H.B. 233

1

POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Jim Nielson
5 Senate Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions in Title 20A, Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and
10 Procedures related to a political party.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . increases the number of regular general elections in which party participation is
14 calculated in order to remain a registered political party; and
15 . makes technical changes.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 20A-8-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 49
23 20A-8-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1994, Chapter 137
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 20A-8-101 is amended to read:
27 20A-8-101. Definitions.

28 As used in this chapter:
29 (1) "Continuing political party" means an organization of voters that:
30 (a) participated in the last regular general election; and
31 (b) in at least one of the last two regular general elections, polled a total vote for any of
32 its candidates for any office equal to 2% or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the
33 United States House of Representatives in the same regular general election.
34 (2) "County political party" means, for each registered political party, all of the persons
35 within a single county who, under definitions established by the county political party, are
36 members of the registered political party.
37 (3) "Newly registered political party" means a statewide organization of voters that has
38 complied with the petition and organizing procedures of this chapter to become a registered
39 political party.
40 (4) "Registered political party" means an organization of voters that:
41 (a) (i) participated in the last regular general election; and
42 (ii) in at least one of the last two regular general elections, polled a total vote for any of
43 its candidates for any office equal to 2% or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the
44 United States House of Representatives in the same regular general election; or
45 (b) has complied with the petition and organizing procedures of this chapter.
46 (5) "State political party" means, for each registered political party, all of the persons in
47 Utah who, under definitions established by the state political party, are members of the
48 registered political party.
49 Section 2. Section 20A-8-102 is amended to read:
50 20A-8-102. Organization of newly registered political parties -- Rights.
51 (1) Any organization of voters whose organization did not participate in the last regular
52 general election, or whose organization polled a total vote equivalent to less than 2% of the
53 total vote cast for all [representatives in Congress] candidates for the United States House of
54 Representatives for any of its candidates in both of the last two regular general [election]
55 elections shall comply with the requirements of this chapter to become a registered political
56 party.
57 (2) (a) Unless an organization of registered voters is a registered political party under
58 this chapter, it may not place the names of candidates representing that organization upon the

59 primary and regular general election ballots under the common organization name.
60 (b) Nothing in this subsection prohibits an organization of voters from qualifying
61 candidates as independent candidates or as write-in candidates.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-30-12 8:42 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel