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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill makes changes to the Election Code relating to voting accessibility.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires an election officer to provide an accessible voting option for a voter with a
13 disability;
14 ▸ requires the director of elections to make rules regarding identity verification for
15 individuals who are unable to sign their name consistently due to a disability;
16 ▸ requires that election notices include instructions on how a voter with a disability
17 may obtain information on voting in an accessible manner; and
18 ▸ makes technical changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 20A-3a-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 18, 121 and 156
26 20A-3a-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 392
27 20A-5-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 15
28
29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 20A-3a-202 is amended to read:
31 20A-3a-202. Conducting election by mail.
32 (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided for an election conducted entirely by mail under
33 Section 20A-7-609.5, an election officer shall administer an election primarily by mail, in
34 accordance with this section.
35 (b) An individual who did not provide valid voter identification at the time the voter
36 registered to vote shall provide valid voter identification before voting.
37 (2) An election officer who administers an election:
38 (a) shall in accordance with Subsection (3), no sooner than 21 days before election day
39 and no later than seven days before election day, mail to each active voter within a voting
40 precinct:
41 (i) a manual ballot;
42 (ii) a return envelope;
43 (iii) instructions for returning the ballot that include an express notice about any
44 relevant deadlines that the voter must meet in order for the voter's vote to be counted;
45 (iv) for an election administered by a county clerk, information regarding the location
46 and hours of operation of any election day voting center at which the voter may vote or a
47 website address where the voter may view this information;
48 (v) for an election administered by an election officer other than a county clerk, if the
49 election officer does not operate a polling place or an election day voting center, a warning, on
50 a separate page of colored paper in bold face print, indicating that if the voter fails to follow the
51 instructions included with the ballot, the voter will be unable to vote in that election because
52 there will be no polling place for the voting precinct on the day of the election; and
53 (vi) [
54 ballot status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in Section 20A-3a-401.5;
55 (b) may not mail a ballot under this section to:
56 (i) an inactive voter, unless the inactive voter requests a manual ballot; or
57 (ii) a voter whom the election officer is prohibited from sending a ballot under
58 Subsection (10)(c)(ii); [
59 (c) shall, on the outside of the envelope in which the election officer mails the ballot,
60 include instructions for returning the ballot if the individual to whom the election officer mails
61 the ballot does not live at the address to which the ballot is sent[
62 (d) shall provide a method of accessible voting to a voter with a disability who is not
63 able to vote by mail; and
64 (e) shall include, on the election officer's website and with each ballot mailed,
65 instructions regarding how a voter described in Subsection (2)(d) may vote.
66 (3) (a) An election officer who mails a manual ballot under Subsection (2) shall mail
67 the manual ballot to the address:
68 (i) provided at the time of registration; or
69 (ii) if, at or after the time of registration, the voter files an alternate address request
70 form described in Subsection (3)(b), the alternate address indicated on the form.
71 (b) The lieutenant governor shall make available to voters an alternate address request
72 form that permits a voter to request that the election officer mail the voter's ballot to a location
73 other than the voter's residence.
74 (c) A voter shall provide the completed alternate address request form to the election
75 officer no later than 11 days before the day of the election.
76 (4) The return envelope shall include:
77 (a) the name, official title, and post office address of the election officer on the front of
78 the envelope;
79 (b) a space where a voter may write an email address and phone number by which the
80 election officer may contact the voter if the voter's ballot is rejected;
81 (c) a printed affidavit in substantially the following form:
82 "County of ____State of ____
83 I, ____, solemnly swear that: I am a qualified resident voter of the ____ voting precinct
84 in ____ County, Utah and that I am entitled to vote in this election. I am not a convicted felon
85 currently incarcerated for commission of a felony.
86 ______________________________
87 Signature of Voter"; and
88 (d) a warning that the affidavit must be signed by the individual to whom the ballot
89 was sent and that the ballot will not be counted if the signature on the affidavit does not match
90 the signature on file with the election officer of the individual to whom the ballot was sent.
91 (5) If the election officer determines that the voter is required to show valid voter
92 identification, the election officer may:
93 (a) mail a ballot to the voter;
94 (b) instruct the voter to include a copy of the voter's valid voter identification with the
95 return ballot; and
96 (c) provide instructions to the voter on how the voter may sign up to receive electronic
97 ballot status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in Section 20A-3a-401.5.
98 (6) An election officer who administers an election shall:
99 (a) (i) before the election, obtain the signatures of each voter qualified to vote in the
100 election; or
101 (ii) obtain the signature of each voter within the voting precinct from the county clerk;
102 and
103 (b) maintain the signatures on file in the election officer's office.
104 (7) Upon receipt of a returned ballot, the election officer shall review and process the
105 ballot under Section 20A-3a-401.
106 (8) A county that administers an election:
107 (a) shall provide at least one election day voting center in accordance with [
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109 for every 5,000 active voters in the county who have requested to not receive a ballot by mail;
110 (b) shall ensure that each election day voting center operated by the county has at least
111 one voting device that is accessible, in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002,
112 Pub. L. No. 107-252, for individuals with disabilities;
113 (c) may reduce the early voting period described in Section 20A-3a-601, if:
114 (i) the county clerk conducts early voting on at least four days;
115 (ii) the early voting days are within the period beginning on the date that is 14 days
116 before the date of the election and ending on the day before the election; and
117 (iii) the county clerk provides notice of the reduced early voting period in accordance
118 with Section 20A-3a-604;
119 (d) is not required to pay return postage for a ballot; and
120 (e) is subject to an audit conducted under Subsection (9).
121 (9) (a) The lieutenant governor shall:
122 (i) develop procedures for conducting an audit of affidavit signatures on ballots cast in
123 an election conducted under this section; and
124 (ii) after each primary, general, or special election conducted under this section, select
125 a number of ballots, in varying jurisdictions, to audit in accordance with the procedures
126 developed under Subsection (9)(a)(i).
127 (b) The lieutenant governor shall post the results of an audit conducted under this
128 Subsection (9) on the lieutenant governor's website.
129 (10) (a) An individual may request that the election officer not send the individual a
130 ballot by mail in the next and subsequent elections by submitting a written request to the
131 election officer.
132 (b) An individual shall submit the request described in Subsection (10)(a) to the
133 election officer before 5 p.m. no later than 60 days before an election if the individual does not
134 wish to receive a ballot by mail in that election.
135 (c) An election officer who receives a request from an individual under Subsection
136 (10)(a):
137 (i) shall remove the individual's name from the list of voters who will receive a ballot
138 by mail; and
139 (ii) may not send the individual a ballot by mail for:
140 (A) the next election, if the individual submits the request described in Subsection
141 (10)(a) before the deadline described in Subsection (10)(b); or
142 (B) an election after the election described in Subsection (10)(c)(ii)(A).
143 (d) An individual who submits a request under Subsection (10)(a) may resume the
144 individual's receipt of a ballot by mail by submitting a written request to the election officer.
145 Section 2. Section 20A-3a-401 is amended to read:
146 20A-3a-401. Custody of voted ballots mailed or deposited in a ballot drop box --
147 Disposition -- Notice.
148 (1) This section governs ballots returned by mail or via a ballot drop box.
149 (2) (a) Poll workers shall open return envelopes containing manual ballots that are in
150 the custody of the poll workers in accordance with Subsection (2)(b).
151 (b) The poll workers shall, first, compare the signature of the voter on the affidavit of
152 the return envelope to the signature of the voter in the voter registration records.
153 (3) After complying with Subsection (2), the poll workers shall determine whether:
154 (a) the signatures correspond;
155 (b) the affidavit is sufficient;
156 (c) the voter is registered to vote in the correct precinct;
157 (d) the voter's right to vote the ballot has been challenged;
158 (e) the voter has already voted in the election;
159 (f) the voter is required to provide valid voter identification; and
160 (g) if the voter is required to provide valid voter identification, whether the voter has
161 provided valid voter identification.
162 (4) (a) The poll workers shall take the action described in Subsection (4)(b) if the poll
163 workers determine that:
164 (i) (A) the signatures correspond; or
165 (B) if the signatures do not correspond and the voter qualifies for application of the
166 alternative identification verification rules described in Subsection (10), the voter's identity is
167 verified in accordance with the rules described in Subsection (10);
168 (ii) the affidavit is sufficient;
169 (iii) the voter is registered to vote in the correct precinct;
170 (iv) the voter's right to vote the ballot has not been challenged;
171 (v) the voter has not already voted in the election; and
172 (vi) for a voter required to provide valid voter identification, that the voter has
173 provided valid voter identification.
174 (b) If the poll workers make all of the findings described in Subsection (4)(a), the poll
175 workers shall:
176 (i) remove the manual ballot from the return envelope in a manner that does not
177 destroy the affidavit on the return envelope;
178 (ii) ensure that the ballot does not unfold and is not otherwise examined in connection
179 with the return envelope; and
180 (iii) place the ballot with the other ballots to be counted.
181 (c) If the poll workers do not make all of the findings described in Subsection (4)(a),
182 the poll workers shall:
183 (i) disallow the vote;
184 (ii) without opening the return envelope, mark across the face of the return envelope:
185 (A) "Rejected as defective"; or
186 (B) "Rejected as not a registered voter"; and
187 (iii) place the return envelope, unopened, with the other rejected return envelopes.
188 (5) (a) If the poll workers reject an individual's ballot because the poll workers
189 determine that the signature on the return envelope does not match the individual's signature in
190 the voter registration records, the election officer shall contact the individual in accordance
191 with Subsection (7) by mail, email, text message, or phone, and inform the individual:
192 (i) that the individual's signature is in question;
193 (ii) how the individual may resolve the issue; and
194 (iii) that, in order for the ballot to be counted, the individual is required to deliver to
195 the election officer a correctly completed affidavit, provided by the county clerk, that meets the
196 requirements described in Subsection (5)(b).
197 (b) An affidavit described in Subsection (5)(a)(iii) shall include:
198 (i) an attestation that the individual voted the ballot;
199 (ii) a space for the individual to enter the individual's name, date of birth, and driver
200 license number or the last four digits of the individual's social security number;
201 (iii) a space for the individual to sign the affidavit; [
202 (iv) a statement that, by signing the affidavit, the individual authorizes the lieutenant
203 governor's and county clerk's use of the individual's signature on the affidavit for voter
204 identification purposes[
205 (v) a check box next to the following statement:
206 "I am a voter with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act that
207 impacts my ability to sign my name consistently. I can provide appropriate documentation upon
208 request. To discuss accommodations, I can be contacted at __________________".
209 (c) In order for an individual described in Subsection (5)(a) to have the individual's
210 ballot counted, the individual shall deliver the affidavit described in Subsection (5)(b) to the
211 election officer.
212 (d) An election officer who receives a signed affidavit under Subsection (5)(c) shall
213 immediately:
214 (i) scan the signature on the affidavit electronically and keep the signature on file in the
215 statewide voter registration database developed under Section 20A-2-109; [
216 (ii) if the election officer receives the affidavit no later than 5 p.m. three days before
217 the day on which the canvass begins, count the individual's ballot[
218 (iii) if the check box described in Subsection (5)(b)(v) is checked, comply with the
219 rules described in Subsection (10).
220 (6) If the poll workers reject an individual's ballot for any reason, other than the reason
221 described in Subsection (5)(a), the election officer shall notify the individual of the rejection in
222 accordance with Subsection (7) by mail, email, text message, or phone and specify the reason
223 for the rejection.
224 (7) An election officer who is required to give notice under Subsection (5) or (6) shall
225 give the notice no later than:
226 (a) if the election officer rejects the ballot before election day:
227 (i) one business day after the day on which the election officer rejects the ballot, if the
228 election officer gives the notice by email or text message; or
229 (ii) two business days after the day on which the election officer rejects the ballot, if
230 the election officer gives the notice by postal mail or phone;
231 (b) seven days after election day if the election officer rejects the ballot on election day;
232 or
233 (c) seven days after the canvass if the election officer rejects the ballot after election
234 day and before the end of the canvass.
235 (8) An election officer may not count the ballot of an individual whom the election
236 officer contacts under Subsection (5) or (6) unless:
237 (a) the election officer receives a signed affidavit from the individual under Subsection
238 (5)(b) or is otherwise able to establish contact with the individual to confirm the individual's
239 identity; and
240 (b) the affidavit described in Subsection (8)(a) is received, or the confirmation
241 described in Subsection (8)(a) occurs, no later than 5 p.m. three days before the day on which
242 the canvass begins.
243 (9) The election officer shall retain and preserve the return envelopes in the manner
244 provided by law for the retention and preservation of ballots voted at that election.
245 (10) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
246 and in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec.
247 12131 through 12165, the director of elections, within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor,
248 shall make rules that provide for alternative means of verifying the identity of an individual
249 who checks the box described in Subsection (5)(b)(v).
250 Section 3. Section 20A-5-101 is amended to read:
251 20A-5-101. Notice of election.
252 (1) On or before November 15 in the year before each regular general election year, the
253 lieutenant governor shall prepare and transmit a written notice to each county clerk that:
254 (a) designates the offices to be filled at the next year's regular general election;
255 (b) identifies the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy, and for submitting and
256 certifying nomination petition signatures, as applicable, under Sections 20A-9-403, 20A-9-407,
257 and 20A-9-408 for those offices; and
258 (c) contains a description of any ballot propositions to be decided by the voters that
259 have qualified for the ballot as of that date.
260 (2) (a) No later than seven business days after the day on which the lieutenant governor
261 transmits the written notice described in Subsection (1), each county clerk shall provide notice,
262 in accordance with Subsection (3):
263 (i) by posting notice in a conspicuous place most likely to give notice of the election to
264 the voters in each voting precinct within the county;
265 (ii) (A) by publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county;
266 (B) by posting one notice, and at least one additional notice per 2,000 population of the
267 county, in places within the county that are most likely to give notice of the election to the
268 voters in the county, subject to a maximum of 10 notices; or
269 (C) by mailing notice to each registered voter in the county;
270 (iii) by posting notice on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section
271 63A-16-601, for seven days before the day of the election; and
272 (iv) by posting notice on the county's website for seven days before the day of the
273 election.
274 (b) The county clerk shall prepare an affidavit of the posting under Subsection (2)(a)(i),
275 showing a copy of the notice and the places where the notice was posted.
276 (3) The notice described in Subsection (2) shall:
277 (a) designate the offices to be voted on in that election; and
278 (b) identify the dates for filing a declaration of candidacy for those offices.
279 (4) Except as provided in Subsection (6), before each election, the election officer shall
280 give printed notice of the following information:
281 (a) the date of election;
282 (b) the hours during which the polls will be open;
283 (c) the polling places for each voting precinct, early voting polling place, and election
284 day voting center;
285 (d) the address of the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website and, if available,
286 the address of the election officer's website, with a statement indicating that the election officer
287 will post on the website any changes to the location of a polling place and the location of any
288 additional polling place;
289 (e) a phone number that a voter may call to obtain information regarding the location of
290 a polling place; [
291 (f) the qualifications for persons to vote in the election[
292 (g) instructions on how an individual with a disability who is not able to vote a manual
293 ballot by mail may obtain information on voting in an accessible manner.
294 (5) The election officer shall provide the notice described in Subsection (4):
295 (a) (i) by publishing the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction
296 to which the election pertains, at least two days before the day of the election;
297 (ii) at least two days before the day of the election, by posting one notice, and at least
298 one additional notice per 2,000 population of the jurisdiction, in places within the jurisdiction
299 that are most likely to give notice of the election to the voters in the jurisdiction, subject to a
300 maximum of 10 notices; or
301 (iii) by mailing the notice to each registered voter who resides in the jurisdiction to
302 which the election pertains at least five days before the day of the election;
303 (b) by posting notice on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section
304 63A-16-601, for two days before the day of the election; and
305 (c) if the jurisdiction has a website, by posting notice on the jurisdiction's website for
306 two days before the day of the election.
307 (6) Instead of including the information described in Subsection (4) in the notice, the
308 election officer may give printed notice that:
309 (a) is entitled "Notice of Election";
310 (b) includes the following: "A [indicate election type] will be held in [indicate the
311 jurisdiction] on [indicate date of election]. Information relating to the election, including
312 polling places, polling place hours, and qualifications of voters may be obtained from the
313 following sources:"; and
314 (c) specifies the following sources where an individual may view or obtain the
315 information described in Subsection (4):
316 (i) if the jurisdiction has a website, the jurisdiction's website;
317 (ii) the physical address of the jurisdiction offices; and
318 (iii) a mailing address and telephone number.