Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect SB0016.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

S.B. 16

             1     

BALLOT PROPOSITION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins

             5     
House Sponsor: Brad J. Galvez

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      Committee Note:
             9          The Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
             10      recommended this bill.
             11      General Description:
             12          This bill amends and enacts provisions in Title 20A, Election Code, relating to ballot
             13      propositions.
             14      Highlighted Provisions:
             15          This bill:
             16          .    defines terms;
             17          .    repeals a provision restricting an initiative or referendum related to a land use
             18      ordinance;
             19          .    provides an exception for the residency requirement for a person who verifies a
             20      signature on a petition in certain circumstances;
             21          .    requires a verification on the final page of a local petition packet;
             22          .    amends the signature requirements for a referendum on a local obligation law; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          None


             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:
             30          20A-1-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 17, 40, 310, and 335
             31          20A-7-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 17 and 331
             32          20A-7-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 24
             33          20A-7-503, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             34          20A-7-505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             35          20A-7-506, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             36          20A-7-601, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 17 and 331
             37          20A-7-603, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 78
             38          20A-7-605, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             39          20A-7-606, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             40      ENACTS:
             41          20A-1-307, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42     
             43      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             44          Section 1. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
             45           20A-1-102. Definitions.
             46          As used in this title:
             47          (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
             48      voter by the county clerk.
             49          (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
             50      and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
             51          (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
             52      upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
             53          (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
             54      envelopes.
             55          (4) "Ballot sheet":
             56          (a) means a ballot that:
             57          (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
             58          (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and


             59          (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
             60          (5) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
             61          (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
             62      be voted on; and
             63          (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
             64          (6) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters
             65      on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
             66          (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
             67          (b) a constitutional amendment;
             68          (c) an initiative;
             69          (d) a referendum;
             70          (e) a bond proposition;
             71          (f) a judicial retention question; or
             72          (g) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
             73          (7) "Bind", "binding", or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
             74      together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
             75      space reserved for securing the paper.
             76          [(7)] (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301
             77      and 20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
             78          [(8)] (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or
             79      rejecting the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
             80          [(9)] (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a
             81      bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
             82          [(10)] (11) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed
             83      to be completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
             84          [(11)] (12) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration
             85      of election results by the board of canvassers.
             86          [(12)] (13) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting
             87      ballots at the canvass.
             88          [(13)] (14) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a
             89      contract or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.


             90          [(14)] (15) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers
             91      and delegates are selected.
             92          [(15)] (16) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election
             93      officer in charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
             94          [(16)] (17) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots
             95      during election day.
             96          [(17)] (18) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
             97      20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
             98          [(18)] (19) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
             99      immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
             100      and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
             101          [(19)] (20) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
             102      elected.
             103          [(20)] (21) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
             104          (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
             105      occurs; and
             106          (b) does not include:
             107          (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
             108          (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
             109      Voting.
             110          [(21)] (22) "Elected official" means:
             111          (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303 ;
             112          (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
             113      Subsection 20A-1-206 (1)(c)(ii); or
             114          (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
             115      Subsection 20A-1-206 (3)(c)(ii).
             116          [(22)] (23) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
             117      statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
             118      primary election, and a local district election.
             119          [(23)] (24) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by
             120      Public Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.


             121          [(24)] (25) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are
             122      eligible to file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
             123          [(25)] (26) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
             124          (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
             125          (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
             126          (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
             127          [(26)] (27) "Election officer" means:
             128          (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
             129          (b) the county clerk for:
             130          (i) a county ballot and election; and
             131          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             132      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             133          (c) the municipal clerk for:
             134          (i) a municipal ballot and election; and
             135          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             136      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ;
             137          (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
             138          (i) a local district ballot and election; and
             139          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             140      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 ; or
             141          (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
             142          (i) a school district ballot and election; and
             143          (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
             144      20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5 .
             145          [(27)] (28) "Election official" means:
             146          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             147      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
             148          (b) any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
             149          [(28)] (29) "Election results" means:
             150          (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
             151      the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or


             152          (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
             153      proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
             154          [(29)] (30) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, all affidavits of registration, the
             155      military and overseas absentee voter registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets,
             156      any unprocessed absentee ballots, all counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all
             157      spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition form, and the total votes cast form.
             158          [(30)] (31) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic
             159      voting device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic
             160      means.
             161          [(31)] (32) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process
             162      attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the
             163      intent to sign the record.
             164          [(32)] (33) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic
             165      ballots.
             166          (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
             167          [(33)] (34) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
             168          (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306 ; and
             169          (b) failed to respond to that notice.
             170          [(34)] (35) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
             171      witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
             172          [(35)] (36) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
             173          [(36)] (37) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any
             174      county court judge.
             175          [(37)] (38) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited
             176      Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district
             177      under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
             178          [(38)] (39) "Local district officers" means those local district officers that are required
             179      by law to be elected.
             180          [(39)] (40) "Local election" means a regular municipal election, a local special
             181      election, a local district election, and a bond election.
             182          [(40)] (41) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local


             183      district, or a local school district.
             184          [(41)] (42) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing
             185      body of a local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political
             186      subdivision may vote.
             187          [(42)] (43) "Municipal executive" means:
             188          (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102 ;
             189      or
             190          (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
             191      10-3b-103 (6).
             192          [(43)] (44) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and
             193      local districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered
             194      year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202 .
             195          [(44)] (45) "Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any
             196      form of municipal government.
             197          [(45)] (46) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
             198          [(46)] (47) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by
             199      law to be elected.
             200          [(47)] (48) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate
             201      candidates for municipal office.
             202          [(48)] (49) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the
             203      poll workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
             204          [(49)] (50) "Official endorsement" means:
             205          (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
             206          (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
             207          (ii) the date of the election; and
             208          (iii) the facsimile signature of the election officer; and
             209          (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
             210          (i) the poll worker's initials; and
             211          (ii) the ballot number.
             212          [(50)] (51) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials
             213      by the election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401 .


             214          [(51)] (52) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
             215          (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
             216      voted on; and
             217          (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
             218      ballot proposition.
             219          [(52)] (53) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has
             220      qualified to participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party
             221      Formation and Procedures.
             222          [(53)] (54) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist
             223      with an election, voting, or counting votes.
             224          (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
             225          (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
             226          [(54)] (55) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they
             227      appear to cast votes.
             228          [(55)] (56) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
             229          [(56)] (57) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a
             230      ballot in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
             231          [(57)] (58) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a
             232      contract or interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for
             233      the contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
             234      20A-5-400.1 .
             235          [(58)] (59) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
             236          (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
             237          (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
             238          (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
             239          [(59)] (60) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form
             240      required by Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide
             241      information to verify a person's legal right to vote.
             242          [(60)] (61) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions at which
             243      nominees for the regular primary election are selected.
             244          [(61)] (62) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:


             245          (a) is built into a voting machine; and
             246          (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
             247          [(62)] (63) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin
             248      performing the duties of the position for which the person was elected.
             249          [(63)] (64) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
             250      official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
             251      after the voter has voted.
             252          [(64)] (65) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail
             253      voter registration form.
             254          [(65)] (66) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
             255          [(66)] (67) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on
             256      the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the
             257      purposes established in Section 20A-1-201 .
             258          [(67)] (68) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of
             259      June of each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and nonpolitical
             260      groups to advance to the regular general election.
             261          [(68)] (69) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in
             262      Utah.
             263          [(69)] (70) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot
             264      printed and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405 .
             265          [(70)] (71) "Scratch vote" means to mark or punch the straight party ticket and then
             266      mark or punch the ballot for one or more candidates who are members of different political
             267      parties.
             268          [(71)] (72) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope given to a voter along with the
             269      ballot into which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the
             270      secrecy of the voter's vote.
             271          [(72)] (73) "Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section
             272      20A-1-204 .
             273          [(73)] (74) "Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
             274          (a) is spoiled by the voter;
             275          (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or


             276          (c) lacks the official endorsement.
             277          [(74)] (75) "Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor
             278      or the Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
             279          [(75)] (76) "Stub" means the detachable part of each ballot.
             280          [(76)] (77) "Substitute ballots" means replacement ballots provided by an election
             281      officer to the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
             282          [(77)] (78) "Ticket" means each list of candidates for each political party or for each
             283      group of petitioners.
             284          [(78)] (79) "Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the
             285      counting center.
             286          [(79)] (80) "Vacancy" means the absence of a person to serve in any position created
             287      by statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification,
             288      resignation, or other cause.
             289          [(80)] (81) "Valid voter identification" means:
             290          (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
             291      include:
             292          (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
             293          (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
             294          (A) the state; or
             295          (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
             296          (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
             297          (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
             298          (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
             299          (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
             300      photograph of the voter:
             301          (i) a valid tribal identification card;
             302          (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
             303          (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
             304          (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection [(80)] (81)(a) or (b) but that
             305      bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
             306      which may include:


             307          (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
             308      election;
             309          (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
             310          (iii) a certified birth certificate;
             311          (iv) a valid Social Security card;
             312          (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
             313          (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
             314          (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
             315          (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
             316          (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
             317          (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
             318          (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
             319          (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
             320          (A) a local government within the state;
             321          (B) an employer for an employee; or
             322          (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
             323      state; or
             324          (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
             325          [(81)] (82) "Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a
             326      write-in candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
             327          [(82)] (83) "Voter" means a person who:
             328          (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
             329          (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
             330          (c) is registered to vote; and
             331          (d) is listed in the official register book.
             332          [(83)] (84) "Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in
             333      Section 20A-2-102.5 .
             334          [(84)] (85) "Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting
             335      machines, and ballot box.
             336          [(85)] (86) "Voting booth" means:
             337          (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation


             338      of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
             339          (b) a voting device that is free standing.
             340          [(86)] (87) "Voting device" means:
             341          (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
             342      piercing the ballots by the voter;
             343          (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
             344          (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
             345      electronically, or any component thereof;
             346          (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302 ; or
             347          (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
             348      by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
             349          [(87)] (88) "Voting machine" means a machine designed for the sole purpose of
             350      recording and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
             351          [(88)] (89) "Voting poll watcher" means a person appointed as provided in this title to
             352      witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
             353          [(89)] (90) "Voting precinct" means the smallest voting unit established as provided by
             354      law within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
             355          [(90)] (91) "Watcher" means a voting poll watcher, a counting poll watcher, an
             356      inspecting poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
             357          [(91)] (92) "Western States Presidential Primary" means the election established in
             358      Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
             359          [(92)] (93) "Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
             360          [(93)] (94) "Write-in vote" means a vote cast for a person whose name is not printed on
             361      the ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
             362          Section 2. Section 20A-1-307 is enacted to read:
             363          20A-1-307. Residency requirements for person who verifies a signature on a
             364      petition.
             365          Notwithstanding any other provision in this title that requires a person who signs the
             366      verification on a petition to be a resident, a person who is not a resident may sign the
             367      verification on a petition if:
             368          (1) the person signing the petition is a resident who is temporarily located outside the


             369      state at the time of signing; and
             370          (2) the person signing the verification meets all the requirements in the verification,
             371      except for the residency requirement.
             372          Section 3. Section 20A-7-101 is amended to read:
             373           20A-7-101. Definitions.
             374          As used in this chapter:
             375          (1) "Budget officer" means:
             376          (a) for a county, the person designated as budget officer in Section 17-19-19 ;
             377          (b) for a city, the person designated as budget officer in Subsection 10-6-106 (5); or
             378          (c) for a town, the town council.
             379          (2) "Certified" means that the county clerk has acknowledged a signature as being the
             380      signature of a registered voter.
             381          (3) "Circulation" means the process of submitting an initiative or referendum petition
             382      to legal voters for their signature.
             383          (4) "Final fiscal impact statement" means a financial statement prepared after voters
             384      approve an initiative that contains the information required by Subsection 20A-7-202.5 (2) or
             385      20A-7-502.5 (2).
             386          (5) "Initial fiscal impact estimate" means a financial statement prepared according to
             387      the terms of Section 20A-7-202.5 or 20A-7-502.5 after the filing of an application for an
             388      initiative petition.
             389          (6) "Initiative" means a new law proposed for adoption by the public as provided in
             390      this chapter.
             391          (7) "Initiative packet" means a copy of the initiative petition, a copy of the proposed
             392      law, and the signature sheets, all of which have been bound together as a unit.
             393          (8) "Legal signatures" means the number of signatures of legal voters that:
             394          (a) meet the numerical requirements of this chapter; and
             395          (b) have been certified and verified as provided in this chapter.
             396          (9) "Legal voter" means a person who:
             397          (a) is registered to vote; or
             398          (b) becomes registered to vote before the county clerk certifies the signatures on an
             399      initiative or referendum petition.


             400          (10) "Local attorney" means the county attorney, city attorney, or town attorney in
             401      whose jurisdiction a local initiative or referendum petition is circulated.
             402          (11) "Local clerk" means the county clerk, city recorder, or town clerk in whose
             403      jurisdiction a local initiative or referendum petition is circulated.
             404          (12) (a) "Local law" includes an ordinance, resolution, master plan, and any
             405      comprehensive zoning regulation adopted by ordinance or resolution.
             406          (b) "Local law" does not include an individual property zoning decision.
             407          (13) "Local legislative body" means the legislative body of a county, city, or town.
             408          [(14) "Local obligation law" means a local law passed by the local legislative body
             409      regarding the issuance of a bond, note, lease, finance agreement, or other similar obligation.]
             410          [(15)] (14) "Measure" means a proposed constitutional amendment, an initiative, or
             411      referendum.
             412          [(16)] (15) "Referendum" means a process by which a law passed by the Legislature or
             413      by a local legislative body is submitted or referred to the voters for their approval or rejection.
             414          [(17)] (16) "Referendum packet" means a copy of the referendum petition, a copy of
             415      the law being submitted or referred to the voters for their approval or rejection, and the
             416      signature sheets, all of which have been bound together as a unit.
             417          [(18)] (17) (a) "Signature" means a holographic signature.
             418          (b) "Signature" does not mean an electronic signature.
             419          [(19)] (18) "Signature sheets" means sheets in the form required by this chapter that are
             420      used to collect signatures in support of an initiative or referendum.
             421          [(20)] (19) "Sponsors" means the legal voters who support the initiative or referendum
             422      and who sign the application for petition copies.
             423          [(21)] (20) "Sufficient" means that the signatures submitted in support of an initiative
             424      or referendum petition have been certified and verified as required by this chapter.
             425          [(22)] (21) "Verified" means acknowledged by the person circulating the petition as
             426      required in Sections 20A-7-205 and 20A-7-305 .
             427          Section 4. Section 20A-7-401 is amended to read:
             428           20A-7-401. Limitation of initiative or referendum on budgets.
             429          (1) The legal voters of any county, city, or town may not initiate[:     (a)] a budget or a
             430      change in a budget[; or (b) a land use ordinance or a change in a land use ordinance].


             431          (2) The legal voters of any county, city, or town may not require any budget adopted by
             432      the local legislative body [or the implementation of a land use ordinance adopted by the local
             433      legislative body] to be submitted to the voters.
             434          Section 5. Section 20A-7-503 is amended to read:
             435           20A-7-503. Form of initiative petitions and signature sheets.
             436          (1) (a) Each proposed initiative petition shall be printed in substantially the following
             437      form:
             438          "INITIATIVE PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City Recorder/Town
             439      Clerk:
             440          We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully demand that the following proposed
             441      law be submitted to: the legislative body for its approval or rejection at its next meeting; and
             442      the legal voters of the county/city/town, if the legislative body rejects the proposed law or takes
             443      no action on it.
             444          Each signer says:
             445          I have personally signed this petition;
             446          I am registered to vote in Utah or intend to become registered to vote in Utah before the
             447      certification of the petition names by the county clerk; and
             448          My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name."
             449          (b) The sponsors of an initiative shall attach a copy of the proposed law to each
             450      initiative petition.
             451          (2) Each signature sheet shall:
             452          (a) be printed on sheets of paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
             453          (b) be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space above that line
             454      blank for the purpose of binding;
             455          (c) contain the title of the initiative printed below the horizontal line;
             456          (d) contain the initial fiscal impact estimate's summary statement issued by the budget
             457      officer according to Subsection 20A-7-502.5 (2)(b) and the cost estimate for printing and
             458      distributing information related to the initiative petition according to Subsection
             459      20A-7-502.5 (3) printed or typed in not less than 12-point, bold type, at the top of each
             460      signature sheet under the title of the initiative;
             461          (e) contain the word "Warning" printed or typed at the top of each signature sheet


             462      under the initial fiscal impact estimate's summary statement;
             463          (f) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed or
             464      typed in not less than eight-point, single leaded type:
             465          "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to sign any initiative petition with any other
             466      name than his own, or knowingly to sign his name more than once for the same measure, or to
             467      sign an initiative petition when he knows he is not a registered voter and knows that he does
             468      not intend to become registered to vote before the certification of the petition names by the
             469      county clerk.";
             470          (g) contain horizontally ruled lines, 3/8 inch apart under the "Warning" statement
             471      required by this section;
             472          (h) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
             473          (i) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide, be
             474      headed with "For Office Use Only", and be subdivided with a light vertical line down the
             475      middle with the left subdivision entitled "Registered" and the right subdivision left untitled;
             476          (ii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's Printed
             477      Name (must be legible to be counted)";
             478          (iii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Signature of Registered
             479      Voter";
             480          (iv) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age (Optional)";
             481          (v) the final column shall be 4-3/8 inches wide, headed "Street Address, City, Zip
             482      Code"; and
             483          (vi) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
             484      information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with voter registration
             485      records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be verified as a valid signature
             486      if you change your address before petition signatures are verified or if the information you
             487      provide does not match your voter registration records."; and
             488          (i) contain the following statement, printed or typed upon the [back of each sheet] last
             489      page of each initiative packet:
             490          "Verification
             491          State of Utah, County of ____
             492          I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:


             493          I am a resident of Utah and am at least 18 years old;
             494          All the names that appear [on] in this [sheet] initiative packet were signed by persons
             495      who professed to be the persons whose names appear in it, and each of them signed his name
             496      on it in my presence;
             497          I believe that each has printed and signed his name and written his post office address
             498      and residence correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or intends to become
             499      registered to vote before the certification of the petition names by the county clerk.
             500          _____________________________"
             501          (3) The forms prescribed in this section are not mandatory, and, if substantially
             502      followed, the initiative petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical
             503      errors.
             504          Section 6. Section 20A-7-505 is amended to read:
             505           20A-7-505. Obtaining signatures -- Verification -- Removal of signature.
             506          (1) Any Utah voter may sign a local initiative petition if the voter is a legal voter and
             507      resides in the local jurisdiction.
             508          (2) (a) The sponsors shall ensure that the person in whose presence each signature
             509      sheet was signed:
             510          (i) is at least 18 years old and meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105 ;
             511      and
             512          (ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification printed on the [back of
             513      each signature sheet] last page of each initiative packet.
             514          (b) A person may not sign the verification printed on the last page of the initiative
             515      packet if the person signed a signature sheet in the initiative packet.
             516          (3) (a) (i) Any voter who has signed an initiative petition may have the voter's signature
             517      removed from the petition by submitting a notarized statement to that effect to the local clerk.
             518          (ii) In order for the signature to be removed, the statement must be received by the
             519      local clerk before he delivers the petition to the county clerk to be certified.
             520          (b) Upon receipt of the statement, the local clerk shall remove the signature of the
             521      person submitting the statement from the initiative petition.
             522          (c) No one may remove signatures from an initiative petition after the petition is
             523      submitted to the county clerk to be certified.


             524          Section 7. Section 20A-7-506 is amended to read:
             525           20A-7-506. Submitting the initiative petition -- Certification of signatures by the
             526      county clerks -- Transfer to local clerk.
             527          (1) (a) The sponsors shall deliver each signed and verified initiative packet to the
             528      county clerk of the county in which the packet was circulated on or before the sooner of:
             529          (i) for county initiatives:
             530          (A) 316 days after the day on which the application is filed; or
             531          (B) the April 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately after
             532      the application is filed under Section 20A-7-502 ; or
             533          (ii) for municipal initiatives:
             534          (A) 316 days after the day on which the application is filed; or
             535          (B) the April 15 immediately before the next municipal general election immediately
             536      after the application is filed under Section 20A-7-502 .
             537          (b) A sponsor may not submit an initiative packet after the deadline established in this
             538      Subsection (1).
             539          (2) (a) No later than May 1, the county clerk shall:
             540          (i) check the names of all persons completing the verification on the [back of each
             541      signature sheet] last page of each initiative packet to determine whether those persons are
             542      residents of Utah and are at least 18 years old; and
             543          (ii) submit the name of each of those persons who is not a Utah resident or who is not
             544      at least 18 years old to the attorney general and county attorney.
             545          (b) The county clerk may not certify a signature under Subsection (3) on an initiative
             546      packet that is not verified in accordance with Section 20A-7-505 .
             547          (3) No later than May 15, the county clerk shall:
             548          (a) determine whether or not each signer is a voter according to the requirements of
             549      Section 20A-7-506.3 ;
             550          (b) certify on the petition whether or not each name is that of a voter; and
             551          (c) deliver all of the verified packets to the local clerk.
             552          Section 8. Section 20A-7-601 is amended to read:
             553           20A-7-601. Referenda -- General signature requirements -- Signature
             554      requirements for land use laws -- Time requirements.


             555          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person seeking to have a law passed by the
             556      local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall obtain legal signatures equal to:
             557          (a) 10% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for President
             558      of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was elected if
             559      the total number of votes exceeds 25,000;
             560          (b) 12-1/2% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for
             561      President of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was
             562      elected if the total number of votes does not exceed 25,000 but is more than 10,000;
             563          (c) 15% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for President
             564      of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was elected if
             565      the total number of votes does not exceed 10,000 but is more than 2,500;
             566          (d) 20% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for President
             567      of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was elected if
             568      the total number of votes does not exceed 2,500 but is more than 500;
             569          (e) 25% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for President
             570      of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was elected if
             571      the total number of votes does not exceed 500 but is more than 250; and
             572          (f) 30% of all the votes cast in the county, city, or town for all candidates for President
             573      of the United States at the last election at which a President of the United States was elected if
             574      the total number of votes does not exceed 250.
             575          (2) (a) As used in this Subsection (2), "land use law" includes a land use development
             576      code, an annexation ordinance, and comprehensive zoning ordinances.
             577          (b) A person seeking to have a land use law [or local obligation law] passed by the
             578      local legislative body submitted to a vote of the people shall obtain legal signatures equal to:
             579          (i) in a county or in a city of the first or second class, 20% of all votes cast in the
             580      county or city for all candidates for President of the United States at the last election at which a
             581      President of the United States was elected; and
             582          (ii) in a city of the third, fourth, or fifth class or a town, 35% of all the votes cast in the
             583      city or town for all candidates for President of the United States at the last election at which a
             584      President of the United States was elected.
             585          [(3) A local obligation law or a proceeding related to the local obligation law is not


             586      subject to referendum except as provided by this section.]
             587          [(4)] (3) (a) Sponsors of any referendum petition challenging, under Subsection (1) or
             588      (2), any local law passed by a local legislative body shall file the application within five days
             589      after the passage of the local law.
             590          (b) When a referendum petition has been declared sufficient, the local law that is the
             591      subject of the petition does not take effect unless and until the local law is approved by a vote
             592      of the people.
             593          [(5)] (4) If the referendum passes, the local law that was challenged by the referendum
             594      is repealed as of the date of the election.
             595          Section 9. Section 20A-7-603 is amended to read:
             596           20A-7-603. Form of referendum petition and signature sheets.
             597          (1) (a) Each proposed referendum petition shall be printed in substantially the
             598      following form:
             599          "REFERENDUM PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City
             600      Recorder/Town Clerk:
             601          We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully order that Ordinance No. ____,
             602      entitled (title of ordinance, and, if the petition is against less than the whole ordinance, set forth
             603      here the part or parts on which the referendum is sought), passed by the ____ be referred to the
             604      voters for their approval or rejection at the regular/municipal general election to be held on
             605      __________(month\day\year);
             606          Each signer says:
             607          I have personally signed this petition;
             608          I am registered to vote in Utah or intend to become registered to vote in Utah before the
             609      certification of the petition names by the county clerk; and
             610          My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name."
             611          (b) The sponsors of a referendum shall attach a copy of the law that is the subject of the
             612      referendum to each referendum petition.
             613          (2) Each signature sheet shall:
             614          (a) be printed on sheets of paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
             615          (b) be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space above that line
             616      blank for the purpose of binding;


             617          (c) contain the title of the referendum printed below the horizontal line;
             618          (d) contain the word "Warning" printed or typed at the top of each signature sheet
             619      under the title of the referendum;
             620          (e) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed or
             621      typed in not less than eight-point, single leaded type:
             622          "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to sign any referendum petition with any other
             623      name than his own, or knowingly to sign his name more than once for the same measure, or to
             624      sign a referendum petition when he knows he is not a registered voter and knows that he does
             625      not intend to become registered to vote before the certification of the petition names by the
             626      county clerk.";
             627          (f) contain horizontally ruled lines, 3/8 inch apart under the "Warning" statement
             628      required by this section;
             629          (g) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
             630          (i) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide, be
             631      headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a light vertical line down the
             632      middle;
             633          (ii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's Printed
             634      Name (must be legible to be counted)";
             635          (iii) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Signature of Registered
             636      Voter";
             637          (iv) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age (Optional)";
             638          (v) the final column shall be 4-3/8 inches wide, headed "Street Address, City, Zip
             639      Code"; and
             640          (vi) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
             641      information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with voter registration
             642      records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be verified as a valid signature
             643      if you change your address before petition signatures are verified or if the information you
             644      provide does not match your voter registration records."; and
             645          (h) contain the following statement, printed or typed upon the [back of each sheet] last
             646      page of the referendum packet:
             647          "Verification


             648          State of Utah, County of ____
             649          I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
             650          I am a resident of Utah and am at least 18 years old;
             651          All the names that appear [on this sheet] in this referendum packet were signed by
             652      persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear in it, and each of them signed his
             653      name on it in my presence;
             654          I believe that each has printed and signed his name and written his post office address
             655      and residence correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or intends to become
             656      registered to vote before the certification of the petition names by the county clerk.
             657          _____________________________"
             658          (3) The forms prescribed in this section are not mandatory, and, if substantially
             659      followed, the referendum petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical
             660      errors.
             661          Section 10. Section 20A-7-605 is amended to read:
             662           20A-7-605. Obtaining signatures -- Verification -- Removal of signature.
             663          (1) Any Utah voter may sign a local referendum petition if the voter is a legal voter and
             664      resides in the local jurisdiction.
             665          (2) (a) The sponsors shall ensure that the person in whose presence each signature
             666      sheet was signed:
             667          (i) is at least 18 years old and meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105 ;
             668      and
             669          (ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification printed on the [back of]
             670      last page of each referendum packet.
             671          (b) A person may not sign the verification printed on the last page of the referendum
             672      packet if the person signed a signature sheet in the referendum packet.
             673          (3) (a) Any voter who has signed a referendum petition may have the voter's signature
             674      removed from the petition by submitting a notarized statement to that effect to the local clerk.
             675          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(c), upon receipt of the statement, the local
             676      clerk shall remove the signature of the person submitting the statement from the referendum
             677      petition.
             678          (c) A local clerk may not remove signatures from a referendum petition after the


             679      petition has been submitted to the county clerk to be certified.
             680          Section 11. Section 20A-7-606 is amended to read:
             681           20A-7-606. Submitting the referendum petition -- Certification of signatures by
             682      the county clerks -- Transfer to local clerk.
             683          (1) (a) The sponsors shall deliver each signed and verified referendum packet to the
             684      county clerk of the county in which the packet was circulated:
             685          (i) for county referenda, no later than 45 days after the passage of the local law;
             686          (ii) for municipal referenda, no later than 45 days after the passage of the local law; or
             687          (iii) for referenda held in relation to the adoption of an ordinance imposing a county
             688      option sales and use tax under Section 59-12-1102 , no later than 100 days before the election
             689      that the referendum qualifies for under Subsection 20A-7-609 (2)(c).
             690          (b) A sponsor may not submit a referendum packet after the deadline established in this
             691      Subsection (1).
             692          (2) (a) No later than 60 days after the local law passes, the county clerk shall:
             693          (i) check the names of all persons completing the verification on the [back] last page of
             694      each referendum packet to determine whether those persons are Utah residents and are at least
             695      18 years old; and
             696          (ii) submit the name of each of those persons who is not a Utah resident or who is not
             697      at least 18 years old to the attorney general and county attorney.
             698          (b) The county clerk may not certify a signature under Subsection (3) on a referendum
             699      packet that is not verified in accordance with Section 20A-7-605 .
             700          (3) No later than 75 days after the local law passes, the county clerk shall:
             701          (a) determine whether each signer is a registered voter according to the requirements of
             702      Section 20A-7-606.3 ;
             703          (b) certify on the referendum petition whether each name is that of a registered voter;
             704      and
             705          (c) deliver all of the verified referendum packets to the local clerk.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-17-11 8:41 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]