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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill requires an election officer to provide a means of covering a voter's signature
10 on an affidavit to ensure that the signature for a ballot is not visible during mailing.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ requires an election officer to provide a means of covering a voter's signature on an
14 affidavit to ensure that the signature for a ballot is not visible during mailing.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 20A-3-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 255
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23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 20A-3-306 is amended to read:
25 20A-3-306. Voting ballot -- Returning ballot.
26 (1) (a) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308, to vote a mail-in absentee ballot, the
27 absentee voter shall:
28 (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
29 (ii) mark the votes on the absentee ballot;
30 (iii) place the voted absentee ballot in the envelope;
31 (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
32 (v) attach postage, unless voting in accordance with Section 20A-3-302, and deposit
33 the envelope in the mail or deliver it in person to the election officer from whom the ballot was
34 obtained.
35 (b) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308, to vote an absentee ballot in person at
36 the office of the election officer, the absent voter shall:
37 (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
38 (ii) mark the votes on the absent-voter ballot;
39 (iii) place the voted absent-voter ballot in the envelope;
40 (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
41 (v) give the ballot and envelope to the election officer.
42 (2) Except as provided by Section 20A-1-308, an absentee ballot is not valid unless:
43 (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person, the ballot is:
44 (i) applied for and cast in person at the office of the appropriate election officer before
45 5 p.m. no later than the Tuesday before election day; or
46 (ii) submitted on election day at a polling location in the political subdivision where
47 the absentee voter resides;
48 (b) in the case of an absentee ballot that is submitted by mail, the ballot is:
49 (i) clearly postmarked before election day, or otherwise clearly marked by the post
50 office as received by the post office before election day; and
51 (ii) received in the office of the election officer before noon on the day of the official
52 canvass following the election; or
53 (c) in the case of a military-overseas ballot, the ballot is submitted in accordance with
54 Section 20A-16-404.
55 (3) An absentee voter may submit a completed absentee ballot at a polling location in a
56 political subdivision holding the election, if the absentee voter resides in the political
57 subdivision.
58 (4) An absentee voter may submit an incomplete absentee ballot at a polling location
59 for the voting precinct where the voter resides, request that the ballot be declared spoiled, and
60 vote in person.
61 (5) An election officer shall provide a means of covering a voter's signature on an
62 affidavit to ensure that the signature for a ballot is not visible during mailing.