1     
ELECTION REVISIONS

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

5     
Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions of the Election Code relating to reporting the results of
10     counted absentee and provisional ballots.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     provides for the daily disclosure of the results of absentee ballots and provisional
14     ballots counted during the period beginning on the day after the election date and
15     ending on the day before the canvass date; and
16          ▸     makes technical and conforming amendments.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          20A-3-309, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 97
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 20A-3-309 is amended to read:
27          20A-3-309. Absentee ballots and provisional ballots in the custody of the election
28     officer -- Disposition -- Counting -- Release of number of absentee ballots cast.
29          (1) The election officer shall deliver all envelopes containing valid absentee ballots and
30     valid provisional ballots that are in the election officer's custody to the place of the official
31     canvass of the election by noon on the day of the official canvass following the election.
32          (2) (a) [Absentee] Valid absentee ballots and valid provisional ballots may be
33     processed and counted:
34          (i) by the election officer before the date of the canvass; and
35          (ii) at the canvass, by the election officer or poll workers, acting under the supervision
36     of the official canvassers of the election.
37          (b) When processing ballots, the election officer and poll workers shall comply with
38     the procedures and requirements of Section 20A-3-308 in opening envelopes, verifying
39     signatures, confirming eligibility of the ballots, and depositing them in a ballot box.
40          (3) (a) After all valid absentee ballots and valid provisional ballots have been
41     deposited, the [absentee] ballots shall be counted in the usual manner.
42          (b) After the polls close on the date of the election, the election officer shall publicly
43     release the results of those absentee ballots and provisional ballots that have been counted on
44     or before the date of the election.
45          [(c) The election officer may not release any results from those absentee ballots that are
46     counted after the date of the election through the date of the canvass.]
47          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(d), on each day, beginning on the day after the
48     date of the election and ending on the day before the date of the canvass, the election officer
49     shall publicly release the results of all absentee ballots and provisional ballots counted on that
50     day.
51          (d) (i) If complying with Subsection (3)(c) on a particular day will likely result in
52     disclosing a vote cast by an individual voter, the election officer shall request permission from
53     the lieutenant governor to delay compliance for the minimum number of days necessary to
54     protect against disclosure of the voter's vote.
55          (ii) The lieutenant governor shall grant a request made under Subsection (3)(d)(i) if the
56     lieutenant governor finds that the delay is necessary to protect against disclosure of a voter's
57     vote.
58          [(d)] (e) On the date of the canvass, the election officer shall provide a tally of all
59     absentee ballots and provisional ballots counted, and the resulting tally shall be added to the
60     official canvass of the election.
61          (4) (a) On the day after the date of the election, the election officer shall determine the
62     number of absentee ballots received by the election officer at that time and shall make that
63     number available to the public.
64          (b) The election officer may elect to publicly release updated totals for the number of
65     absentee ballots received by the election officer up through the date of the canvass.