may correct the problem by
             386      amending the declaration or petition within three days after the objection is sustained or by
             387      filing a new declaration within three days after the objection is sustained.
             388          (d) (i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
             389          (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
             390      prompt application is made to the district court.
             391          (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise
             392      of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
             393          (11) Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy and was nominated, and any


             394      person who was nominated by a nomination petition, may, any time up to 23 days before the
             395      election, withdraw the nomination by filing a written affidavit with the clerk.
             396          Section 4. Section 67-1a-2 is amended to read:
             397           67-1a-2. Duties enumerated.
             398          (1) The lieutenant governor shall:
             399          (a) perform duties delegated by the governor, including assignments to serve in any of
             400      the following capacities:
             401          (i) as the head of any one department, if so qualified, with the consent of the Senate,
             402      and, upon appointment at the pleasure of the governor and without additional compensation;
             403          (ii) as the chairperson of any cabinet group organized by the governor or authorized by
             404      law for the purpose of advising the governor or coordinating intergovernmental or
             405      interdepartmental policies or programs;
             406          (iii) as liaison between the governor and the state Legislature to coordinate and
             407      facilitate the governor's programs and budget requests;
             408          (iv) as liaison between the governor and other officials of local, state, federal, and
             409      international governments or any other political entities to coordinate, facilitate, and protect the
             410      interests of the state;
             411          (v) as personal advisor to the governor, including advice on policies, programs,
             412      administrative and personnel matters, and fiscal or budgetary matters; and
             413          (vi) as chairperson or member of any temporary or permanent boards, councils,
             414      commissions, committees, task forces, or other group appointed by the governor;
             415          (b) serve on all boards and commissions in lieu of the governor, whenever so
             416      designated by the governor;
             417          (c) serve as the chief election officer of the state as required by Subsection (2);
             418          (d) keep custody of the Great Seal of Utah;
             419          (e) keep a register of, and attest, the official acts of the governor;
             420          (f) affix the Great Seal, with an attestation, to all official documents and instruments to
             421      which the official signature of the governor is required; and


             422          (g) furnish a certified copy of all or any part of any law, record, or other instrument
             423      filed, deposited, or recorded in the office of the lieutenant governor to any person who requests
             424      it and pays the fee.
             425          (2) (a) As the chief election officer, the lieutenant governor shall:
             426          (i) exercise general supervisory authority over all elections;
             427          (ii) exercise direct authority over the conduct of elections for federal, state, and
             428      multicounty officers and statewide or multicounty ballot propositions and any recounts
             429      involving those races;
             430          (iii) assist county clerks in unifying the election ballot;
             431          (iv) (A) prepare election information for the public [and] as required by statute and as
             432      determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor;
             433          (B) make [that] the information under Subsection (2)(a)(iv)(A) available to the public
             434      and to news media on the Internet and in other forms as required by statute or as determined
             435      appropriate by the lieutenant governor;
             436          (v) receive and answer election questions and maintain an election file on opinions
             437      received from the attorney general;
             438          (vi) maintain election returns and statistics;
             439          (vii) certify to the governor the names of those persons who have received the highest
             440      number of votes for any office;
             441          (viii) ensure that all voting equipment purchased by the state complies with the
             442      requirements of Subsection 20A-5-302 (2) and Sections 20A-5-402.5 and 20A-5-402.7 ; and
             443          (ix) perform other election duties as provided in Title 20A, Election Code.
             444          (b) As chief election officer, the lieutenant governor may not assume the
             445      responsibilities assigned to the county clerks, city recorders, town clerks, or other local election
             446      officials by Title 20A, Election Code.


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