1     
VOTER ELIGIBILITY AMENDMENTS

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Joel K. Briscoe

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions of the Election Code relating to voter age requirements.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     provides that an individual who is 17 years of age may register for and vote in a
13     primary election if the individual will be 18 years of age by the general election; and
14          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          20A-2-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 395
22     ENACTS:
23          20A-3-101.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 20A-2-101 is amended to read:
27          20A-2-101. Eligibility for registration.
28          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), [any person] an individual may apply to
29     register to vote in an election who:
30          (a) is a citizen of the United States;
31          (b) has been a resident of Utah for at least the 30 days immediately before the election;
32          (c) will be:
33          (i) at least 18 years [old] of age on the day of the election; [and] or
34          (ii) if the election is a regular primary election, a municipal primary election, or a
35     Western States Presidential Primary:
36          (A) 17 years of age on or before the day of the regular primary election, municipal
37     primary election, or Western States Presidential Primary; and
38          (B) 18 years of age on or before the general election that immediately follows the
39     regular primary election, municipal primary election, or Western States Presidential Primary;
40     and
41          (d) currently resides within the voting district or precinct in which the [person]
42     individual applies to register to vote.
43          (2) (a) (i) [A person] An individual who is involuntarily confined or incarcerated in a
44     jail, prison, or other facility within a voting precinct is not a resident of that voting precinct and
45     may not register to vote in that voting precinct unless the [person] individual was a resident of
46     that voting precinct before the confinement or incarceration.
47          (ii) [A person] An individual who is involuntarily confined or incarcerated in a jail or
48     prison is a resident of the voting precinct in which the [person] individual resided before the
49     confinement or incarceration.
50          (b) [A person] An individual who has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor for
51     an offense under this title may not register to vote or remain registered to vote unless the
52     [person's] individual's right to vote has been restored as provided in Section 20A-2-101.3 or
53     20A-2-101.5.
54          (c) [A person] An individual whose right to vote has been restored, as provided in
55     Section 20A-2-101.3 or 20A-2-101.5, is eligible to register to vote.
56          (3) [A person] An individual who is eligible to vote and who resides within the
57     geographic boundaries of the entity in which the election is held may register to vote in a:
58          (a) regular general election;
59          (b) regular primary election;
60          (c) municipal general election;
61          (d) municipal primary election;
62          (e) statewide special election;
63          (f) local special election;
64          (g) local district election; [and]
65          (h) bond election[.]; and
66          (i) Western States Presidential Primary.
67          Section 2. Section 20A-3-101.5 is enacted to read:
68          20A-3-101.5. Age requirements for primary elections -- 17-year-olds may vote.
69          An individual who is 17 years of age may vote in a regular primary election, a
70     municipal primary election, or a Western States Presidential Primary, if:
71          (1) the individual will be 18 years of age on or before the general election that
72     immediately follows the regular primary election, municipal primary election, or Western
73     States Presidential Primary;
74          (2) the individual is registered to vote in accordance with Chapter 2, Voter
75     Registration;
76          (3) the individual's political party affiliation, or unaffiliated status, allows the
77     individual to vote in the election; and
78          (4) in the case of a municipal primary election, the individual is a resident of a voting
79     district or precinct within the local entity that is holding the election.




Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel