Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HB0488.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 488

             1     

WORDING ON ELECTION BALLOTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Casey O. Anderson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends Title 20A, Chapter 6, Ballot Form, regarding the voting instructions
             10      on a ballot.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    amends the voting instructions on a ballot for an office to which more than one
             14      person will be elected; 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-6-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             23          20A-6-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             24          20A-6-401.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             25          20A-6-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 292
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             28          Section 1. Section 20A-6-301 is amended to read:
             29           20A-6-301. Paper ballots -- Regular general election.
             30          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             31          (a) all paper ballots furnished for use at the regular general election contain no captions
             32      or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
             33          (b) (i) the paper ballot contains a ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across the
             34      top of the ballot, and divided from the rest of ballot by a perforated line;
             35          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             36      stub; and
             37          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             38          (c) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             39      printed in 18 point bold type:
             40          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
             41          (ii) the date of the election; and
             42          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the county clerk and the words "county clerk";
             43          (d) each ticket is placed in a separate column on the ballot in the order specified under
             44      Section 20A-6-305 with the party emblem, followed by the party name, at the head of the
             45      column;
             46          (e) the party name or title is printed in capital letters not less than one-fourth of an inch
             47      high;
             48          (f) a circle one-half inch in diameter is printed immediately below the party name or
             49      title, and the top of the circle is placed not less than two inches below the perforated line;
             50          (g) unaffiliated candidates and candidates not affiliated with a registered political party
             51      are listed in one column in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305 , without a party circle,
             52      with the following instructions printed at the head of the column: "All candidates not affiliated
             53      with a political party are listed below. They are to be considered with all offices and
             54      candidates listed to the left. Only one vote is allowed for each office.";
             55          (h) the columns containing the lists of candidates, including the party name and device,
             56      are separated by heavy parallel lines;
             57          (i) the offices to be filled are plainly printed immediately above the names of the
             58      candidates for those offices;


             59          (j) the names of candidates are printed in capital letters, not less than one-eighth nor
             60      more than one-fourth of an inch high in heavy-faced type not smaller than 10 point, between
             61      lines or rules three-eighths of an inch apart;
             62          (k) a square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is
             63      printed immediately adjacent to the name of each candidate;
             64          (l) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor,
             65      one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is printed on the
             66      same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the names of the two candidates;
             67          (m) immediately adjacent to the unaffiliated ticket on the ballot, the ballot contains a
             68      write-in column long enough to contain as many written names of candidates as there are
             69      persons to be elected with:
             70          (i) for each office on the ballot, the office to be filled plainly printed immediately
             71      above:
             72          (A) a blank, horizontal line to enable the entry of a valid write-in candidate and a
             73      square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length printed immediately
             74      adjacent to the blank horizontal line; or
             75          (B) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant
             76      governor, two blank horizontal lines, one placed above the other, to enable the entry of two
             77      valid write-in candidates, and one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an
             78      inch in length printed on the same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the two
             79      blank horizontal lines; and
             80          (ii) the words "Write-In Voting Column" printed at the head of the column without a
             81      one-half inch circle;
             82          (n) when required, the ballot includes a nonpartisan ticket placed immediately adjacent
             83      to the write-in ticket with the word "NONPARTISAN" in reverse type in an 18 point solid rule
             84      running vertically the full length of the nonpartisan ballot copy; and
             85          (o) constitutional amendments or other questions submitted to the vote of the people,
             86      are printed on the ballot after the list of candidates.
             87          (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             88          (a) each person nominated by any political party or group of petitioners is placed on the
             89      ballot:


             90          (i) under the party name and emblem, if any; or
             91          (ii) under the title of the party or group as designated by them in their certificates of
             92      nomination or petition, or, if none is designated, then under some suitable title;
             93          (b) the names of all unaffiliated candidates that qualify as required in Title 20A,
             94      Chapter 9, Part 5, Candidates not Affiliated with a Party, are placed on the ballot;
             95          (c) the names of the candidates for president and vice president are used on the ballot
             96      instead of the names of the presidential electors; and
             97          (d) the ballots contain no other names.
             98          (3) When the ballot contains a nonpartisan section, the election officer shall ensure
             99      that:
             100          (a) the designation of the office to be filled in the election and the number of
             101      candidates to be elected are printed in type not smaller than eight point;
             102          (b) the words designating the office are printed flush with the left-hand margin;
             103          (c) the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for [two or more] up to _____ (the number of
             104      candidates for which the voter may vote)" extend to the extreme right of the column;
             105          (d) the nonpartisan candidates are grouped according to the office for which they are
             106      candidates;
             107          (e) the names in each group are placed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             108      with the surnames last; and
             109          (f) each group is preceded by the designation of the office for which the candidates
             110      seek election, and the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for [two or more] up to _____ (the
             111      number of candidates for which the voter may vote)," according to the number to be elected.
             112          (4) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             113          (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed on the ballot in
             114      accordance with Section 20A-6-107 ;
             115          (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed on the ballot in accordance
             116      with Section 20A-6-107 ; and
             117          (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
             118      title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             119          Section 2. Section 20A-6-401 is amended to read:
             120           20A-6-401. Ballots for municipal primary elections.


             121          (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
             122          (a) (i) the ballot contains a perforated ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across
             123      the top of the ballot;
             124          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             125      stub; and
             126          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             127          (b) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             128      printed in 18 point bold type:
             129          (i) "Official Primary Ballot for ____ (City or Town), Utah";
             130          (ii) the date of the election; and
             131          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the election officer and the election officer's title in
             132      eight point type;
             133          (c) immediately below the election officer's title, two one-point parallel horizontal
             134      rules separate endorsements from the rest of the ballot;
             135          (d) immediately below the horizontal rules, an "Instructions to Voters" section is
             136      printed in 10 point bold type that states: "To vote for a candidate, place a cross (X) in the
             137      square following the name(s) of the person(s) you favor as the candidate(s) for each respective
             138      office." followed by two one-point parallel rules;
             139          (e) after the rules, the designation of the office for which the candidates seek
             140      nomination is printed flush with the left-hand margin and the words[:], "Vote for one" or "Vote
             141      for [two or more] up to _____ (the number of candidates for which the voter may vote)" are
             142      printed to extend to the extreme right of the column in 10-point bold type, followed by a
             143      hair-line rule;
             144          (f) after the hair-line rule, the names of the candidates are printed in heavy face type
             145      between lines or rules three-eighths inch apart, in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             146      with surnames last and grouped according to the office that they seek;
             147          (g) a square with sides not less than one-fourth inch long is printed immediately
             148      adjacent to the names of the candidates; and
             149          (h) the candidate groups are separated from each other by one light and one heavy line
             150      or rule.
             151          (2) A municipal primary ballot may not contain any space for write-in votes.


             152          Section 3. Section 20A-6-401.1 is amended to read:
             153           20A-6-401.1. Ballots for partisan municipal primary elections.
             154          (1) If a municipality is using paper ballots, each election officer shall ensure that:
             155          (a) all paper ballots furnished for use at the regular primary election:
             156          (i) are perforated to separate the candidates of one political party from those of the
             157      other political parties so that the voter may separate the part of the ballot containing the names
             158      of the political party of the voter's choice from the rest of the ballot;
             159          (ii) have sides that are perforated so that the outside sections of the ballot, when
             160      detached, are similar in appearance to the inside sections of the ballot when detached; and
             161          (iii) contain no captions or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
             162          (b) the names of all candidates from each party are listed on the same ballot in one or
             163      more columns under their party name and emblem;
             164          (c) the political parties are printed on the ballot in the order specified under Section
             165      20A-6-305 ;
             166          (d) (i) the ballot contains a ballot stub that is at least one inch wide, placed across the
             167      top of the ballot;
             168          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initials ____" are printed on the
             169      stub; and
             170          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             171          (e) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             172      printed in 18-point bold type:
             173          (i) "Official Primary Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
             174          (ii) the date of the election; and
             175          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the county clerk and the words "county clerk";
             176          (f) after the facsimile signature, the political party emblem and the name of the
             177      political party are printed;
             178          (g) after the party name and emblem, the ballot contains the following printed in not
             179      smaller than 10-point bold face, double leaded type: "Instructions to Voters: To vote for a
             180      candidate, place a cross (X) in the square immediately adjacent to the name of the person for
             181      whom you wish to vote and in no other place. Do not vote for any candidate listed under more
             182      than one party or group designation.", followed by two one-point parallel horizontal rules;


             183          (h) after the rules, the designation of the office for which the candidates seek
             184      nomination is printed flush with the left-hand margin and the words[:], "Vote for one" or "Vote
             185      for [two or more] up to _____ (the number of candidates for which the voter may vote)" are
             186      printed to extend to the extreme right of the column in 10-point bold type, followed by a
             187      hair-line rule;
             188          (i) after the hair-line rule, the names of the candidates are printed in heavy face type
             189      between lines or rules three-eighths inch apart, in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             190      with surnames last and grouped according to the office that they seek;
             191          (j) a square with sides not less than one-fourth inch long is printed immediately
             192      adjacent to the names of the candidates;
             193          (k) the candidate groups are separated from each other by one light and one heavy line
             194      or rule; and
             195          (l) the nonpartisan candidates are listed as follows:
             196          (i) immediately below the listing of the party candidates, the word "NONPARTISAN"
             197      is printed in reverse type in an 18 point solid rule that extends the full width of the type copy of
             198      the party listing above; and
             199          (ii) below "NONPARTISAN," the office, the number of candidates to vote for, the
             200      candidate's name, the voting square, and any other necessary information is printed in the same
             201      style and manner as for party candidates.
             202          (2) (a) If a municipality is using ballot sheets or electronic ballots, the election officer
             203      may require that:
             204          (i) the ballot, or ballot label in the case of a punch card ballot, for a regular primary
             205      election consist of several groups of pages or display screens, so that a separate group can be
             206      used to list the names of candidates seeking nomination of each qualified political party, with
             207      additional groups used to list candidates for other nonpartisan offices;
             208          (ii) the separate groups of pages or display screens are identified by color or other
             209      suitable means; and
             210          (iii) the ballot or ballot label contain instructions that direct the voter how to vote the
             211      ballot.
             212          (b) If a municipality is using ballot sheets or electronic ballots, each election officer
             213      shall:


             214          (i) for municipalities using punch card ballots, ensure that the ballot label provides a
             215      means for the voter to designate the political party in whose primary the voter is voting; and
             216          (ii) determine the order for printing the names of the political parties on the ballot label
             217      in accordance with Section 20A-6-305 .
             218          Section 4. Section 20A-6-402 is amended to read:
             219           20A-6-402. Ballots for municipal general elections.
             220          (1) When using a paper ballot at municipal general elections, each election officer shall
             221      ensure that:
             222          (a) the names of the two candidates who received the highest number of votes for
             223      mayor in the municipal primary are placed upon the ballot;
             224          (b) if no municipal primary election was held, the names of the candidates who filed
             225      declarations of candidacy for municipal offices are placed upon the ballot;
             226          (c) for other offices:
             227          (i) twice the number of candidates as there are positions to be filled are certified as
             228      eligible for election in the municipal general election from those candidates who received the
             229      greater number of votes in the primary election; and
             230          (ii) the names of those candidates are placed upon the municipal general election
             231      ballot;
             232          (d) the names of the candidates are placed on the ballot in the order specified under
             233      Section 20A-6-305 ;
             234          (e) a write-in area is placed upon the ballot that contains, for each office:
             235          (i) a blank, horizontal line to enable the entry of a valid write-in candidate; and
             236          (ii) a square or other conforming area that is adjacent to or opposite the blank
             237      horizontal line to enable the voter to indicate the voter's vote;
             238          (f) ballot propositions that have qualified for the ballot, including propositions
             239      submitted to the voters by the municipality, municipal initiatives, and municipal referenda, are
             240      listed on the ballot in accordance with Section 20A-6-107 ; and
             241          (g) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
             242      title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206 .
             243          (2) When using a punch card ballot at municipal general elections, each election officer
             244      shall ensure that:


             245          (a) (i) the ballot contains a perforated ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across
             246      the top of the ballot;
             247          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             248      stub; and
             249          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             250          (b) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             251      printed in 18 point bold type:
             252          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ (City or Town), Utah";
             253          (ii) the date of the election; and
             254          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the election officer and the election officer's title in
             255      eight-point type;
             256          (c) immediately below the election officer's title, two one-point parallel horizontal
             257      rules separate endorsements from the rest of the ballot;
             258          (d) immediately below the horizontal rules, an "Instructions to Voters" section is
             259      printed in 10-point bold type that states: "To vote for a candidate, place a cross (X) in the
             260      square following the name(s) of the person(s) you favor as the candidate(s) for each respective
             261      office." followed by two one-point parallel rules;
             262          (e) after the rules, the designation of the office for which the candidates seek election is
             263      printed flush with the left-hand margin and the words[:], "Vote for one" or "Vote for [two or
             264      more] up to _____ (the number of candidates for which the voter may vote)" are printed to
             265      extend to the extreme right of the column in 10-point bold type, followed by a hair-line rule;
             266          (f) after the hair-line rule, the names of the candidates are printed in heavy face type
             267      between lines or rules three-eighths inch apart, in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
             268      with surnames last and grouped according to the office that they seek;
             269          (g) a square with sides not less than one-fourth inch long is printed immediately
             270      adjacent to the names of the candidates;
             271          (h) following the name of the last candidate for each office, the ballot contains:
             272          (i) a write-in space for each elective office where the voter may enter the name of a
             273      valid write-in candidate; and
             274          (ii) a square printed immediately adjacent to the write-in space or line where the voter
             275      may vote for the valid write-in candidate; and


             276          (i) the candidate groups are separated from each other by one light and one heavy line
             277      or rule.
             278          (3) When using a ballot sheet other than a punch card ballot at municipal general
             279      elections, each election officer shall ensure that:
             280          (a) (i) the ballot contains a perforated ballot stub placed across the top of the ballot;
             281          (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
             282      stub; and
             283          (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
             284          (b) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
             285      printed:
             286          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ (City or Town), Utah";
             287          (ii) the date of the election; and
             288          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the election officer and the election officer's title;
             289          (c) immediately below the election officer's title, a distinct border or line separates
             290      endorsements from the rest of the ballot;
             291          (d) immediately below the border or line, an "Instructions to Voters" section is printed
             292      that states: "To vote for a candidate, select the name(s) of the person(s) you favor as the
             293      candidate(s) for each respective office." followed by another border or line;
             294          (e) after the border or line, the designation of the office for which the candidates seek
             295      election is printed and the words[:], "Vote for one" or "Vote for [two or more] up to _____ (the
             296      number of candidates for which the voter may vote)" are printed, followed by a line or border;
             297          (f) after the line or border, the names of the candidates are printed in the order
             298      specified under Section 20A-6-305 with surnames last and grouped according to the office that
             299      they seek;
             300          (g) an oval is printed adjacent to the names of the candidates;
             301          (h) following the name of the last candidate for each office, the ballot contains:
             302          (i) a write-in space or blank line for each elective office where the voter may enter the
             303      name of a valid write-in candidate; and
             304          (ii) an oval is printed adjacent to the write-in space or line where the voter may vote for
             305      the valid write-in candidate; and
             306          (i) the candidate groups are separated from each other by a line or border.


             307          (4) When using an electronic ballot at municipal general elections, each election officer
             308      shall ensure that:
             309          (a) the following endorsements are displayed on the first screen of the ballot:
             310          (i) "Official Ballot for ____ (City or Town), Utah";
             311          (ii) the date of the election; and
             312          (iii) a facsimile of the signature of the election officer and the election officer's title;
             313          (b) immediately below the election officer's title, a distinct border or line separates the
             314      endorsements from the rest of the ballot;
             315          (c) immediately below the border or line, an "Instructions to Voters" section is
             316      displayed that states: "To vote for a candidate, select the name(s) of the person(s) you favor as
             317      the candidate(s) for each respective office." followed by another border or line;
             318          (d) after the border or line, the designation of the office for which the candidates seek
             319      election is displayed, and the words[:], "Vote for one" or "Vote for [two or more] up to _____
             320      (the number of candidates for which the voter may vote)" are displayed, followed by a line or
             321      border;
             322          (e) after the line or border, the names of the candidates are displayed in the order
             323      specified under Section 20A-6-305 with surnames last and grouped according to the office that
             324      they seek;
             325          (f) a voting square or position is located adjacent to the name of each candidate;
             326          (g) following the name of the last candidate for each office, the ballot contains a
             327      write-in space where the voter may enter the name of and vote for a valid write-in candidate for
             328      the office; and
             329          (h) the candidate groups are separated from each other by a line or border.
             330          (5) When a municipality has chosen to nominate candidates by convention or
             331      committee, the election officer shall ensure that the party name is included with the candidate's
             332      name on the ballot.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-8-12 11:30 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]