Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0185.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 185

             1     

WESTERN STATES PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Keith Grover

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies provisions of the Election Code that relate to procedures for Utah's
             11      Western States Presidential Primary.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    changes the registration deadline for Utah's Western States Presidential Primary
             15      from 7 days before the election to the same date used by other elections;
             16          .    provides that, consistent with the regular primary election, a voter may not change
             17      party affiliation during the 30 day period before the Western States Presidential
             18      Primary;
             19          .    provides that voting procedures for the Western States Presidential Primary shall
             20      mirror voting procedures for regular primary elections;
             21          .    changes the date of the canvass for the Western States Presidential Primary from 7
             22      days after the election to 7 to 14 days after the election; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None


             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:
             30          20A-2-107, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 264
             31          20A-2-107.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 75
             32          20A-3-104.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapters 15, 264, and 326
             33          20A-4-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 75 and 329
             34          20A-9-804, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 285
             35          20A-9-809, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 22
             36      REPEALS AND REENACTS:
             37          20A-9-808, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapters 264 and 326
             38     
             39      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             40          Section 1. Section 20A-2-107 is amended to read:
             41           20A-2-107. Designating or changing party affiliation -- Times permitted.
             42          (1) The county clerk shall:
             43          (a) record the party affiliation designated by the voter on the voter registration form as
             44      the voter's party affiliation; or
             45          (b) if no political party affiliation is designated by the voter on the voter registration
             46      form, record the voter's party affiliation as "unaffiliated."
             47          (2) (a) Any registered voter may designate or change the voter's political party
             48      affiliation by complying with the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
             49          (b) [Except for the period beginning on the day after the voter registration deadline and
             50      continuing through the date of the regular primary election, any] A registered voter may
             51      designate or change the voter's political party affiliation by filing a signed form with the county
             52      clerk that identifies the registered political party with which the voter chooses to affiliate[.],
             53      during any period except the following:
             54          (i) the period beginning on the day after the voter registration deadline and continuing
             55      through the date of the regular primary election; and
             56          (ii) the period beginning on the day after the voter registration deadline and continuing
             57      through the date of the Western States Presidential Primary.
             58          Section 2. Section 20A-2-107.5 is amended to read:


             59           20A-2-107.5. Designating or changing party affiliation -- Regular primary
             60      election and Western States Presidential Primary.
             61          (1) At any regular primary election or the Western States Presidential Primary:
             62          (a) each county clerk shall provide change of party affiliation forms to the poll workers
             63      for each voting precinct within the county; and
             64          (b) any registered voter who is classified as "unaffiliated" may affiliate with a political
             65      party by completing the form and giving it to the poll worker.
             66          (2) An unaffiliated voter who affiliates with a political party as provided in Subsection
             67      (1)(b) may vote in that party's primary election.
             68          Section 3. Section 20A-3-104.5 is amended to read:
             69           20A-3-104.5. Voting -- Regular primary election and Western States Presidential
             70      Primary.
             71          (1) (a) Any registered voter desiring to vote at the regular primary election or Utah's
             72      Western States Presidential Primary shall give his name, the name of the registered political
             73      party whose ballot the voter wishes to vote, and, if requested, his residence, to one of the poll
             74      workers.
             75          (b) The voter shall present valid voter identification to one of the poll workers if the
             76      voter is:
             77          (i) required to present valid voter identification as indicated by a notation in the official
             78      register;
             79          (ii) voting in person by absentee ballot; or
             80          (iii) voting during the early voting period.
             81          (c) If a voter is not required to present valid voter identification under Subsection
             82      (1)(b), and the poll worker does not know the voter requesting a ballot and has reason to doubt
             83      that voter's identity, the poll worker shall:
             84          (i) request that the voter present valid voter identification; or
             85          (ii) have the voter identified by a known registered voter of the district.
             86          (d) The poll worker shall follow the procedures and requirements of Section
             87      20A-3-105.5 if:
             88          (i) the poll worker is not satisfied that the voter has been properly identified; or
             89          (ii) the voter's right to vote is challenged under Section 20A-3-202 .


             90          (2) (a) (i) If the voter is properly identified, the poll worker in charge of the official
             91      register shall check the official register to determine:
             92          (A) whether or not the voter is registered to vote; and
             93          (B) whether or not the voter's party affiliation designation in the official register allows
             94      the voter to vote the ballot that the voter requested.
             95          (ii) If the official register does not affirmatively identify the voter as being affiliated
             96      with a registered political party or if the official register identifies the voter as being
             97      "unaffiliated," the voter shall be considered to be "unaffiliated."
             98          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), if the voter's name is not found on
             99      the official register, the poll worker shall follow the procedures and requirements of Section
             100      20A-3-105.5 .
             101          (ii) (A) If it is not unduly disruptive of the election process, the poll worker shall
             102      attempt to contact the county clerk's office to request oral verification of the voter's registration.
             103          (B) If oral verification is received from the county clerk's office, the poll worker shall:
             104          (I) record the verification on the official register;
             105          (II) determine the voter's party affiliation and the ballot that the voter is qualified to
             106      vote; and
             107          (III) perform the other administrative steps required by Subsection (3).
             108          (c) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii), if the voter's political party
             109      affiliation listed in the official register does not allow the voter to vote the ballot that the voter
             110      requested, the poll worker shall inform the voter of that fact and inform the voter of the ballot
             111      or ballots that the voter's party affiliation does allow the voter to vote.
             112          (ii) (A) If the voter is listed in the official register as "unaffiliated," or if the official
             113      register does not affirmatively identify the voter as either "unaffiliated" or affiliated with a
             114      registered political party, and the voter, as an "unaffiliated" voter, is not authorized to vote the
             115      ballot that the voter requests, the poll worker shall ask the voter if the voter wishes to vote
             116      another registered political party ballot that the voter, as "unaffiliated," is authorized to vote, or
             117      remain "unaffiliated."
             118          (B) If the voter wishes to vote another registered political party ballot that the
             119      unaffiliated voter is authorized to vote, the poll worker shall proceed as required by Subsection
             120      (3).


             121          (C) If the voter wishes to remain unaffiliated and does not wish to vote another ballot
             122      that unaffiliated voters are authorized to vote, the poll worker shall instruct the voter that the
             123      voter may not vote.
             124          (iii) For the primary elections held in 2004, 2006, and 2008 only:
             125          (A) If the voter is listed in the official register as "unaffiliated," or if the official
             126      register does not affirmatively identify the voter as either "unaffiliated" or "affiliated" with a
             127      registered political party, the poll worker shall ask the voter if the voter wishes to affiliate with
             128      a registered political party, or remain "unaffiliated."
             129          (B) If the voter wishes to affiliate with the registered political party whose ballot the
             130      voter requested, the poll worker shall direct the voter to complete the change of party affiliation
             131      form and proceed as required by Subsection (3).
             132          (C) If the voter wishes to remain unaffiliated and wishes to vote another registered
             133      political party ballot that the unaffiliated voter is authorized to vote, the poll worker shall
             134      proceed as required by Subsection (3).
             135          (D) If the voter wishes to remain unaffiliated and does not wish to vote another ballot
             136      that unaffiliated voters are authorized to vote, the poll worker shall instruct the voter that the
             137      voter may not vote.
             138          (3) If the poll worker determines that the voter is registered and eligible, under
             139      Subsection (2), to vote the ballot that the voter requested and:
             140          (a) if the ballot is a paper ballot or a ballot sheet:
             141          (i) the poll worker in charge of the official register shall:
             142          (A) write the ballot number and the name of the registered political party whose ballot
             143      the voter voted opposite the name of the voter in the official register; and
             144          (B) direct the voter to sign his name in the election column in the official register;
             145          (ii) another poll worker shall list the ballot number and voter's name in the pollbook;
             146      and
             147          (iii) the poll worker having charge of the ballots shall:
             148          (A) endorse his initials on the stub;
             149          (B) check the name of the voter on the pollbook list with the number of the stub;
             150          (C) hand the voter the ballot for the registered political party that the voter requested
             151      and for which the voter is authorized to vote; and


             152          (D) allow the voter to enter the voting booth; or
             153          (b) if the ballot is an electronic ballot:
             154          (i) the poll worker in charge of the official register shall direct the voter to sign his
             155      name in the official register;
             156          (ii) another poll worker shall list the voter's name in the pollbook; and
             157          (iii) the poll worker having charge of the ballots shall:
             158          (A) provide the voter access to the electronic ballot for the registered political party
             159      that the voter requested and for which the voter is authorized to vote; and
             160          (B) allow the voter to vote the electronic ballot.
             161          (4) Whenever the election officer is required to furnish more than one kind of official
             162      ballot to the voting precinct, the poll workers of that voting precinct shall give the registered
             163      voter the kind of ballot that the voter is qualified to vote.
             164          Section 4. Section 20A-4-301 is amended to read:
             165           20A-4-301. Board of canvassers.
             166          (1) (a) Each county legislative body is the board of county canvassers for:
             167          (i) the county; and
             168          (ii) each local district whose election is conducted by the county.
             169          (b) [(i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b)(ii), the] The board of county canvassers
             170      shall meet to canvass the returns at the usual place of meeting of the county legislative body, at
             171      a date and time determined by the county clerk that is no sooner than seven days after the
             172      election and no later than 14 days after the election.
             173          [(ii) When canvassing returns for the Western States Presidential Primary, the board of
             174      county canvassers shall meet to canvass the returns at the usual place of meeting of the county
             175      legislative body, at noon on the Tuesday after the election.]
             176          (c) If one or more of the county legislative body fails to attend the meeting of the board
             177      of county canvassers, the remaining members shall replace the absent member by appointing in
             178      the order named:
             179          (i) the county treasurer;
             180          (ii) the county assessor; or
             181          (iii) the county sheriff.
             182          (d) Attendance of the number of persons equal to a simple majority of the county


             183      legislative body, but not less than three persons, shall constitute a quorum for conducting the
             184      canvass.
             185          (e) The county clerk is the clerk of the board of county canvassers.
             186          (2) (a) The mayor and the municipal legislative body are the board of municipal
             187      canvassers for the municipality.
             188          (b) The board of municipal canvassers shall meet to canvass the returns at the usual
             189      place of meeting of the municipal legislative body:
             190          (i) for canvassing of returns from a municipal general election, no sooner than seven
             191      days after the election and no later than 14 days after the election; or
             192          (ii) for canvassing of returns from a municipal primary election, no sooner than three
             193      days after the election and no later than seven days after the election.
             194          (c) Attendance of a simple majority of the municipal legislative body shall constitute a
             195      quorum for conducting the canvass.
             196          (3) (a) The legislative body of the entity authorizing a bond election is the board of
             197      canvassers for each bond election.
             198          (b) The board of canvassers for the bond election shall comply with the canvassing
             199      procedures and requirements of Section 11-14-207 .
             200          (c) Attendance of a simple majority of the legislative body of the entity authorizing a
             201      bond election shall constitute a quorum for conducting the canvass.
             202          Section 5. Section 20A-9-804 is amended to read:
             203           20A-9-804. Registration with county clerk.
             204          (1) [For] Registration to vote in the Western States Presidential Primary election[, each
             205      county clerk shall register to vote all persons who present themselves for registration at the
             206      county clerk's office during designated office hours through the Tuesday before the Tuesday of
             207      the Western States Presidential Primary if those persons, on voting day, will be legally
             208      qualified and entitled to vote in a voting precinct in the county] shall be conducted as provided
             209      in Title 20A, Chapter 2, Voter Registration.
             210          (2) The county clerk shall record the names of person registering to vote during that
             211      period in the official register and direct the election judges to allow those persons to vote in the
             212      Western States Presidential Primary election if they present themselves at the voting precinct
             213      on election day.


             214          Section 6. Section 20A-9-808 is repealed and reenacted to read:
             215          20A-9-808. Voting.
             216          Voting in Utah's Western States Presidential Primary shall be conducted in accordance
             217      with the procedures of Section 20A-3-104.5 .
             218          Section 7. Section 20A-9-809 is amended to read:
             219           20A-9-809. Counting votes -- Canvass -- Certification of results to parties.
             220          (1) Votes shall be counted, results tabulated, returns transmitted, ballots reviewed and
             221      retained, returns canvassed, and recounts and election contests conducted as provided in Title
             222      20A, Chapter 4, Election Returns and Election Contests.
             223          (2) After the canvass is complete and the report is prepared, the lieutenant governor
             224      shall transmit a copy of the report to each registered political party that participated in Utah's
             225      Western States Presidential Primary.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-5-07 9:42 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]