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First Substitute H.B. 347

Representative Douglas C. Aagard proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
MUNICIPAL ELECTION LAW PROVISIONS

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions of the Election Code.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    makes technical amendments;
             13          .    modifies definitions;
             14          .    moves the date of the municipal primary election from October to September;
             15          .    modifies provisions governing the days and hours of poll operation for early voting
             16      in local special elections, municipal primary elections, and municipal general
             17      elections;
             18          .    provides that use of machines that provide disability access is not required for early
             19      voting in local special elections, municipal primary elections, and municipal
             20      elections;
             21          .    permits municipalities to combine up to four voting precincts into a single precinct
             22      for voting purposes in municipal elections;
             23          .    provides that the use of electronic voting machines is not required for municipal
             24      primary elections or municipal general elections;
             25          .    permits poll workers who are assigned to a voting precinct during a municipal


             26      election to reside within the county, rather than within the precinct they are assigned to; and
             27          .    adjusts the deadline for filing declarations of candidacy and nomination petitions for
             28      municipal elections.
             29      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             30          None
             31      Other Special Clauses:
             32          None
             33      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             34      AMENDS:
             35          10-3-201, as enacted by Chapter 48, Laws of Utah 1977
             36          10-3-208, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 209, Laws of Utah 2004
             37          20A-1-102, as last amended by Chapters 16, 264 and 326, Laws of Utah 2006
             38          20A-1-201.5, as last amended by Chapter 355, Laws of Utah 2006
             39          20A-3-601, as enacted by Chapter 264, Laws of Utah 2006
             40          20A-3-602, as enacted by Chapter 264, Laws of Utah 2006
             41          20A-3-603, as enacted by Chapter 264, Laws of Utah 2006
             42          20A-5-301, as last amended by Chapter 292, Laws of Utah 2003
             43          20A-5-302, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 2005, First Special Session
             44          20A-5-602, as last amended by Chapter 40, Laws of Utah 1998
             45          20A-9-203, as last amended by Chapters 28 and 226, Laws of Utah 2006
             46          20A-9-404, as last amended by Chapter 292, Laws of Utah 2003
             47     
             48      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             49          Section 1. Section 10-3-201 is amended to read:
             50           10-3-201. Municipal general election -- Terms of office.
             51          (1) [On] Consistent with Section 20A-1-202 , on the Tuesday after the first Monday in
             52      November[, 1977, and biennially thereafter, an election] in odd-numbered years, a municipal
             53      general election shall be held in all municipalities to fill all elective offices vacated by 12
             54      o'clock noon on the first Monday in the January following the election. The officers elected
             55      shall continue in the office to which they were elected for four years except in case of death,
             56      resignation, removal or disqualification from office.


             57          (2) The officers so elected shall begin their term of office at 12 o'clock noon on the
             58      first Monday in January following their election.
             59          Section 2. Section 10-3-208 is amended to read:
             60           10-3-208. Campaign finance statement in municipal election.
             61          (1) As used in this section:
             62          (a) "Reporting date" means:
             63          (i) ten days before a municipal general election, for a campaign finance statement
             64      required to be filed no later than seven days before a municipal general election; and
             65          (ii) the day of filing, for a campaign finance statement required to be filed no later than
             66      30 days after a municipal primary or general election.
             67          (b) "Reporting limit" means:
             68          (i) $50; or
             69          (ii) an amount lower than $50 that is specified in an ordinance of the municipality.
             70          (2) (a) (i) Each candidate for municipal office who is not eliminated at a municipal
             71      primary election shall file with the municipal clerk or recorder a campaign finance statement:
             72          (A) no later than seven days before the date of the municipal general election; and
             73          (B) no later than 30 days after the date of the municipal general election.
             74          (ii) Each candidate for municipal office who is eliminated at a municipal primary
             75      election shall file with the municipal clerk or recorder a campaign finance statement no later
             76      than 30 days after the date of the municipal primary election.
             77          (b) Each campaign finance statement under Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             78          (i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(b)(ii):
             79          (A) report all of the candidate's itemized and total:
             80          (I) campaign contributions, including in-kind and other nonmonetary contributions, [as
             81      of] received before the close of the reporting date; and
             82          (II) campaign expenditures [as] made through the close of the reporting date; and
             83          (B) identify:
             84          (I) for each contribution that exceeds the reporting limit, the amount of the contribution
             85      and the name of the donor;
             86          (II) the aggregate total of all contributions that individually do not exceed the reporting
             87      limit; and


             88          (III) for each campaign expenditure, the amount of the expenditure and the name of the
             89      recipient of the expenditure; or
             90          (ii) report the total amount of all campaign contributions and expenditures if the
             91      candidate receives $500 or less in campaign contributions and spends $500 or less on the
             92      candidate's campaign.
             93          (3) (a) A municipality may, by ordinance:
             94          (i) provide a reporting limit lower than $50;
             95          (ii) require greater disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures than is
             96      required in this section; and
             97          (iii) impose additional penalties on candidates who fail to comply with the applicable
             98      requirements beyond those imposed by this section.
             99          (b) A candidate for municipal office is subject to the provisions of this section and not
             100      the provisions of an ordinance adopted by the municipality under Subsection (3)(a) if:
             101          (i) the municipal ordinance establishes requirements or penalties that differ from those
             102      established in this section; and
             103          (ii) the municipal clerk or recorder fails to notify the candidate of the provisions of the
             104      ordinance as required in Subsection (4).
             105          (4) Each municipal clerk or recorder shall, at the time the candidate for municipal
             106      office files a declaration of candidacy, and again 14 days before each municipal general
             107      election, notify the candidate in writing of:
             108          (a) the provisions of statute or municipal ordinance governing the disclosure of
             109      campaign contributions and expenditures;
             110          (b) the dates when the candidate's campaign finance statement is required to be filed;
             111      and
             112          (c) the penalties that apply for failure to file a timely campaign finance statement,
             113      including the statutory provision that requires removal of the candidate's name from the ballot
             114      for failure to file the required campaign finance statement when required.
             115          (5) Notwithstanding any provision of Title 63, Chapter 2, Government Records Access
             116      and Management Act, the municipal clerk or recorder shall make each campaign finance
             117      statement filed by a candidate available for public inspection and copying no later than one
             118      business day after the statement is filed.


             119          (6) (a) If a candidate fails to file a campaign finance statement before the municipal
             120      general election by the deadline specified in Subsection (2)(a)(i)(A), the municipal clerk or
             121      recorder shall inform the appropriate election official who:
             122          (i) shall:
             123          (A) if practicable, remove the candidate's name from the ballot by blacking out the
             124      candidate's name before the ballots are delivered to voters; or
             125          (B) if removing the candidate's name from the ballot is not practicable, inform the
             126      voters by any practicable method that the candidate has been disqualified and that votes cast for
             127      the candidate will not be counted; and
             128          (ii) may not count any votes for that candidate.
             129          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (6)(a), a candidate who files a campaign finance
             130      statement seven days before a municipal general election is not disqualified if:
             131          (i) the statement details accurately and completely the information required under
             132      Subsection (2)(b), except for inadvertent omissions or insignificant errors or inaccuracies; and
             133          (ii) the omissions, errors, or inaccuracies are corrected in an amended report or in the
             134      next scheduled report.
             135          (7) A campaign finance statement required under this section is considered filed if it is
             136      received in the municipal clerk or recorder's office by 5 p.m. on the date that is it due.
             137          (8) (a) A private party in interest may bring a civil action in district court to enforce the
             138      provisions of this section or an ordinance adopted under this section.
             139          (b) In a civil action under Subsection (8)(a), the court may award costs and attorney's
             140      fees to the prevailing party.
             141          Section 3. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
             142           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             143          As used in this title:
             144          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             145      voter by the county clerk.
             146          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             147      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
             148          (3) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic, upon
             149      which a voter records his votes and includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and


             150      secrecy envelopes.
             151          (4) "Ballot sheet":
             152          (a) means a ballot that:
             153          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             154          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
             155          (b) includes punch card ballots, and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             156          (5) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that
             157      contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be voted
             158      on and which are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
             159          (6) "Ballot proposition" means opinion questions specifically authorized by the
             160      Legislature, constitutional amendments, initiatives, referenda, and judicial retention questions
             161      that are submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection.
             162          (7) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
             163      20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
             164          (8) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
             165      the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             166          (9) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a bound
             167      book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             168          (10) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
             169      completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             170          (11) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
             171      election results by the board of canvassers.
             172          (12) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
             173      the canvass.
             174          (13) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
             175      delegates are selected.
             176          (14) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
             177      charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
             178          (15) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
             179      election day.
             180          (16) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section


             181      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             182          (17) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             183      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the counting
             184      judges to count ballots during election day.
             185          (18) "County executive" has the meaning as provided in Subsection 68-3-12 (2).
             186          (19) "County legislative body" has the meaning as provided in Subsection 68-3-12 (2).
             187          (20) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             188      elected.
             189          (21) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             190      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             191      primary election, and a special district election.
             192          (22) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
             193      Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
             194          (23) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
             195      file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
             196          (24) "Election judge" means each canvassing judge, counting judge, and receiving
             197      judge.
             198          (25) "Election officer" means:
             199          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots;
             200          (b) the county clerk or clerks for all county ballots and for certain ballots and elections
             201      as provided in Section 20A-5-400.5 ;
             202          (c) the municipal clerk for all municipal ballots and for certain ballots and elections as
             203      provided in Section 20A-5-400.5 ;
             204          (d) the special district clerk or chief executive officer for certain ballots and elections
             205      as provided in Section 20A-5-400.5 ; and
             206          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for certain ballots
             207      or elections as provided in Section 20A-5-400.5 .
             208          (26) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, poll worker, or
             209      satellite registrar.
             210          (27) "Election results" means, for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and
             211      against the bond proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers


             212      may request.
             213          (28) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, all affidavits of registration, the military
             214      and overseas absentee voter registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any
             215      unprocessed absentee ballots, all counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all
             216      spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition form, and the total votes cast form.
             217          (29) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
             218      device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
             219          (30) (a) "Electronic voting [system"] device" means a [system in which a voting device
             220      is used in conjunction with ballots so that votes recorded by the voter are counted and tabulated
             221      by automatic tabulating equipment.] voting device that uses electronic ballots.
             222          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             223          (31) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has been sent the notice required by
             224      Section 20A-2-306 and who has failed to respond to that notice.
             225          (32) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             226      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             227          (33) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
             228          (34) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
             229      court judge.
             230          (35) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special election, a
             231      special district election, and a bond election.
             232          (36) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a special district, or
             233      a local school district.
             234          (37) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
             235      local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
             236      vote.
             237          (38) "Municipal executive" means:
             238          (a) the city council or town council in the traditional management arrangement
             239      established by Title 10, Chapter 3, Part 1, Governing Body;
             240          (b) the mayor in the council-mayor optional form of government defined in Section
             241      10-3-101 ; and
             242          (c) the manager in the council-manager optional form of government defined in


             243      Section 10-3-101 .
             244          (39) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and special
             245      districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year
             246      for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             247          (40) "Municipal legislative body" means:
             248          (a) the city council or town council in the traditional management arrangement
             249      established by Title 10, Chapter 3, Part 1, Governing Body;
             250          (b) the municipal council in the council-mayor optional form of government defined in
             251      Section 10-3-101 ; and
             252          (c) the municipal council in the council-manager optional form of government defined
             253      in Section 10-3-101 .
             254          (41) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
             255      elected.
             256          (42) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
             257      municipal office.
             258          (43) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
             259      workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
             260          (44) "Official endorsement" means:
             261          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             262          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             263          (ii) the date of the election; and
             264          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             265          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             266          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             267          (ii) the ballot number.
             268          (45) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
             269      election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .
             270          (46) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             271          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             272      voted on; and
             273          (b) spaces for the voter to record his vote for each office and for or against each ballot


             274      proposition.
             275          (47) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
             276      participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Title 20A, Chapter 8, Political Party
             277      Formation and Procedures.
             278          (48) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
             279      election, voting, or counting votes.
             280          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             281          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             282          (49) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
             283      cast votes.
             284          (50) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             285          (51) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
             286      in which the voter marks his choice.
             287          (52) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             288          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             289          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             290          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by an election judge.
             291          (53) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form required by
             292      Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide information to
             293      verify a person's legal right to vote.
             294          (54) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions at which nominees for
             295      the regular primary election are selected.
             296          (55) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that is built
             297      into a voting machine and records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             298          (56) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
             299      duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             300          (57) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             301      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             302      after the voter has voted.
             303          (58) "Registration days" means the days designated in Section 20A-2-203 when a voter
             304      may register to vote with a satellite registrar.


             305          (59) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
             306      registration form.
             307          (60) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             308          (61) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
             309      Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
             310      established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             311          (62) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
             312      each even-numbered year, at which candidates of political parties and nonpolitical groups are
             313      voted for nomination.
             314          (63) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
             315          (64) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
             316      and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             317          (65) "Satellite registrar" means a person appointed under Section 20A-5-201 to register
             318      voters and perform other duties.
             319          (66) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then mark or
             320      punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political parties.
             321          (67) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the ballot into
             322      which the voter places the ballot after he has voted it in order to preserve the secrecy of the
             323      voter's vote.
             324          (68) "Special district" means those local government entities created under the
             325      authority of Title 17A.
             326          (69) "Special district officers" means those special district officers that are required by
             327      law to be elected.
             328          (70) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section 20A-1-204 .
             329          (71) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             330          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             331          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
             332          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             333          (72) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
             334      Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             335          (73) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.


             336          (74) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election officer to
             337      the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             338          (75) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each group of
             339      petitioners.
             340          (76) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             341      counting center.
             342          (77) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created by
             343      statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation,
             344      or other cause.
             345          (78) "Valid voter identification" means:
             346          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             347      include:
             348          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             349          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             350          (A) the state;
             351          (B) a local government within the state; or
             352          (C) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             353          (iii) an identification card that is issued by an employer for an employee;
             354          (iv) a currently valid identification card that is issued by a college, university, technical
             355      school, or professional school that is located within the state;
             356          (v) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             357          (vi) a currently valid United States passport; or
             358          (vii) a valid tribal identification card; or
             359          (b) two forms of identification that bear the name of the voter and provide evidence
             360      that the voter resides in the voting precinct, which may include:
             361          (i) a voter identification card;
             362          (ii) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof;
             363          (iii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             364          (iv) a certified birth certificate;
             365          (v) a valid Social Security card;
             366          (vi) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;


             367          (vii) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             368          (viii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             369          (ix) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             370          (x) certified naturalization documentation;
             371          (xi) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             372          (xii) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
             373          (xiii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card;
             374          (xiv) a tribal treaty card;
             375          (xv) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card; or
             376          (xvi) a form of identification listed in Subsection [(76)] (78)(a) that does not contain a
             377      photograph, but establishes the name of the voter and provides evidence that the voter resides
             378      in the voting precinct.
             379          (79) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in
             380      candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             381          (80) "Voter" means a person who meets the requirements for voting in an election,
             382      meets the requirements of election registration, is registered to vote, and is listed in the official
             383      register book.
             384          (81) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
             385      20A-2-102.5 .
             386          (82) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             387      machines, and ballot box.
             388          (83) "Voting booth" means:
             389          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
             390      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             391          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             392          (84) "Voting device" means:
             393          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             394      piercing the ballots by the voter;
             395          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             396          (c) [a] an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a
             397      ballot electronically, or any component thereof;


             398          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             399          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             400      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
             401          (85) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of recording
             402      and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             403          (86) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             404      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             405          (87) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by law
             406      within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             407          (88) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an inspecting
             408      poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             409          (89) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in Title 20A,
             410      Chapter 9, Part 8.
             411          (90) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             412          (91) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on the
             413      ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
             414          Section 4. Section 20A-1-201.5 is amended to read:
             415           20A-1-201.5. Primary election dates.
             416          (1) A regular primary election shall be held throughout the state on the fourth Tuesday
             417      of June of each even numbered year as provided in Section 20A-9-403 , to nominate persons for
             418      national, state, school board, and county offices.
             419          (2) A municipal primary election shall be held, if necessary, on the second Tuesday
             420      following the first Monday in [October] September before the regular municipal election to
             421      nominate persons for municipal and special district offices.
             422          (3) The Western States Presidential Primary election shall be held throughout the state
             423      on the first Tuesday in February in the year in which a presidential election will be held.
             424          Section 5. Section 20A-3-601 is amended to read:
             425           20A-3-601. Early voting.
             426          (1) A person who is registered to vote may vote before the election date in accordance
             427      with this section.
             428          (2) (a) The early voting period shall begin on the date that is 14 days before the date of


             429      the election.
             430          (b) Early voting shall continue through:
             431          (i) the Friday before the election if the election date is a Tuesday; or
             432          (ii) the date that is two regular business days before the date of the election if the
             433      election date is a day other than Tuesday.
             434          (c) During the early voting period, the election officer:
             435          (i) for local special elections, municipal primary elections, and municipal general
             436      elections:
             437          (A) shall conduct early voting on a minimum of four days during each week of the
             438      early voting period; and
             439          (B) shall conduct early voting on the last day of the early voting period; and
             440          (ii) for all other elections:
             441          [(i)] (A) shall conduct early voting on [regular business days] each weekday; and
             442          [(ii)] (B) may elect to conduct early voting on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.
             443          (3) Except as specifically provided in this Part 6, Early Voting, early voting shall be
             444      administered according to the requirements of this title.
             445          Section 6. Section 20A-3-602 is amended to read:
             446           20A-3-602. Hours for early voting.
             447          (1) The election officer shall determine the times for opening and closing the polls for
             448      each day of early voting provided that:
             449          (a) voting is open for a minimum of four hours during each [early voting day; and] day
             450      that polls are open during the early voting period; and
             451          (b) polls shall close at 5 p.m. on the last [early voting] day of the early voting period.
             452          (2) Every registered voter who arrives at the polls before the time scheduled for closing
             453      of the polls shall be allowed to vote.
             454          Section 7. Section 20A-3-603 is amended to read:
             455           20A-3-603. Early voting polling places.
             456          (1) The election officer shall designate one or more polling places for early voting,
             457      provided that:
             458          (a) at least one polling place is open on each day of early voting;
             459          (b) each polling place meets the requirements for polling places under Chapter 5,


             460      Election Administration;
             461          (c) for all elections other than local special elections, municipal primary elections, and
             462      municipal general elections, at least 10% of the voting devices at a polling place are accessible
             463      for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Public Law 107-252, the Help America
             464      Vote Act of 2002; and
             465          (d) each polling place is located in a government building or office, unless no
             466      government building or office is available.
             467          (2) (a) In the event the election officer determines that the number of early voting
             468      polling places is insufficient due to the number of registered voters who are voting, the election
             469      officer may designate additional polling places during the early voting period.
             470          (b) If an additional early voting polling place is designated, the election officer shall, as
             471      soon as is reasonably possible, give notice of the dates, times, and location of the additional
             472      polling place by:
             473          (i) publishing the notice in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in the
             474      county; and
             475          (ii) posting the notice at the additional polling place.
             476          Section 8. Section 20A-5-301 is amended to read:
             477           20A-5-301. Combined voting precincts -- Municipalities.
             478          (1) (a) The municipal legislative body of a city of the first or second class may combine
             479      [two] up to four regular county voting precincts into one municipal voting precinct for
             480      purposes of a municipal election if they designate the location and address of each of those
             481      combined voting precincts.
             482          (b) The polling place shall be within the combined voting precinct or within 1/2 mile
             483      of the boundaries of the voting precinct.
             484          (2) (a) The municipal legislative body of a city of the third, fourth, or fifth class or
             485      town may combine two or more regular county voting precincts into one municipal voting
             486      precinct for purposes of an election if it designates the location and address of that combined
             487      voting precinct.
             488          (b) If only two precincts are combined, the polling place shall be within the combined
             489      precinct or within 1/2 mile of the boundaries of the combined voting precinct.
             490          (c) If more than two precincts are combined, the polling place should be as near as


             491      practical to the middle of the combined precinct.
             492          Section 9. Section 20A-5-302 is amended to read:
             493           20A-5-302. Automated voting system.
             494          (1) (a) Any county or municipal legislative body or special district board may:
             495          [(a)] (i) adopt, experiment with, acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, or abandon
             496      any automated voting system that meets the requirements of this section; and
             497          [(b)] (ii) use that system in any election, in all or a part of the voting precincts within
             498      its boundaries, or in combination with paper ballots.
             499          (b) Nothing in this title shall be construed to require the use of electronic voting
             500      devices in local special elections, municipal primary elections, or municipal general elections.
             501          (2) (a) Each automated voting system shall:
             502          (i) provide for voting in secrecy, except in the case of voters who have received
             503      assistance as authorized by Section 20A-3-108 ;
             504          (ii) permit each voter at any election to:
             505          (A) vote for all persons and offices for whom and for which that voter is lawfully
             506      entitled to vote;
             507          (B) vote for as many persons for an office as that voter is entitled to vote; and
             508          (C) vote for or against any ballot proposition upon which that voter is entitled to vote;
             509          (iii) permit each voter, at presidential elections, by one mark or punch to vote for the
             510      candidates of that party for president, vice president, and for their presidential electors;
             511          (iv) permit each voter, at any regular general election, to vote for all the candidates of
             512      one registered political party by making one mark or punch;
             513          (v) permit each voter to scratch vote;
             514          (vi) at elections other than primary elections, permit each voter to vote for the
             515      nominees of one or more parties and for independent candidates;
             516          (vii) at primary elections:
             517          (A) permit each voter to vote for candidates of the political party of his choice; and
             518          (B) reject any votes cast for candidates of another party;
             519          (viii) prevent the voter from voting for the same person more than once for the same
             520      office;
             521          (ix) provide the opportunity for each voter to change the ballot and to correct any error


             522      before the voter casts the ballot in compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Pub.
             523      L. No. 107-252;
             524          (x) include automatic tabulating equipment that rejects choices recorded on a voter's
             525      ballot if the number of the voter's recorded choices is greater than the number which the voter
             526      is entitled to vote for the office or on the measure;
             527          (xi) be of durable construction, suitably designed so that it may be used safely,
             528      efficiently, and accurately in the conduct of elections and counting ballots;
             529          (xii) when properly operated, record correctly and count accurately each vote cast;
             530          (xiii) for voting equipment certified after January 1, 2005, produce a permanent paper
             531      record that:
             532          (A) shall be available as an official record for any recount or election contest
             533      conducted with respect to an election where the voting equipment is used;
             534          (B) (I) shall be available for the voter's inspection prior to the voter leaving the polling
             535      place; and
             536          (II) shall permit the voter to inspect the record of the voter's selections independently
             537      only if reasonably practicable commercial methods permitting independent inspection are
             538      available at the time of certification of the voting equipment by the lieutenant governor;
             539          (C) shall include, at a minimum, human readable printing that shows a record of the
             540      voter's selections;
             541          (D) may also include machine readable printing which may be the same as the human
             542      readable printing; and
             543          (E) allows voting poll watchers and counting poll watchers to observe the election
             544      process to ensure its integrity; and
             545          (xiv) meet the requirements of Section 20A-5-402.5 .
             546          (b) For the purposes of a recount or an election contest, if the permanent paper record
             547      contains a conflict or inconsistency between the human readable printing and the machine
             548      readable printing, the human readable printing shall supercede the machine readable printing
             549      when determining the intent of the voter.
             550          (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the election officers shall
             551      ensure that the ballots to be counted by means of electronic or electromechanical devices are of
             552      a size, layout, texture, and printed in a type of ink or combination of inks that will be suitable


             553      for use in the counting devices in which they are intended to be placed.
             554          Section 10. Section 20A-5-602 is amended to read:
             555           20A-5-602. Poll workers -- Appointment for local elections.
             556          (1) At least 15 days before the date scheduled for any local election, the municipal
             557      legislative body or special district board shall appoint or provide for the appointment of:
             558          (a) in jurisdictions using paper ballots:
             559          (i) three registered voters, or two registered voters and one person 17 years old who
             560      will be 18 years old by the date of the regular municipal election, [from their jurisdiction] who
             561      reside within the county to serve as [election judges] poll workers for each voting precinct
             562      when the ballots will be counted after the polls close; or
             563          (ii) three registered voters, or two registered voters and one person 17 years old who
             564      will be 18 years old by the date of the regular municipal election, [from their jurisdiction] who
             565      reside within the county to serve as receiving judges in each voting precinct and three
             566      registered voters, or two registered voters and one person 17 years old who will be 18 years old
             567      by the date of the regular municipal election, [from their jurisdiction] who reside within the
             568      county to serve as counting judges in each voting precinct when ballots will be counted
             569      throughout election day;
             570          (b) in jurisdictions using automated tabulating equipment, three registered voters, or
             571      two registered voters and one person 17 years old who will be 18 years old by the date of the
             572      regular municipal election, [from their jurisdiction] who reside within the county to serve as
             573      election judges for each voting precinct;
             574          (c) in jurisdictions using voting machines, four registered voters, or three registered
             575      voters and one person 17 years old who will be 18 years old by the date of the regular
             576      municipal election, [from their jurisdiction] who reside within the county to serve as [election
             577      judges] poll workers for each voting precinct; and
             578          (d) in all jurisdictions:
             579          (i) at least one registered voter [from their jurisdiction] who resides within the county
             580      to serve as canvassing judge, if necessary; and
             581          (ii) as many alternate judges as needed to replace appointed judges who are unable to
             582      serve.
             583          (2) The municipal legislative body and special district board may not appoint any


             584      candidate's parent, sibling, spouse, child, or in-law to serve as [an election judge] a poll worker
             585      in the voting precinct where the candidate resides.
             586          (3) The clerk shall:
             587          (a) prepare and file a list containing the name, address, voting precinct, and telephone
             588      number of each person appointed; and
             589          (b) make the list available in the clerk's office for inspection, examination, and copying
             590      during business hours.
             591          (4) (a) The municipal legislative body and special district board shall compensate
             592      [election judges] poll workers for their services.
             593          (b) The municipal legislative body and special district board may not compensate their
             594      [election judges] poll workers at a rate higher than that paid by the county to its [election
             595      judges] poll workers.
             596          Section 11. Section 20A-9-203 is amended to read:
             597           20A-9-203. Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general elections.
             598          (1) (a) A person may become a candidate for any municipal office if the person is a
             599      registered voter and:
             600          (i) the person has resided within the municipality in which that person seeks to hold
             601      elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election; or
             602          (ii) if the territory in which the person resides was annexed into the municipality, the
             603      person has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality for 12 months.
             604          (b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1)(a), candidates for a municipal
             605      council position under the council-mayor or council-manager alternative forms of municipal
             606      government shall, if elected from districts, be residents of the council district from which they
             607      are elected.
             608          (c) In accordance with Utah Constitution Article IV, Section 6, any mentally
             609      incompetent person, any person convicted of a felony, or any person convicted of treason or a
             610      crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the right to hold
             611      elective office is restored under Section 20A-2-101.5 .
             612          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b) or (2)(c), each person seeking to
             613      become a candidate for a municipal office shall:
             614          (i) file a declaration of candidacy, in person with the city recorder or town clerk, during


             615      office hours and not later than 5 p.m. between July [15] 1 and [August] July 15 of any
             616      odd-numbered year; and
             617          (ii) pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             618          (b) (i) As used in this Subsection (2)(b), "registered voters" means the number of
             619      persons registered to vote in the municipality on the January 1 of the municipal election year.
             620          (ii) A third, fourth, or fifth class city that used the convention system to nominate
             621      candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the
             622      process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last municipal election or a town that used the
             623      convention system to nominate candidates in the last municipal election as authorized by
             624      Subsection 20A-9-404 (3) or used the process contained in this Subsection (2)(b) in the last
             625      municipal election may, by ordinance, require, in lieu of the convention system, that candidates
             626      for municipal office file a nominating petition signed by a percentage of registered voters at the
             627      same time that the candidate files a declaration of candidacy.
             628          (iii) The ordinance shall specify the number of signatures that the candidate must
             629      obtain on the nominating petition in order to become a candidate for municipal office under
             630      this Subsection (2), but that number may not exceed 5% of registered voters.
             631          (c) Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by:
             632          (i) filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk during office hours,
             633      but not later than 5 p.m. between July [15] 1 and [August] July 15 of any odd-numbered year;
             634      and [pay]
             635          (ii) paying the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
             636          (d) When [August] July 15 is a Saturday [or], Sunday, or holiday, the filing time shall
             637      be extended until 5 p.m. on the following [Monday] regular business day.
             638          (3) (a) Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
             639      petition, the filing officer shall:
             640          (i) read to the prospective candidate, or person filing the petition, the constitutional and
             641      statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking; and
             642          (ii) require the candidate or person filing the petition to state whether or not the
             643      candidate meets those requirements.
             644          (b) If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
             645      office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.


             646          (c) If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
             647      filing officer shall:
             648          (i) provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices described
             649      under Section 20A-9-206 and inform the candidate that:
             650          (A) signing the pledge is voluntary; and
             651          (B) signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
             652          (ii) accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
             653          (d) If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing
             654      officer shall:
             655          (i) accept the candidate's pledge; and
             656          (ii) if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
             657      candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the candidate is a
             658      member.
             659          (4) The declaration of candidacy shall substantially comply with the following form:
             660          "I, (print name) ____, being first sworn, say that I reside at ____ Street, City of ____,
             661      County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number (if any) ____; that I am a
             662      registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____ (stating the term). I request
             663      that my name be printed upon the applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
             664          Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
             665      __________(month\day\year).
             666          (Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)"
             667          (5) (a) In all first and second class cities, and in third, fourth, or fifth class cities that
             668      have not passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b) and in towns that have not
             669      passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated
             670      for municipal office by submitting a petition signed by:
             671          (i) 25 residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old; or
             672          (ii) 20% of the residents of the municipality who are at least 18 years old.
             673          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             674     
"NOMINATION PETITION

             675          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             676      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of ____ for the (two or four-year term, whichever is


             677      applicable)."
             678          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             679      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             680          (6) (a) In third, fourth, and fifth class cities that have passed the ordinance authorized
             681      by Subsection (2)(b), and in towns that have passed the ordinance authorized by Subsection
             682      (2)(b), any registered voter may be nominated for municipal office by submitting a petition
             683      signed by the same percentage of registered voters in the municipality as required by the
             684      ordinance passed under authority of Subsection (2)(b).
             685          (b) (i) The petition shall substantially conform to the following form:
             686          "NOMINATION PETITION
             687          The undersigned residents of (name of municipality) being 18 years old or older
             688      nominate (name of nominee) to the office of (name of office) for the (two or four-year term,
             689      whichever is applicable)."
             690          (ii) The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
             691      persons signing the petition and their addresses and telephone numbers.
             692          (7) If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
             693      nomination is for the two or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination to be for
             694      the four-year term.
             695          (8) (a) The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
             696      voters.
             697          (b) Any candidate who is not registered to vote is disqualified and the clerk may not
             698      print the candidate's name on the ballot.
             699          (9) Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the
             700      clerk shall:
             701          (a) cause the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot to be published
             702      in at least two successive publications of a newspaper with general circulation in the
             703      municipality; and
             704          (b) notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
             705      the ballot.
             706          (10) (a) A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section is
             707      valid unless a written objection is filed with the clerk within five days after the last day for


             708      filing.
             709          (b) If an objection is made, the clerk shall:
             710          (i) mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
             711      immediately; and
             712          (ii) decide any objection within 48 hours after it is filed.
             713          (c) If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may correct the problem by
             714      amending the declaration or petition within three days after the objection is sustained or by
             715      filing a new declaration within three days after the objection is sustained.
             716          (d) (i) The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
             717          (ii) The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
             718      prompt application is made to the district court.
             719          (iii) The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise
             720      of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
             721          (11) Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy and was nominated, and any
             722      person who was nominated by a nomination petition, may, any time up to 23 days before the
             723      election, withdraw the nomination by filing a written affidavit with the clerk.
             724          Section 12. Section 20A-9-404 is amended to read:
             725           20A-9-404. Municipal primary elections.
             726          (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, candidates for municipal office in
             727      all municipalities shall be nominated at a municipal primary election.
             728          (b) Municipal primary elections shall be held:
             729          (i) consistent with Section 20A-1-201.5 , on the second Tuesday following the first
             730      Monday in the [October] September before the regular municipal election; and
             731          (ii) whenever possible, at the same polling places as the regular municipal election.
             732          (2) If the number of candidates for a particular municipal office does not exceed twice
             733      the number of persons needed to fill that office, a primary election for that office may not be
             734      held and the candidates are considered nominated.
             735          (3) (a) For purposes of this Subsection (3), "convention" means an organized assembly
             736      of voters or delegates.
             737          (b) (i) By ordinance adopted before the June 1 that falls before a regular municipal
             738      election, any third, fourth, or fifth class city or town may exempt itself from a primary election


             739      by providing that the nomination of candidates for municipal office to be voted upon at a
             740      municipal election be nominated by a political party convention or committee.
             741          (ii) Any primary election exemption ordinance adopted under the authority of this
             742      subsection remains in effect until repealed by ordinance.
             743          (c) (i) A convention or committee may not nominate more than one group of
             744      candidates or have placed on the ballot more than one group of candidates for the municipal
             745      offices to be voted upon at the municipal election.
             746          (ii) A convention or committee may nominate a person who has been nominated by a
             747      different convention or committee.
             748          (iii) A political party may not have more than one group of candidates placed upon the
             749      ballot and may not group the same candidates on different tickets by the same party under a
             750      different name or emblem.
             751          (d) (i) The convention or committee shall prepare a certificate of nomination for each
             752      person nominated.
             753          (ii) The certificate of nomination shall:
             754          (A) contain the name of the office for which each person is nominated, the name, post
             755      office address, and, if in a city, the street number of residence and place of business, if any, of
             756      each person nominated;
             757          (B) designate in not more than five words the political party that the convention or
             758      committee represents;
             759          (C) contain a copy of the resolution passed at the convention that authorized the
             760      committee to make the nomination;
             761          (D) contain a statement certifying that the name of the candidate nominated by the
             762      political party will not appear on the ballot as a candidate for any other political party;
             763          (E) be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention or committee;
             764      and
             765          (F) contain a statement identifying the residence and post office address of the
             766      presiding officer and secretary and certifying that the presiding officer and secretary were
             767      officers of the convention or committee and that the certificates are true to the best of their
             768      knowledge and belief.
             769          (iii) Certificates of nomination shall be filed with the clerk not later than the sixth


             770      Tuesday before the November municipal election.
             771          (e) A committee appointed at a convention, if authorized by an enabling resolution,
             772      may also make nominations or fill vacancies in nominations made at a convention.
             773          (f) The election ballot shall substantially comply with the form prescribed in Title 20A,
             774      Chapter 6, Part 4, Ballot Form Requirements for Municipal Elections, but the party name shall
             775      be included with the candidate's name.
             776          (4) (a) Any third, fourth, or fifth class city may adopt an ordinance before the [July]
             777      June 1 that falls before the regular municipal election that:
             778          (i) exempts the city from the other methods of nominating candidates to municipal
             779      office provided in this section; and
             780          (ii) provides for a partisan primary election method of nominating candidates as
             781      provided in this Subsection (4).
             782          (b) (i) Any party that was a registered political party at the last regular general election
             783      or regular municipal election is a municipal political party under this section.
             784          (ii) Any political party may qualify as a municipal political party by presenting a
             785      petition to the city recorder that:
             786          (A) is signed by registered voters within the municipality equal to at least 20% of the
             787      number of votes cast for all candidates for mayor in the last municipal election at which a
             788      mayor was elected;
             789          (B) is filed with the city recorder by the seventh Tuesday before the date of the
             790      municipal primary election;
             791          (C) is substantially similar to the form of the signature sheets described in Section
             792      20A-7-303 ; and
             793          (D) contains the name of the municipal political party using not more than five words.
             794          (c) (i) If the number of candidates for a particular office does not exceed twice the
             795      number of offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, no partisan primary election for
             796      that office shall be held and the candidates are considered to be nominated.
             797          (ii) If the number of candidates for a particular office exceeds twice the number of
             798      offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, those candidates for municipal office shall
             799      be nominated at a partisan primary election.
             800          (d) The clerk shall ensure that:


             801          (i) the partisan municipal primary ballot is similar to the ballot forms required by
             802      Sections 20A-6-401 and 20A-6-401.1 ;
             803          (ii) the candidates for each municipal political party are listed in one or more columns
             804      under their party name and emblem;
             805          (iii) the names of candidates of all parties are printed on the same ballot, but under
             806      their party designation;
             807          (iv) every ballot is folded and perforated so as to separate the candidates of one party
             808      from those of the other parties and so as to enable the elector to separate the part of the ballot
             809      containing the names of the party of his choice from the remainder of the ballot; and
             810          (v) the side edges of all ballots are perforated so that the outside sections of the ballots,
             811      when detached, are similar in appearance to inside sections when detached.
             812          (e) After marking a municipal primary ballot, the voter shall:
             813          (i) detach the part of the ballot containing the names of the candidates of the party he
             814      has voted from the rest of the ballot;
             815          (ii) fold the detached part so that its face is concealed and deposit it in the ballot box;
             816      and
             817          (iii) fold the remainder of the ballot containing the names of the candidates of the
             818      parties for whom the elector did not vote and deposit it in the blank ballot box.
             819          (f) Immediately after the canvass, the election judges shall, without examination,
             820      destroy the tickets deposited in the blank ballot box.


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