2
3
4
5
6 Cosponsor:
Jeremy A. Peterson
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends provisions of the Election Code relating to the manner by which a
11 voter casts a vote for all candidates from one political party.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ amends provisions of the Election Code to provide that a voter who desires to cast a
15 vote for all candidates from one political party must vote separately for each
16 candidate from that political party;
17 ▸ removes provisions relating to straight ticket party voting and scratch voting; and
18 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 20A-1-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapters 296, 352, and 392
26 20A-3-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 296
27 20A-4-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 177
28 20A-4-105, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 390
29 20A-5-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 256 and 329
30 20A-6-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 392
31 20A-6-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 296
32 20A-6-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 296
33 20A-6-305, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 17
34 20A-9-406, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 296
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 20A-1-102 is amended to read:
38 20A-1-102. Definitions.
39 As used in this title:
40 (1) "Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive
41 voter by the county clerk.
42 (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines
43 and counts votes recorded on paper ballots or ballot sheets and tabulates the results.
44 (3) (a) "Ballot" means the storage medium, whether paper, mechanical, or electronic,
45 upon which a voter records the voter's votes.
46 (b) "Ballot" includes ballot sheets, paper ballots, electronic ballots, and secrecy
47 envelopes.
48 (4) "Ballot label" means the cards, papers, booklet, pages, or other materials that:
49 (a) contain the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to
50 be voted on; and
51 (b) are used in conjunction with ballot sheets that do not display that information.
52 (5) "Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters
53 on the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
54 (a) an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
55 (b) a constitutional amendment;
56 (c) an initiative;
57 (d) a referendum;
58 (e) a bond proposition;
59 (f) a judicial retention question;
60 (g) an incorporation of a city or town; or
61 (h) any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
62 (6) "Ballot sheet":
63 (a) means a ballot that:
64 (i) consists of paper or a card where the voter's votes are marked or recorded; and
65 (ii) can be counted using automatic tabulating equipment; and
66 (b) includes punch card ballots and other ballots that are machine-countable.
67 (7) "Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper
68 together with a staple or stitch in at least three places across the top of the paper in the blank
69 space reserved for securing the paper.
70 (8) "Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and
71 20A-4-306 to canvass election returns.
72 (9) "Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting
73 the proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
74 (10) "Book voter registration form" means voter registration forms contained in a
75 bound book that are used by election officers and registration agents to register persons to vote.
76 (11) "Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of
77 charge by the sender.
78 (12) "By-mail voter registration form" means a voter registration form designed to be
79 completed by the voter and mailed to the election officer.
80 (13) "Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of
81 election results by the board of canvassers.
82 (14) "Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at
83 the canvass.
84 (15) "Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract
85 or interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
86 (16) "Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
87 delegates are selected.
88 (17) "Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
89 charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
90 (18) "Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during
91 election day.
92 (19) "Counting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in Section
93 20A-3-201 to witness the counting of ballots.
94 (20) "Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room,
95 immediately adjoining the place where the election is being held, for use by the poll workers
96 and counting judges to count ballots during election day.
97 (21) "County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be
98 elected.
99 (22) "Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
100 (a) means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day that the election
101 occurs; and
102 (b) does not include:
103 (i) deadlines established for absentee voting; or
104 (ii) any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter 3, Part 6, Early
105 Voting.
106 (23) "Elected official" means:
107 (a) a person elected to an office under Section 20A-1-303;
108 (b) a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
109 Subsection 20A-1-206(1)(c)(ii); or
110 (c) a person who is considered to be elected to a local district office in accordance with
111 Subsection 20A-1-206(3)(c)(ii).
112 (24) "Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a
113 statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal
114 primary election, and a local district election.
115 (25) "Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by Public
116 Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
117 (26) "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day persons are eligible to
118 file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
119 (27) "Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
120 (a) preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
121 (b) act as the presiding election judge; or
122 (c) serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
123 (28) "Election officer" means:
124 (a) the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
125 (b) the county clerk for:
126 (i) a county ballot and election; and
127 (ii) a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
128 20A-5-400.1 or 20A-5-400.5;
129 (c) the municipal clerk for:
130 (i) a municipal 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 (d) the local district clerk or chief executive officer for:
134 (i) a local district 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; or
137 (e) the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
138 (i) a school 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.
141 (29) "Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
142 (30) "Election results" means:
143 (a) for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
144 the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
145 (b) for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond
146 proposition plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
147 (31) "Election returns" includes the pollbook, the military and overseas absentee voter
148 registration and voting certificates, one of the tally sheets, any unprocessed absentee ballots, all
149 counted ballots, all excess ballots, all unused ballots, all spoiled ballots, the ballot disposition
150 form, and the total votes cast form.
151 (32) "Electronic ballot" means a ballot that is recorded using a direct electronic voting
152 device or other voting device that records and stores ballot information by electronic means.
153 (33) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to
154 or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign
155 the record.
156 (34) (a) "Electronic voting device" means a voting device that uses electronic ballots.
157 (b) "Electronic voting device" includes a direct recording electronic voting device.
158 (35) "Inactive voter" means a registered voter who has:
159 (a) been sent the notice required by Section 20A-2-306; and
160 (b) failed to respond to that notice.
161 (36) "Inspecting poll watcher" means a person selected as provided in this title to
162 witness the receipt and safe deposit of voted and counted ballots.
163 (37) "Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
164 (38) "Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county
165 court judge.
166 (39) "Local district" means a local government entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose
167 Local Government Entities - Local Districts, and includes a special service district under Title
168 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act.
169 (40) "Local district officers" means those local district board members that are required
170 by law to be elected.
171 (41) "Local election" means a regular county election, a regular municipal election, a
172 municipal primary election, a local special election, a local district election, and a bond
173 election.
174 (42) "Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a local district, or a
175 local school district.
176 (43) "Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
177 local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision may
178 vote.
179 (44) "Municipal executive" means:
180 (a) the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102;
181 (b) the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
182 10-3b-103(7); or
183 (c) the chair of a metro township form of government defined in Section 10-3b-102.
184 (45) "Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and, as
185 applicable, local districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each
186 odd-numbered year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202.
187 (46) "Municipal legislative body" means:
188 (a) the council of the city or town in any form of municipal government; or
189 (b) the council of a metro township.
190 (47) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
191 (48) "Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
192 elected.
193 (49) "Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
194 municipal office.
195 (50) "Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer to the poll
196 workers to be given to voters to record their votes.
197 (51) "Official endorsement" means:
198 (a) the information on the ballot that identifies:
199 (i) the ballot as an official ballot;
200 (ii) the date of the election; and
201 (iii) (A) for a ballot prepared by an election officer other than a county clerk, the
202 facsimile signature required by Subsection 20A-6-401(1)(b)(iii); or
203 (B) for a ballot prepared by a county clerk, the words required by Subsection
204 20A-6-301(1)(c)(iii); and
205 (b) the information on the ballot stub that identifies:
206 (i) the poll worker's initials; and
207 (ii) the ballot number.
208 (52) "Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
209 election officer that contains the information required by Section 20A-5-401.
210 (53) "Paper ballot" means a paper that contains:
211 (a) the names of offices and candidates and statements of ballot propositions to be
212 voted on; and
213 (b) spaces for the voter to record the voter's vote for each office and for or against each
214 ballot proposition.
215 (54) "Pilot project" means the election day voter registration pilot project created in
216 Section 20A-4-108.
217 (55) "Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
218 participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation
219 and Procedures.
220 (56) "Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that they appear to
221 cast votes.
222 (57) "Polling place" means the building where voting is conducted.
223 (58) (a) "Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
224 election, voting, or counting votes.
225 (b) "Poll worker" includes election judges.
226 (c) "Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
227 (59) "Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot
228 in which the voter marks the voter's choice.
229 (60) "Primary convention" means the political party conventions held during the year
230 of the regular general election.
231 (61) "Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
232 (a) is built into a voting machine; and
233 (b) records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
234 (62) "Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
235 interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for the
236 contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
237 20A-5-400.1.
238 (63) "Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
239 (a) whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
240 (b) whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
241 (c) whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
242 (64) "Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form required by
243 Section 20A-6-105 that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide information to
244 verify a person's legal right to vote.
245 (65) "Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
246 duties of the position for which the person was elected.
247 (66) "Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the
248 official register, provides the voter with a ballot, and removes the ballot stub from the ballot
249 after the voter has voted.
250 (67) "Registration form" means a book voter registration form and a by-mail voter
251 registration form.
252 (68) "Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
253 (69) "Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
254 Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes
255 established in Section 20A-1-201.
256 (70) "Regular primary election" means the election on the fourth Tuesday of June of
257 each even-numbered year, to nominate candidates of political parties and candidates for
258 nonpartisan local school board positions to advance to the regular general election.
259 (71) "Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
260 (72) "Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot printed
261 and distributed as provided in Section 20A-5-405.
262 [
263
264
265 [
266 ballot into which the voter places the ballot after the voter has voted it in order to preserve the
267 secrecy of the voter's vote.
268 [
269 20A-1-203.
270 [
271 (a) is spoiled by the voter;
272 (b) is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
273 (c) lacks the official endorsement.
274 [
275 or the Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
276 [
277 [
278 officer to the poll workers when the official ballots are lost or stolen.
279 [
280 group of petitioners.
281 [
282 counting center.
283 [
284 by statute, whether that absence occurs because of death, disability, disqualification,
285 resignation, or other cause.
286 [
287 (a) a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
288 include:
289 (i) a currently valid Utah driver license;
290 (ii) a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
291 (A) the state; or
292 (B) a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
293 (iii) a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
294 (iv) a currently valid United States passport; or
295 (v) a currently valid United States military identification card;
296 (b) one of the following identification cards, whether or not the card includes a
297 photograph of the voter:
298 (i) a valid tribal identification card;
299 (ii) a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
300 (iii) a tribal treaty card; or
301 (c) two forms of identification not listed under Subsection [
302 bear the name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
303 which may include:
304 (i) a current utility bill or a legible copy thereof, dated within the 90 days before the
305 election;
306 (ii) a bank or other financial account statement, or a legible copy thereof;
307 (iii) a certified birth certificate;
308 (iv) a valid Social Security card;
309 (v) a check issued by the state or the federal government or a legible copy thereof;
310 (vi) a paycheck from the voter's employer, or a legible copy thereof;
311 (vii) a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
312 (viii) certified naturalization documentation;
313 (ix) a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
314 (x) a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
315 (xi) a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer Card;
316 (xii) a currently valid identification card issued by:
317 (A) a local government within the state;
318 (B) an employer for an employee; or
319 (C) a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within the
320 state; or
321 (xiii) a current Utah vehicle registration.
322 [
323 write-in candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
324 [
325 (a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
326 (b) meets the requirements of election registration;
327 (c) is registered to vote; and
328 (d) is listed in the official register book.
329 [
330 Section 20A-2-102.5.
331 [
332 machines, and ballot box.
333 [
334 (a) the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
335 of ballots, including the voting machine enclosure or curtain; or
336 (b) a voting device that is free standing.
337 [
338 (a) an apparatus in which ballot sheets are used in connection with a punch device for
339 piercing the ballots by the voter;
340 (b) a device for marking the ballots with ink or another substance;
341 (c) an electronic voting device or other device used to make selections and cast a ballot
342 electronically, or any component thereof;
343 (d) an automated voting system under Section 20A-5-302; or
344 (e) any other method for recording votes on ballots so that the ballot may be tabulated
345 by means of automatic tabulating equipment.
346 [
347 recording and tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
348 [
349 witness the distribution of ballots and the voting process.
350 [
351 law within which qualified voters vote at one polling place.
352 [
353 inspecting poll watcher, and a testing watcher.
354 [
355 Chapter 9, Part 8, Western States Presidential Primary.
356 [
357 [
358 the ballot according to the procedures established in this title.
359 Section 2. Section 20A-3-106 is amended to read:
360 20A-3-106. Voting -- Writing in names -- Effect of unnecessary marking of cross.
361 (1) When voting a paper ballot, any voter desiring to vote for all the candidates who are
362 listed on the ballot as being from any one registered political party may[
363
364 all candidates for that party ticket[
365 [
366 (2) (a) When voting a ballot sheet, any voter desiring to vote for all the candidates who
367 are listed on the ballot as being from any one registered political party may[
368
369 from that party.
370 (b) To vote for candidates from two or more political parties, the voter may[
371 in the squares or positions opposite the names of the candidates for whom the voter wishes to
372 vote [
373 [
374 [
375 [
376
377 (3) (a) When voting an electronic ballot, any voter desiring to vote for all the
378 candidates who are listed on the ballot as being from any one registered political party may[
379
380 from that party.
381 (b) To vote for candidates from two or more political parties, the voter may[
382 the names of the candidates for whom the voter wishes to vote [
383
384 [
385 [
386
387 [
388
389
390
391 [
392 (i) by entering the name of a valid write-in candidate:
393 (A) by writing the name of a valid write-in candidate in the blank write-in section of
394 the ballot; or
395 (B) by affixing a sticker with the office and name of the valid write-in name printed on
396 it in the blank write-in part of the ballot; and
397 (ii) by placing a mark opposite the name of the write-in candidate to indicate the voter's
398 vote.
399 (b) On a paper ballot or ballot sheet, a voter is considered to have voted for the person
400 whose name is written or whose sticker appears in the blank write-in part of the ballot, if a
401 mark is made opposite that name.
402 (c) On a paper ballot or ballot sheet, the unnecessary marking of a mark in a square on
403 the ticket below the marked circle does not affect the validity of the vote.
404 [
405 (a) marking the appropriate position opposite the area for entering a write-in candidate
406 for the office sought by the candidate for whom the voter wishes to vote; and
407 (b) entering the name of a valid write-in candidate in the write-in selection area.
408 Section 3. Section 20A-4-102 is amended to read:
409 20A-4-102. Counting paper ballots after the polls close.
410 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), as soon as the polls have been closed and
411 the last qualified voter has voted, the election judges shall count the ballots by performing the
412 tasks specified in this section in the order that they are specified.
413 (b) The election judges shall apply the standards and requirements of Section
414 20A-4-105 to resolve any questions that arise as they count the ballots.
415 (2) (a) First, the election judges shall count the number of ballots in the ballot box.
416 (b) (i) If there are more ballots in the ballot box than there are names entered in the
417 pollbook, the judges shall examine the official endorsements on the ballots.
418 (ii) If, in the unanimous opinion of the judges, any of the ballots do not bear the proper
419 official endorsement, the judges shall put those ballots in an excess ballot file and not count
420 them.
421 (c) (i) If, after examining the official endorsements, there are still more ballots in the
422 ballot box than there are names entered in the pollbook, the judges shall place the remaining
423 ballots back in the ballot box.
424 (ii) One of the judges, without looking, shall draw a number of ballots equal to the
425 excess from the ballot box.
426 (iii) The judges shall put those excess ballots into the excess ballot envelope and not
427 count them.
428 (d) When the ballots in the ballot box equal the number of names entered in the
429 pollbook, the judges shall count the votes.
430 (3) The judges shall:
431 (a) place all unused ballots in the envelope or container provided for return to the
432 county clerk or city recorder; and
433 (b) seal that envelope or container.
434 (4) The judges shall:
435 (a) place all of the provisional ballot envelopes in the envelope provided for them for
436 return to the election officer; and
437 (b) seal that envelope or container.
438 (5) (a) In counting the votes, the election judges shall read and count each ballot
439 separately.
440 (b) In regular primary elections the judges shall:
441 (i) count the number of ballots cast for each party;
442 (ii) place the ballots cast for each party in separate piles; and
443 (iii) count all the ballots for one party before beginning to count the ballots cast for
444 other parties.
445 (6) (a) In all elections, the counting judges shall:
446 (i) count one vote for each candidate designated by the marks in the squares next to the
447 candidate's name;
448 [
449
450
451
452 [
453 declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-601;
454 [
455 sheets before another ballot is counted;
456 [
457 Section 20A-4-105;
458 [
459 endorsement and deposit it in the spoiled ballot envelope; and
460 [
461 and ballot proposition received from all ballots, except excess or spoiled ballots.
462 (b) Election judges need not tally write-in votes for fictitious persons, nonpersons, or
463 persons clearly not eligible to qualify for office.
464 (c) The judges shall certify to the accuracy and completeness of the tally list in the
465 space provided on the tally list.
466 (d) When the judges have counted all of the voted ballots, they shall record the results
467 on the total votes cast form.
468 (7) Only election judges and counting poll watchers may be present at the place where
469 counting is conducted until the count is completed.
470 Section 4. Section 20A-4-105 is amended to read:
471 20A-4-105. Standards and requirements for evaluating voter's ballot choices.
472 (1) Each person counting ballots shall apply the standards and requirements of this
473 section to resolve any questions that arise as ballots are counted.
474 (2) Except as provided in Subsection [
475 there are persons to be elected to an office, or if for any reason it is impossible to determine the
476 choice of any voter for any office to be filled, the counter may not count that voter's ballot for
477 that office.
478 (3) The counter shall count a defective or incomplete mark on any paper ballot if:
479 (a) it is in the proper place; and
480 (b) there is no other mark or cross on the paper ballot indicating the voter's intent to
481 vote other than as indicated by the defective mark.
482 [
483
484 [
485 [
486 ballot other than those marks allowed by this section unless the extraneous marks on a ballot or
487 group of ballots show an intent by a person or group to mark their ballots so that their ballots
488 can be identified.
489 [
490 intent of the voter.
491 (b) The counters may not invalidate a ballot because of mechanical and technical
492 defects in voting or failure on the part of the voter to follow strictly the rules for balloting
493 required by Chapter 3, Voting.
494 [
495 (a) stamping or writing any official endorsement; or
496 (b) delivering the wrong ballots to any polling place.
497 [
498 endorsement by an election officer.
499 [
500 which the voter is not "legally entitled to vote" as used in Section 20A-4-107.
501 [
502 or that the initial letters of a candidate's given name are transposed or omitted in part or
503 altogether, the counter shall count the voter's vote for that candidate if it is apparent that the
504 voter intended to vote for that candidate.
505 [
506 any political party as a vote for the presidential electors selected by the political party.
507 [
508 voter has cast more votes for an office than that voter is entitled to vote for that office, the
509 judges shall count the valid write-in vote as being the obvious intent of the voter.
510 Section 5. Section 20A-5-302 is amended to read:
511 20A-5-302. Automated voting system.
512 (1) (a) Any county or municipal legislative body or local district board may:
513 (i) adopt, experiment with, acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, or abandon any
514 automated voting system that meets the requirements of this section; and
515 (ii) use that system in any election, in all or a part of the voting precincts within its
516 boundaries, or in combination with paper ballots.
517 (b) Nothing in this title shall be construed to require the use of electronic voting
518 devices in local special elections, municipal primary elections, or municipal general elections.
519 (2) (a) Each automated voting system shall:
520 (i) provide for voting in secrecy, except in the case of voters who have received
521 assistance as authorized by Section 20A-3-108;
522 (ii) permit each voter at any election to:
523 (A) vote for all persons and offices for whom and for which that voter is lawfully
524 entitled to vote;
525 (B) vote for as many persons for an office as that voter is entitled to vote; and
526 (C) vote for or against any ballot proposition upon which that voter is entitled to vote;
527 (iii) permit each voter, at presidential elections, by one mark or punch to vote for the
528 candidates of that party for president, vice president, and for their presidential electors;
529 [
530
531 [
532 [
533 nominees of one or more parties and for independent candidates;
534 [
535 (A) permit each voter to vote for candidates of the political party of [
536 choice; and
537 (B) reject any votes cast for candidates of another party;
538 [
539 same office;
540 [
541 any error before the voter casts the ballot in compliance with the Help America Vote Act of
542 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252;
543 [
544 voter's ballot if the number of the voter's recorded choices is greater than the number which the
545 voter is entitled to vote for the office or on the measure;
546 [
547 efficiently, and accurately in the conduct of elections and counting ballots;
548 [
549 [
550 paper record that:
551 (A) shall be available as an official record for any recount or election contest
552 conducted with respect to an election where the voting equipment is used;
553 (B) (I) shall be available for the voter's inspection prior to the voter leaving the polling
554 place; and
555 (II) shall permit the voter to inspect the record of the voter's selections independently
556 only if reasonably practicable commercial methods permitting independent inspection are
557 available at the time of certification of the voting equipment by the lieutenant governor;
558 (C) shall include, at a minimum, human readable printing that shows a record of the
559 voter's selections;
560 (D) may also include machine readable printing which may be the same as the human
561 readable printing; and
562 (E) allows voting poll watchers and counting poll watchers to observe the election
563 process to ensure its integrity; and
564 [
565 (b) For the purposes of a recount or an election contest, if the permanent paper record
566 contains a conflict or inconsistency between the human readable printing and the machine
567 readable printing, the human readable printing shall supercede the machine readable printing
568 when determining the intent of the voter.
569 (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the election officers shall
570 ensure that the ballots to be counted by means of electronic or electromechanical devices are of
571 a size, layout, texture, and printed in a type of ink or combination of inks that will be suitable
572 for use in the counting devices in which they are intended to be placed.
573 Section 6. Section 20A-6-301 is amended to read:
574 20A-6-301. Paper ballots -- Regular general election.
575 (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
576 (a) all paper ballots furnished for use at the regular general election contain:
577 (i) no captions or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
578 (ii) no symbols, markings, or other descriptions of a political party or group, except for
579 a registered political party that has chosen to nominate its candidates in accordance with
580 Section 20A-9-403; and
581 (iii) no indication that a candidate for elective office has been nominated by, or has
582 been endorsed by, or is in any way affiliated with a political party or group, unless the
583 candidate has been nominated by a registered political party in accordance with Subsection
584 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection 20A-9-403(5).
585 (b) (i) the paper ballot contains a ballot stub at least one inch wide, placed across the
586 top of the ballot, and divided from the rest of ballot by a perforated line;
587 (ii) the ballot number and the words "Poll Worker's Initial ____" are printed on the
588 stub; and
589 (iii) ballot stubs are numbered consecutively;
590 (c) immediately below the perforated ballot stub, the following endorsements are
591 printed in 18 point bold type:
592 (i) "Official Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
593 (ii) the date of the election; and
594 (iii) the words "Clerk of __________ County";
595 (d) each ticket is placed in a separate column on the ballot in the order specified under
596 Section 20A-6-305 with the party emblem, followed by the party name, at the head of the
597 column;
598 (e) the party name or title is printed in capital letters not less than one-fourth of an inch
599 high;
600 [
601
602 [
603 party, and all other candidates for elective office who were not nominated by a registered
604 political party in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection 20A-9-403(5), are
605 listed in one column in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305[
606 with the following instructions printed at the head of the column: "All candidates not affiliated
607 with a political party are listed below. They are to be considered with all offices and
608 candidates listed to the left. Only one vote is allowed for each office.";
609 [
610 device, are separated by heavy parallel lines;
611 [
612 candidates for those offices;
613 [
614 nor more than one-fourth of an inch high in heavy-faced type not smaller than 10 point,
615 between lines or rules three-eighths of an inch apart;
616 [
617 printed immediately adjacent to the name of each candidate;
618 [
619 governor, one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length is
620 printed on the same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the names of the two
621 candidates;
622 [
623 a write-in candidate is qualified under Section 20A-9-601, immediately adjacent to the
624 unaffiliated ticket on the ballot, the ballot contains a write-in column long enough to contain as
625 many written names of candidates as there are persons to be elected with:
626 (i) for each office on the ballot, the office to be filled plainly printed immediately
627 above:
628 (A) a blank, horizontal line to enable the entry of a valid write-in candidate and a
629 square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an inch in length printed immediately
630 adjacent to the blank horizontal line; or
631 (B) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant
632 governor, two blank horizontal lines, one placed above the other, to enable the entry of two
633 valid write-in candidates, and one square with sides measuring not less than one-fourth of an
634 inch in length printed on the same side as but opposite a double bracket enclosing the two
635 blank horizontal lines; and
636 (ii) the words "Write-In Voting Column" printed at the head of the column [
637
638 [
639 adjacent to the write-in ticket, or, if there is no write-in ticket, immediately adjacent to the
640 unaffiliated ticket, with the word "NONPARTISAN" in reverse type in an 18 point solid rule
641 running vertically the full length of the nonpartisan ballot copy; and
642 [
643 people, are printed on the ballot after the list of candidates.
644 (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
645 (a) each person nominated by any registered political party under Subsection
646 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection 20A-9-403(5), and no other person, is placed on the ballot:
647 (i) under the registered political party's name and emblem, if any; or
648 (ii) under the title of the registered political party as designated by them in their
649 certificates of nomination or petition, or, if none is designated, then under some suitable title;
650 (b) the names of all unaffiliated candidates that qualify as required in Title 20A,
651 Chapter 9, Part 5, Candidates not Affiliated with a Party, are placed on the ballot;
652 (c) the names of the candidates for president and vice president are used on the ballot
653 instead of the names of the presidential electors; and
654 (d) the ballots contain no other names.
655 (3) When the ballot contains a nonpartisan section, the election officer shall ensure
656 that:
657 (a) the designation of the office to be filled in the election and the number of
658 candidates to be elected are printed in type not smaller than eight point;
659 (b) the words designating the office are printed flush with the left-hand margin;
660 (c) the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of candidates for
661 which the voter may vote)" extend to the extreme right of the column;
662 (d) the nonpartisan candidates are grouped according to the office for which they are
663 candidates;
664 (e) the names in each group are placed in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305
665 with the surnames last; and
666 (f) each group is preceded by the designation of the office for which the candidates
667 seek election, and the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of
668 candidates for which the voter may vote)," according to the number to be elected.
669 (4) Each election officer shall ensure that:
670 (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed on the ballot in
671 accordance with Section 20A-6-107;
672 (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed on the ballot in accordance
673 with Section 20A-6-107; and
674 (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
675 title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206.
676 Section 7. Section 20A-6-303 is amended to read:
677 20A-6-303. Regular general election -- Ballot sheets.
678 (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
679 (a) copy on the ballot sheets or ballot labels, as applicable, are arranged in
680 approximately the same order as paper ballots;
681 (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are printed in vertical columns or in
682 a series of separate pages;
683 (c) the ballot sheet or any pages used for the ballot label are of sufficient number to
684 include, after the list of candidates:
685 (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
686 (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
687 [
688
689
690 [
691
692 [
693 [
694 as to indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
695 [
696 registered political party under Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection 20A-9-403(5) is printed
697 immediately adjacent to the candidate's name; and
698 [
699 one page;
700 (ii) if all candidates for one office cannot be listed in one column or grouped on one
701 page:
702 (A) the ballot sheet or ballot label shall be clearly marked to indicate that the list of
703 candidates is continued on the following column or page; and
704 (B) approximately the same number of names shall be printed in each column or on
705 each page.
706 (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
707 (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed in accordance with
708 Section 20A-6-107;
709 (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed in accordance with Section
710 20A-6-107; and
711 (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed under the title
712 assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206.
713 Section 8. Section 20A-6-304 is amended to read:
714 20A-6-304. Regular general election -- Electronic ballots.
715 (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
716 (a) the format and content of the electronic ballot is arranged in approximately the
717 same order as paper ballots;
718 (b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are displayed in vertical columns or
719 in a series of separate display screens;
720 (c) the electronic ballot is of sufficient length to include, after the list of candidates:
721 (i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
722 (ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
723 [
724
725
726 [
727
728 [
729 [
730 as to indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
731 [
732 registered political party under Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection 20A-9-403(5) is
733 displayed adjacent to the candidate's name; and
734 [
735 one display screen.
736 (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
737 (a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are displayed in accordance with
738 Section 20A-6-107;
739 (b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are displayed in accordance with Section
740 20A-6-107; and
741 (c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are displayed under the title
742 assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206.
743 Section 9. Section 20A-6-305 is amended to read:
744 20A-6-305. Master ballot position list -- Random selection -- Procedures --
745 Publication -- Surname -- Exemptions.
746 (1) As used in this section, "master ballot position list" means an official list of the 26
747 characters in the alphabet listed in random order and numbered from one to 26 as provided
748 under Subsection (2).
749 (2) The lieutenant governor shall:
750 (a) by November 15 in the year before each regular general election, conduct a random
751 selection to establish the master ballot position list for the next year and the year following in
752 accordance with procedures established under Subsection (2)(c);
753 (b) publish the master ballot position lists on the lieutenant governor's election website
754 on or before November 15 in the year before each regular general election; and
755 (c) establish written procedures for:
756 (i) the election official to use the master ballot position list; and
757 (ii) the lieutenant governor in:
758 (A) conducting the random selection in a fair manner; and
759 (B) providing a record of the random selection process used.
760 (3) In accordance with the written procedures established under Subsection (2)(c)(i), an
761 election officer shall use the master ballot position list for the current year to determine the
762 order in which to list candidates on the ballot for an election held during the year.
763 (4) To determine the order in which to list candidates on the ballot required under
764 Subsection (3), the election officer shall apply the randomized alphabet using:
765 (a) the candidate's surname;
766 (b) for candidates with a surname that has the same spelling, the candidate's given
767 name; and
768 (c) the surname of the president and the surname of the governor for an election for the
769 offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor[
770 [
771
772 (5) This section does not apply to:
773 (a) an election for an office for which only one candidate is listed on the ballot; or
774 (b) a judicial retention election under Section 20A-12-201.
775 Section 10. Section 20A-9-406 is amended to read:
776 20A-9-406. Qualified political party -- Requirements and exemptions.
777 The following provisions apply to a qualified political party:
778 (1) the qualified political party shall, no later than 5 p.m. on March 1 of each
779 even-numbered year, certify to the lieutenant governor the identity of one or more registered
780 political parties whose members may vote for the qualified political party's candidates;
781 (2) the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403(1) through (4)(a), Subsection
782 20A-9-403(5)(c), and Section 20A-9-405 do not apply to a nomination for the qualified
783 political party;
784 (3) an individual may only seek the nomination of the qualified political party by using
785 a method described in Section 20A-9-407, Section 20A-9-408, or both;
786 (4) the qualified political party shall comply with the provisions of Sections
787 20A-9-407, 20A-9-408, and 20A-9-409;
788 (5) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-301(1)(a), (1)[
789 officer shall ensure that a ballot described in Section 20A-6-301 includes each person
790 nominated by a qualified political party:
791 (a) under the qualified political party's name and emblem, if any; or
792 (b) under the title of the qualified registered political party as designated by the
793 qualified political party in the certification described in Subsection (1), or, if none is
794 designated, then under some suitable title;
795 (6) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-302(1)(a), each election officer shall ensure, for
796 paper ballots in regular general elections, that each candidate who is nominated by the qualified
797 political party is listed by party;
798 (7) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-303(1)[
799 that the party designation of each candidate who is nominated by the qualified political party is
800 printed immediately adjacent to the candidate's name on ballot sheets or ballot labels;
801 (8) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-304(1)[
802 that the party designation of each candidate who is nominated by the qualified political party is
803 displayed adjacent to the candidate's name on an electronic ballot;
804 (9) "candidates for elective office," defined in Subsection 20A-9-101(1)(a), also
805 includes an individual who files a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-407 or
806 20A-9-408 to run in a regular general election for a federal office, constitutional office,
807 multicounty office, or county office;
808 (10) an individual who is nominated by, or seeking the nomination of, the qualified
809 political party is not required to comply with Subsection 20A-9-201(1)(c);
810 (11) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-403(3), the qualified political party is entitled
811 to have each of the qualified political party's candidates for elective office appear on the
812 primary ballot of the qualified political party with an indication that each candidate is a
813 candidate for the qualified political party;
814 (12) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-403(4)(a), the lieutenant governor shall include
815 on the list provided by the lieutenant governor to the county clerks:
816 (a) the names of all candidates of the qualified political party for federal, constitutional,
817 multicounty, and county offices; and
818 (b) the names of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by
819 the qualified political party and instruct the county clerks to exclude such candidates from the
820 primary-election ballot;
821 (13) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-403(5)(c), a candidate who is unopposed for an
822 elective office in the regular primary election of the qualified political party is nominated by
823 the party for that office without appearing on the primary ballot; and
824 (14) notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403(1) and (2) and Section
825 20A-9-405, the qualified political party is entitled to have the names of its candidates for
826 elective office featured with party affiliation on the ballot at a regular general election.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel