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S.B. 25 Enrolled

             1     

ELECTIONS DURING DECLARED EMERGENCY

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

             5     
House Sponsor: Kraig Powell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill authorizes the lieutenant governor to take certain actions when a declared
             10      emergency affects an election.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    authorizes the lieutenant governor, during a declared emergency, to designate
             15      alternative methods or times for voting or counting an absentee ballot or
             16      military-overseas ballot;
             17          .    requires the lieutenant governor to notify a voter of alternatives to vote an absentee
             18      or military-overseas ballot, including posting the alternatives on the voter
             19      information website; and
             20          .    makes conforming amendments.
             21      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27          20A-3-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 309
             28          20A-3-306.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 45
             29          20A-7-801, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 334


             30          20A-16-404, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             31          20A-16-408, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             32          67-1a-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 35
             33      ENACTS:
             34          20A-1-308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 20A-1-308 is enacted to read:
             38          20A-1-308. Elections during declared emergencies.
             39          (1) As used in this section, "declared emergency" means a state of emergency that:
             40          (a) is declared by:
             41          (i) the president of the United States;
             42          (ii) the governor in an executive order under Title 63K, Chapter 4, Disaster Response
             43      and Recovery Act; or
             44          (iii) the chief executive officer of a political subdivision in a proclamation under Title
             45      63K, Chapter 4, Disaster Response and Recovery Act; and
             46          (b) affects an election in the state, including:
             47          (i) the transmittal or voting of an absentee ballot or military-overseas ballot;
             48          (ii) the counting of an absentee ballot or military-overseas ballot; or
             49          (iii) the canvassing of election returns.
             50          (2) During a declared emergency, the lieutenant governor may designate a method or
             51      time that is different from what is provided in this title for:
             52          (a) voting an absentee ballot or military-overseas ballot; and
             53          (b) counting an absentee ballot or military-overseas ballot.
             54          (3) The lieutenant governor shall notify a voter of a different method or time
             55      designated under Subsection (2) by:
             56          (a) posting a notice on the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website established
             57      under Section 20A-7-801 ;


             58          (b) notifying an election officer affected by the designation; and
             59          (c) notifying a newspaper of general circulation within the state or a local media
             60      correspondent.
             61          Section 2. Section 20A-3-306 is amended to read:
             62           20A-3-306. Voting ballot -- Returning ballot.
             63          (1) (a) [To] Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , to vote a mail-in absentee
             64      ballot, the absentee voter shall:
             65          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             66          (ii) mark the votes on the absentee ballot;
             67          (iii) place the voted absentee ballot in the envelope;
             68          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             69          (v) attach postage, unless voting in accordance with Section 20A-3-302 , and deposit
             70      the envelope in the mail or deliver it in person to the election officer from whom the ballot was
             71      obtained.
             72          (b) [To] Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , to vote an absentee ballot in person
             73      at the office of the election officer, the absent voter shall:
             74          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             75          (ii) mark the votes on the absent-voter ballot;
             76          (iii) place the voted absent-voter ballot in the envelope;
             77          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             78          (v) give the ballot and envelope to the election officer.
             79          (2) [An] Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , an absentee ballot is not valid
             80      unless:
             81          (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person, it is applied for and cast in
             82      person at the office of the appropriate election officer no later than the Friday before election
             83      day; or
             84          (b) in the case of a military-overseas ballot, submitted in accordance with Section
             85      20A-16-404 .


             86          Section 3. Section 20A-3-306.5 is amended to read:
             87           20A-3-306.5. Emergency absentee ballots.
             88          (1) As used in this section, "hospitalized voter" means a registered voter who is
             89      hospitalized or otherwise confined to a medical or long-term care institution after the deadline
             90      for filing an application for an absentee ballot established in Section 20A-3-304 .
             91          (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a hospitalized voter may obtain an
             92      absentee ballot and vote on election day by following the procedures and requirements of this
             93      section.
             94          (3) (a) Any person may obtain an absentee ballot application, an absentee ballot, and an
             95      absentee ballot envelope from the election officer on behalf of a hospitalized voter by
             96      requesting a ballot and application in person at the election officer's office.
             97          (b) The election officer shall require the person to sign a statement identifying himself
             98      and the hospitalized voter.
             99          (4) To vote, the hospitalized voter shall complete the absentee ballot application,
             100      complete and sign the application on the absentee ballot envelope, mark his votes on the
             101      absentee ballot, place the absentee ballot into the envelope, and seal the envelope unless a
             102      different method is authorized under Section 20A-1-308 .
             103          (5) To be counted, the absentee voter application and the sealed absentee ballot
             104      envelope must be returned to the election officer's office before the polls close on election day
             105      unless a different time is authorized under Section 20A-1-308 .
             106          Section 4. Section 20A-7-801 is amended to read:
             107           20A-7-801. Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program -- Duties of
             108      the lieutenant governor -- Content -- Duties of local election officials -- Deadlines --
             109      Frequently asked voter questions -- Other elections.
             110          (1) There is established the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website Program
             111      administered by the lieutenant governor in cooperation with the county clerks for general
             112      elections and municipal authorities for municipal elections.
             113          (2) In accordance with this section, and as resources become available, the lieutenant


             114      governor, in cooperation with county clerks, shall develop, establish, and maintain a
             115      state-provided Internet website designed to help inform the voters of the state of:
             116          (a) the offices and candidates up for election; and
             117          (b) the content, effect, operation, fiscal impact, and supporting and opposing arguments
             118      of ballot propositions submitted to the voters.
             119          (3) Except as provided under Subsection (6), the website shall include:
             120          (a) all information currently provided in the Utah voter information pamphlet under
             121      Title 20A, Chapter 7, Part 7, Voter Information Pamphlet, including a section prepared,
             122      analyzed, and submitted by the Judicial Council describing the judicial selection and retention
             123      process;
             124          (b) all information submitted by election officers under Subsection (4) on local office
             125      races, local office candidates, and local ballot propositions;
             126          (c) a list that contains the name of a political subdivision that operates an election day
             127      voting center under Section 20A-3-703 and the location of the election day voting center; [and]
             128          (d) other information determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor that is
             129      currently being provided by law, rule, or ordinance in relation to candidates and ballot
             130      questions[.]; and
             131          (e) an alternative method or time designated under Section 20A-1-308 for voting or
             132      counting an absentee or military-overseas ballot.
             133          (4) (a) An election official shall submit the following information for each ballot label
             134      under the election official's direct responsibility under this title:
             135          (i) a list of all candidates for each office;
             136          (ii) if submitted by the candidate to the election official's office at 5 p.m. at least 45
             137      days before the primary election and 60 days before the general election:
             138          (A) a statement of qualifications, not exceeding 200 words in length, for each
             139      candidate;
             140          (B) the following biographical information if desired by the candidate, current:
             141          (I) age;


             142          (II) occupation;
             143          (III) city of residence;
             144          (IV) years of residence in current city; and
             145          (V) email address; and
             146          (C) a single web address where voters may access more information about the
             147      candidate and the candidate's views; and
             148          (iii) factual information pertaining to all ballot propositions submitted to the voters,
             149      including:
             150          (A) a copy of the number and ballot title of each ballot proposition;
             151          (B) the final vote cast for each ballot proposition, if any, by a legislative body if the
             152      vote was required to place the ballot proposition on the ballot;
             153          (C) a complete copy of the text of each ballot proposition, with all new language
             154      underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets; and
             155          (D) other factual information determined helpful by the election official.
             156          (b) The information under Subsection (4)(a) shall be submitted to the lieutenant
             157      governor no later than one business day after the deadline under Subsection (4)(a) for each
             158      general election year and each municipal election year.
             159          (c) The lieutenant governor shall:
             160          (i) review the information submitted under this section prior to placing it on the
             161      website to determine compliance under this section;
             162          (ii) refuse to post information submitted under this section on the website if it is not in
             163      compliance with the provisions of this section; and
             164          (iii) organize, format, and arrange the information submitted under this section for the
             165      website.
             166          (d) The lieutenant governor may refuse to include information the lieutenant governor
             167      determines is not in keeping with:
             168          (i) Utah voter needs;
             169          (ii) public decency; or


             170          (iii) the purposes, organization, or uniformity of the website.
             171          (e) A refusal under Subsection (4)(d) is subject to appeal in accordance with
             172      Subsection (5).
             173          (5) (a) A person whose information is refused under Subsection (4), and who is
             174      aggrieved by the determination, may appeal by submitting a written notice of appeal to the
             175      lieutenant governor within 10 business days after the date of the determination. A notice of
             176      appeal submitted under this Subsection (5)(a) shall contain:
             177          (i) a listing of each objection to the lieutenant governor's determination; and
             178          (ii) the basis for each objection.
             179          (b) The lieutenant governor shall review the notice of appeal and shall issue a written
             180      response within 10 business days after the notice of appeal is submitted.
             181          (c) An appeal of the response of the lieutenant governor shall be made to the district
             182      court, which shall review the matter de novo.
             183          (6) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that each voter will be able to conveniently
             184      enter the voter's address information on the website to retrieve information on which offices,
             185      candidates, and ballot propositions will be on the voter's ballot at the next general election or
             186      municipal election.
             187          (b) The information on the website will anticipate and answer frequent voter questions
             188      including the following:
             189          (i) what offices are up in the current year for which the voter may cast a vote;
             190          (ii) who is running for what office and who is the incumbent, if any;
             191          (iii) what address each candidate may be reached at and how the candidate may be
             192      contacted;
             193          (iv) for partisan races only, what, if any, is each candidate's party affiliation;
             194          (v) what qualifications have been submitted by each candidate;
             195          (vi) where additional information on each candidate may be obtained;
             196          (vii) what ballot propositions will be on the ballot; and
             197          (viii) what judges are up for retention election.


             198          (7) As resources are made available and in cooperation with the county clerks, the
             199      lieutenant governor may expand the electronic voter information website program to include
             200      the same information as provided under this section for special elections and primary elections.
             201          Section 5. Section 20A-16-404 is amended to read:
             202           20A-16-404. Timely casting of ballot.
             203          [To] Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , to be valid, a military-overseas ballot
             204      shall be:
             205          (1) received by the appropriate election officer not later than the close of the polls; or
             206          (2) submitted for mailing, electronic transmission, or other authorized means of
             207      delivery not later than 12:01 a.m., at the place where the voter completes the ballot, on the date
             208      of the election.
             209          Section 6. Section 20A-16-408 is amended to read:
             210           20A-16-408. Receipt of voted ballot.
             211          (1) [A] Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308 , a valid military-overseas ballot cast
             212      in accordance with Section 20A-16-404 shall be counted if the military-overseas ballot is
             213      delivered by the end of business on the business day before the latest deadline for completing
             214      the canvass to the address that the appropriate state or local election office has specified.
             215          (2) If, at the time of completing a military-overseas ballot and balloting materials, the
             216      voter has declared under penalty of perjury as provided in Title 76, Chapter 8, Part 5,
             217      Falsification in Official Matters, that the ballot was timely submitted, the ballot may not be
             218      rejected on the basis that it has a late postmark, an unreadable postmark, or no postmark.
             219          Section 7. Section 67-1a-2 is amended to read:
             220           67-1a-2. Duties enumerated.
             221          (1) The lieutenant governor shall:
             222          (a) perform duties delegated by the governor, including assignments to serve in any of
             223      the following capacities:
             224          (i) as the head of any one department, if so qualified, with the consent of the Senate,
             225      and, upon appointment at the pleasure of the governor and without additional compensation;


             226          (ii) as the chairperson of any cabinet group organized by the governor or authorized by
             227      law for the purpose of advising the governor or coordinating intergovernmental or
             228      interdepartmental policies or programs;
             229          (iii) as liaison between the governor and the state Legislature to coordinate and
             230      facilitate the governor's programs and budget requests;
             231          (iv) as liaison between the governor and other officials of local, state, federal, and
             232      international governments or any other political entities to coordinate, facilitate, and protect the
             233      interests of the state;
             234          (v) as personal advisor to the governor, including advice on policies, programs,
             235      administrative and personnel matters, and fiscal or budgetary matters; and
             236          (vi) as chairperson or member of any temporary or permanent boards, councils,
             237      commissions, committees, task forces, or other group appointed by the governor;
             238          (b) serve on all boards and commissions in lieu of the governor, whenever so
             239      designated by the governor;
             240          (c) serve as the chief election officer of the state as required by Subsection (2);
             241          (d) keep custody of the Great Seal of Utah;
             242          (e) keep a register of, and attest, the official acts of the governor;
             243          (f) affix the Great Seal, with an attestation, to all official documents and instruments to
             244      which the official signature of the governor is required; and
             245          (g) furnish a certified copy of all or any part of any law, record, or other instrument
             246      filed, deposited, or recorded in the office of the lieutenant governor to any person who requests
             247      it and pays the fee.
             248          (2) (a) As the chief election officer, the lieutenant governor shall:
             249          (i) exercise general supervisory authority over all elections;
             250          (ii) exercise direct authority over the conduct of elections for federal, state, and
             251      multicounty officers and statewide or multicounty ballot propositions and any recounts
             252      involving those races;
             253          (iii) assist county clerks in unifying the election ballot;


             254          (iv) (A) prepare election information for the public as required by statute and as
             255      determined appropriate by the lieutenant governor;
             256          (B) make the information under Subsection (2)(a)(iv)(A) available to the public and to
             257      news media on the Internet and in other forms as required by statute or as determined
             258      appropriate by the lieutenant governor;
             259          (v) receive and answer election questions and maintain an election file on opinions
             260      received from the attorney general;
             261          (vi) maintain a current list of registered political parties as defined in Section
             262      20A-8-101 ;
             263          (vii) maintain election returns and statistics;
             264          (viii) certify to the governor the names of those persons who have received the highest
             265      number of votes for any office;
             266          (ix) ensure that all voting equipment purchased by the state complies with the
             267      requirements of Subsection 20A-5-302 (2) and Sections 20A-5-402.5 and 20A-5-402.7 ;
             268          (x) conduct the study described in Section 67-1a-14 ; [and]
             269          (xi) during a declared emergency, designate an alterative method or time regarding an
             270      absentee or military-overseas ballot in accordance with Section 20A-1-308 ; and
             271          [(xi)] (xii) perform other election duties as provided in Title 20A, Election Code.
             272          (b) As chief election officer, the lieutenant governor may not assume the
             273      responsibilities assigned to the county clerks, city recorders, town clerks, or other local election
             274      officials by Title 20A, Election Code.
             275          (3) (a) The lieutenant governor shall:
             276          (i) (A) determine a new city's classification under Section 10-2-301 upon the city's
             277      incorporation under Title 10, Chapter 2, Part 1, Incorporation, based on the city's population
             278      using the population estimate from the Utah Population Estimates Committee; and
             279          (B) (I) prepare a certificate indicating the class in which the new city belongs based on
             280      the city's population; and
             281          (II) within 10 days after preparing the certificate, deliver a copy of the certificate to the


             282      city's legislative body;
             283          (ii) (A) determine the classification under Section 10-2-301 of a consolidated
             284      municipality upon the consolidation of multiple municipalities under Title 10, Chapter 2, Part
             285      6, Consolidation of Municipalities, using population information from:
             286          (I) each official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census;
             287      or
             288          (II) the population estimate from the Utah Population Estimates Committee, if the
             289      population of a municipality is not available from the United States Bureau of the Census; and
             290          (B) (I) prepare a certificate indicating the class in which the consolidated municipality
             291      belongs based on the municipality's population; and
             292          (II) within 10 days after preparing the certificate, deliver a copy of the certificate to the
             293      consolidated municipality's legislative body; and
             294          (iii) monitor the population of each municipality using population information from:
             295          (A) each official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census;
             296      or
             297          (B) the population estimate from the Utah Population Estimates Committee, if the
             298      population of a municipality is not available from the United States Bureau of the Census.
             299          (b) If the applicable population figure under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) or (iii) indicates that
             300      a municipality's population has increased beyond the population for its current class, the
             301      lieutenant governor shall:
             302          (i) prepare a certificate indicating the class in which the municipality belongs based on
             303      the increased population figure; and
             304          (ii) within 10 days after preparing the certificate, deliver a copy of the certificate to the
             305      legislative body of the municipality whose class has changed.
             306          (c) (i) If the applicable population figure under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) or (iii) indicates
             307      that a municipality's population has decreased below the population for its current class, the
             308      lieutenant governor shall send written notification of that fact to the municipality's legislative
             309      body.


             310          (ii) Upon receipt of a petition under Subsection 10-2-302 (2) from a municipality whose
             311      population has decreased below the population for its current class, the lieutenant governor
             312      shall:
             313          (A) prepare a certificate indicating the class in which the municipality belongs based
             314      on the decreased population figure; and
             315          (B) within 10 days after preparing the certificate, deliver a copy of the certificate to the
             316      legislative body of the municipality whose class has changed.


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