Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0296.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 296

             1     

VOTING MACHINES USED BY

             2     
MUNICIPALITIES

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Neil A. Hansen

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Patricia W. Jones

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Election Code by amending provisions governing costs that may
             11      be charged an entity for administering certain elections.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides that costs assessed by a county clerk or a municipal clerk in relation to a
             15      municipal election or a bond or leeway election may not exceed the actual cost to
             16      the county clerk or municipal clerk assessing the fees or charges;
             17          .    provides that costs assessed by a county clerk to a municipality for a municipal
             18      election may not exceed the actual costs incurred by the county clerk; and
             19          .    makes technical changes.
             20      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26          20A-5-400.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             27          20A-5-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329


             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 20A-5-400.5 is amended to read:
             31           20A-5-400.5. Election officer for bond and leeway elections -- Billing.
             32          (1) When a voted leeway or bond election is held on the regular general election date
             33      or regular primary election date, the county clerk shall serve as the election officer to conduct
             34      and administer that election.
             35          (2) (a) When a voted leeway or bond election is held on the municipal general election
             36      date or any other election date permitted for special elections under Section 20A-1-204 , and the
             37      local political subdivision calling the election is entirely within the boundaries of the
             38      unincorporated county, the county clerk shall serve as the election officer to conduct and
             39      administer that election subject to Subsection (3).
             40          (b) When a voted leeway or bond election is held on the municipal general election
             41      date or any other election date permitted for special elections under Section 20A-1-204 , and the
             42      local political subdivision calling the election is entirely within the boundaries of a
             43      municipality, the municipal clerk for that municipality shall, except as provided in Subsection
             44      (3), serve as the election officer to conduct and administer that election.
             45          (c) When a voted leeway or bond election is held on the municipal general election
             46      date or any other election date permitted for special elections under Section 20A-1-204 , and the
             47      local political subdivision calling the election extends beyond the boundaries of a single
             48      municipality:
             49          (i) except as provided in Subsection (3), the municipal clerk shall serve as the election
             50      officer to conduct and administer the election for those portions of the local political
             51      subdivision where the municipal general election or other election is being held; and
             52          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (3), the county clerk shall serve as the election
             53      officer to conduct and administer the election for the unincorporated county and for those
             54      portions of any municipality where no municipal general election or other election is being
             55      held.
             56          (3) When a voted leeway or bond election is held on a date when no other election,
             57      other than another voted leeway or bond election, is being held in the entire area comprising
             58      the municipality calling the voted leeway or bond election:


             59          (a) the clerk or chief executive officer of a local district or the business administrator or
             60      superintendent of the school district, as applicable, shall serve as the election officer to conduct
             61      and administer the bond election for those portions of the municipality in which no other
             62      election, other than another voted leeway or bond election, is being held, unless the local
             63      district or school district has designated the county clerk, municipal clerk, or both, to serve as
             64      the election officer; and
             65          (b) the county clerk, municipal clerk, or both, as determined by the municipality
             66      holding the bond election, shall serve as the election officer to conduct and administer the bond
             67      election for those portions of the municipality in which another election, other than another
             68      voted leeway or bond election is being held.
             69          (4) (a) In conducting elections under this section:
             70          (i) the local political subdivision shall provide and pay for election notices; and
             71          (ii) the election officer shall determine polling locations and compile, prepare, and
             72      count the ballots.
             73          (b) The county clerk, the municipal clerk, or both shall:
             74          (i) establish fees for conducting voted leeway and bond elections for local political
             75      subdivisions; and
             76          (ii) bill each local political subdivision for the cost of conducting the voted leeway or
             77      bond election.
             78          (c) (i) The fees and charges assessed by a county clerk or a municipal clerk under this
             79      section may not exceed the actual costs incurred by the county clerk or the municipal clerk.
             80          (ii) The actual costs shall include:
             81          (A) costs of or rental fees associated with the use of election equipment and supplies;
             82      and
             83          (B) reasonable and necessary administrative costs.
             84          (5) An election officer administering and conducting a voted leeway or bond election is
             85      authorized to appoint or employ agents and professional services to assist in conducting and
             86      administering the voted leeway or bond election.
             87          (6) The election officer in a voted leeway or bond election shall conduct its procedures
             88      under the direction of the local political subdivision calling the voted leeway or bond election.
             89          Section 2. Section 20A-5-403 is amended to read:


             90           20A-5-403. Polling places -- Booths -- Ballot boxes -- Inspections -- Provisions --
             91      Arrangements.
             92          (1) Each election officer shall:
             93          (a) designate polling places for each voting precinct in the jurisdiction; and
             94          (b) obtain the approval of the county or municipal legislative body or local district
             95      governing board for those polling places.
             96          (2) (a) For each polling place, the election officer shall provide:
             97          (i) an American flag;
             98          (ii) a sufficient number of voting booths or compartments;
             99          (iii) the voting devices, voting booths, ballots, ballot boxes, ballot labels, ballot sheets,
             100      write-in ballots, and any other records and supplies necessary to enable a voter to vote;
             101          (iv) the constitutional amendment cards required by Part 1, Election Notices and
             102      Instructions;
             103          (v) voter information pamphlets required by Title 20A, Chapter 7, Part 7, Voter
             104      Information Pamphlet; and
             105          (vi) the instruction cards required by Section 20A-5-102 .
             106          (b) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             107          (i) each voting booth is at a convenient height for writing, and is arranged so that the
             108      voter can prepare his ballot screened from observation;
             109          (ii) there are a sufficient number of voting booths or voting devices to accommodate
             110      the voters at that polling place; and
             111          (iii) there is at least one voting booth or voting device that is configured to
             112      accommodate persons with disabilities.
             113          (c) Each county clerk shall provide a ballot box for each polling place that is large
             114      enough to properly receive and hold the ballots to be cast.
             115          (3) (a) All polling places shall be physically inspected by each county clerk to ensure
             116      access by a person with a disability.
             117          (b) Any issues concerning inaccessibility to polling places by a person with a disability
             118      discovered during the inspections referred to in Subsection (3)(a) or reported to the county
             119      clerk shall be:
             120          (i) forwarded to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; and


             121          (ii) within six months of the time of the complaint, the issue of inaccessibility shall be
             122      either:
             123          (A) remedied at the particular location by the county clerk;
             124          (B) the county clerk shall designate an alternative accessible location for the particular
             125      precinct; or
             126          (C) if no practical solution can be identified, file with the Office of the Lieutenant
             127      Governor a written explanation identifying the reasons compliance cannot reasonably be met.
             128          (4) (a) The municipality in which the election is held shall pay the cost of conducting
             129      each municipal election, including the cost of printing and supplies.
             130          (b) (i) Costs assessed by a county clerk to a municipality under this section shall not
             131      exceed the actual costs incurred by the county clerk.
             132          (ii) The actual costs shall include:
             133          (A) costs of or rental fees associated with the use of election equipment and supplies;
             134      and
             135          (B) reasonable and necessary administrative costs.
             136          (5) The county clerk shall make detailed entries of all proceedings had under this
             137      chapter.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-4-08 11:07 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]