S.B. 24 Enrolled

1

EARLY VOTING AMENDMENTS
2 2009 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
5 House Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions in the Election Code relating to early voting polling
10 places.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . repeals a requirement that counties of the first class provide at least one early
14 voting polling place within each Utah State Senate district in the county and that at
15 least one of those early voting polling places is open on each day that early voting
16 is offered;
17 . requires that early voting polling places be proportionately distributed based on
18 population within a county of the first class; 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-3-603, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 53
27
28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 20A-3-603 is amended to read:

30 20A-3-603. Early voting polling places.
31 (1) The election officer shall designate one or more polling places for early voting,
32 provided that:
33 (a) [except as provided in Subsection (3),] at least one polling place is open on each
34 day that polls are open during the early voting period;
35 (b) each polling place meets the requirements for polling places under Chapter 5,
36 Election Administration;
37 (c) for all elections other than local special elections, municipal primary elections, and
38 municipal general elections, at least 10% of the voting devices at a polling place are accessible
39 for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Public Law 107-252, the Help America
40 Vote Act of 2002; and
41 (d) each polling place is located in a government building or office, unless the election
42 officer determines that, in the area designated by the election officer, there is no government
43 building or office available that:
44 (i) can be scheduled for use during early voting hours;
45 (ii) has the physical facilities necessary to accommodate early voting requirements;
46 (iii) has adequate space for voting equipment, poll workers, and voters; and
47 (iv) has adequate security, public accessibility, and parking.
48 (2) (a) In the event the election officer determines that the number of early voting
49 polling places is insufficient due to the number of registered voters who are voting, the
50 election officer may designate additional polling places during the early voting period.
51 (b) If an additional early voting polling place is designated, the election officer shall,
52 as soon as is reasonably possible, give notice of the dates, times, and location of the additional
53 polling place by:
54 (i) publishing the notice in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in the
55 county; and
56 (ii) posting the notice at the additional polling place.
57 (3) For each regular general election and regular primary election, counties of the first

58 class shall ensure that[:] the early voting polling places are approximately proportionately
59 distributed based on population within the county.
60 [(a) at least one polling place is located within each Utah State Senate district that is
61 located wholly or partially within the county; and]
62 [(b) at least one polling place located within each district is open on each day that
63 polls are open during the early voting period.]