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