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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses the nomination for an elective office of a member of a qualified
10 political party.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ requires an election officer to identify on a primary ballot the candidates nominated
14 at the qualified political party's nominating convention;
15 ▸ requires a qualified political party to report the results of a nominating convention
16 to the lieutenant governor;
17 ▸ provides that a qualified political party may opt-in to a nomination method where a
18 candidate who receives 70% or more of the votes for an elective office at a
19 nominating convention automatically eliminates a candidate nominated for that
20 office through the signature-gathering process;
21 ▸ provides that, under the nomination method described above, a candidate receiving
22 70% or more of the votes at a nominating convention is not required to participate
23 in the primary election in certain circumstances; and
24 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:
28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 AMENDS:
31 20A-1-502, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 13
32 20A-1-502.5, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 13
33 20A-9-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 15, 45
34 20A-9-406, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 13
35 20A-9-407, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 13
36 20A-9-408, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
37 20A-9-409, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Second Special Session, Chapter 6
38 ENACTS:
39 20A-9-408.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40
41 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42 Section 1. Section 20A-1-502 is amended to read:
43 20A-1-502. Midterm vacancy in office of United States senator.
44 (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), when a vacancy occurs in the office
45 of United States senator, the governor shall, within seven days after the day on which the
46 vacancy occurs, issue a proclamation calling a special congressional election to fill the vacancy
47 that:
48 (a) sets a date for a primary congressional special election, and a later date for a general
49 congressional special election, on the same day as one of the following elections:
50 (i) a municipal general election;
51 (ii) a presidential primary election;
52 (iii) a regular primary election; or
53 (iv) a regular general election;
54 (b) sets the date of the primary congressional special election on the same day as the
55 next election described in Subsections (1)(a)(i) through (iv) that is more than 90 days after the
56 day on which the governor issues the proclamation;
57 (c) sets the date of the general special congressional election on the same day as the
58 next election described in Subsection (1)(a) that is more than 90 days after the primary special
59 congressional election described in Subsection (1)(b);
60 (d) provides each registered political party that is not a qualified political party at least
61 21 days, but no more than 28 days, to select one candidate, in a manner determined by the
62 registered political party, as a candidate for the registered political party;
63 (e) subject to Section 20A-9-408.7, if applicable, for each qualified political party,
64 provides at least 21 days, but no more than 28 days:
65 (i) for the qualified political party to select one candidate, using the convention process
66 described in Section 20A-9-407, as a candidate for the qualified political party; and
67 (ii) for a member of the qualified political party to submit signatures to qualify as a
68 candidate for the qualified political party using the signature-gathering process described in
69 Section 20A-9-408;
70 (f) consistent with the requirements of this section, establishes the deadlines, time
71 frames, and procedures for filing a declaration of candidacy, giving notice of an election, and
72 other election requirements; and
73 (g) requires an election officer to comply with the requirements of Chapter 16,
74 Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act.
75 (2) (a) The governor may set a date for a primary special congressional election or a
76 general special congressional election on a date other than a date described in Subsection (1)(a)
77 if:
78 (i) on the same day on which the governor issues the proclamation described in
79 Subsection (1) the governor calls a special session for the Legislature to appropriate money to
80 hold the election on a different day; or
81 (ii) if the governor issues the proclamation described in Subsection (1) on or after
82 January 1, but before the end of the general session of the Legislature, and requests in the
83 proclamation described in Subsection (1) that the Legislature appropriate money to hold the
84 election on a different day.
85 (b) If the Legislature does not, under Subsection (2)(a), appropriate money to hold the
86 election on a different day, the proclamation described in Subsection (1) is void and the
87 governor shall, within seven days after the day on which the Legislature declines to appropriate
88 money to hold the election on a different day, issue a proclamation, in accordance with
89 Subsection (1), that sets the special congressional primary and general elections on dates
90 described in Subsections (1)(a)(i) through (iv).
91 (3) A special congressional election to fill a vacancy in the office of United States
92 senator will not be held if:
93 (a) the next regular general election that occurs after the day on which the vacancy
94 occurs is the regular general election that occurs immediately before the six-year term for the
95 senate office ends; and
96 (b) the vacancy occurs after August 1 of the year before the regular general election
97 described in Subsection (3)(a).
98 (4) (a) The governor shall appoint an individual to temporarily fill a vacancy in the
99 office of United States senator from one of three individuals nominated by the Legislature,
100 each of whom is a member of the political party of which the prior officeholder was a member
101 at the time the prior officeholder was elected.
102 (b) The individual appointed under Subsection (4)(a) shall serve as United States
103 senator until the earlier of the day on which:
104 (i) the vacancy is filled by election under Subsection (1) or (2); or
105 (ii) the six-year term for the senate office ends.
106 (5) An individual elected to fill a vacancy under this section shall serve until the end of
107 the current term in which the vacancy filled by the election occurs.
108 (6) A vacancy in the office of United States senator does not occur unless the senator:
109 (a) has left the office; or
110 (b) submits an irrevocable letter of resignation to the governor or to the president of the
111 United States Senate.
112 Section 2. Section 20A-1-502.5 is amended to read:
113 20A-1-502.5. Midterm vacancy in office of United States representative.
114 (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (4), when a vacancy occurs in the office
115 of United States representative, the governor shall, within seven days after the day on which the
116 vacancy occurs, issue a proclamation calling a special congressional election to fill the vacancy
117 that:
118 (a) sets a date for a primary congressional special election, and a later date for a general
119 congressional special election, on the same day as one of the following elections:
120 (i) a municipal general election;
121 (ii) a presidential primary election;
122 (iii) a regular primary election; or
123 (iv) a regular general election;
124 (b) sets the date of the primary congressional special election on the same day as the
125 next election described in Subsections (1)(a)(i) through (iv) that is more than 90 days after the
126 day on which the governor issues the proclamation;
127 (c) sets the date of the general special congressional election on the same day as the
128 next election described in Subsection (1)(a) that is more than 90 days after the primary special
129 congressional election described in Subsection (1)(b);
130 (d) provides each registered political party that is not a qualified political party at least
131 21 days, but no more than 28 days, to select one candidate, in a manner determined by the
132 registered political party, as a candidate for the registered political party;
133 (e) subject to Section 20A-9-408.7, if applicable, for each qualified political party,
134 provides at least 21 days, but no more than 28 days:
135 (i) for the qualified political party to select one candidate, using the convention process
136 described in Section 20A-9-407, as a candidate for the qualified political party; and
137 (ii) for a member of the qualified political party to submit signatures to qualify as a
138 candidate for the qualified political party using the signature-gathering process described in
139 Section 20A-9-408;
140 (f) consistent with the requirements of this section, establishes the deadlines, time
141 frames, and procedures for filing a declaration of candidacy, giving notice of an election, and
142 other election requirements; and
143 (g) requires an election officer to comply with the requirements of Chapter 16,
144 Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act.
145 (2) The governor may set a date for a primary special congressional election or a
146 general special congressional election on a date other than a date described in Subsection (1)(a)
147 if:
148 (a) on the same day on which the governor issues the proclamation described in
149 Subsection (1) the governor calls a special session for the Legislature to appropriate money to
150 hold the election on a different day; or
151 (b) if the governor issues the proclamation described in Subsection (1) on or after
152 January 1, but before the end of the general session of the Legislature, and requests in the
153 proclamation described in Subsection (1) that the Legislature appropriate money to hold the
154 election on a different day.
155 (3) If the Legislature does not, under Subsection (2), appropriate money to hold the
156 election on a different day, the proclamation described in Subsection (1) is void and the
157 governor shall, within seven days after the day on which the Legislature declines to appropriate
158 money to hold the election on a different day, issue a proclamation, in accordance with
159 Subsection (1), that sets the special congressional primary and general elections on dates
160 described in Subsections (1)(a)(i) through (iv).
161 (4) A special congressional election to fill a vacancy in the office of United States
162 representative will not be held if the vacancy occurs fewer than 180 days before the next
163 regular general election.
164 (5) An individual who fills a vacancy under this section shall serve until the end of the
165 current term in which the vacancy occurs.
166 (6) A vacancy in the office of United States representative does not occur unless the
167 representative:
168 (a) has left the office; or
169 (b) submits an irrevocable letter of resignation to the governor or to the speaker of the
170 United States House of Representatives.
171 Section 3. Section 20A-9-101 is amended to read:
172 20A-9-101. Definitions.
173 As used in this chapter:
174 (1) (a) "Candidates for elective office" means persons who file a declaration of
175 candidacy under Section 20A-9-202 to run in a regular general election for a federal office,
176 constitutional office, multicounty office, or county office.
177 (b) "Candidates for elective office" does not mean candidates for:
178 (i) justice or judge of court of record or not of record;
179 (ii) presidential elector;
180 (iii) any political party offices; and
181 (iv) municipal or special district offices.
182 (2) "Constitutional office" means the state offices of governor, lieutenant governor,
183 attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer.
184 (3) "Continuing political party" means the same as that term is defined in Section
185 20A-8-101.
186 (4) (a) "County office" means an elective office where the officeholder is selected by
187 voters entirely within one county.
188 (b) "County office" does not mean:
189 (i) the office of justice or judge of any court of record or not of record;
190 (ii) the office of presidential elector;
191 (iii) any political party offices;
192 (iv) any municipal or special district offices; and
193 (v) the office of United States Senator and United States Representative.
194 (5) "Electronic candidate qualification process" means:
195 (a) as it relates to a registered political party that is not a qualified political party, the
196 process for gathering signatures electronically to seek the nomination of a registered political
197 party, described in:
198 (i) Section 20A-9-403;
199 (ii) Section 20A-9-405, except Subsections 20A-9-405(3) and (5); and
200 (iii) Section 20A-21-201; and
201 (b) as it relates to a qualified political party, the process, for gathering signatures
202 electronically to seek the nomination of a registered political party, described in:
203 (i) Section 20A-9-405, except Subsections 20A-9-405(3) and (5);
204 (ii) Section 20A-9-408; and
205 (iii) Section 20A-21-201.
206 (6) "Federal office" means an elective office for United States Senator and United
207 States Representative.
208 (7) "Filing officer" means:
209 (a) the lieutenant governor, for:
210 (i) the office of United States Senator and United States Representative; and
211 (ii) all constitutional offices;
212 (b) for the office of a state senator, state representative, or the state school board, the
213 lieutenant governor or the applicable clerk described in Subsection (7)(c) or (d);
214 (c) the county clerk, for county offices and local school district offices;
215 (d) the county clerk in the filer's county of residence, for multicounty offices;
216 (e) the city or town clerk, for municipal offices; or
217 (f) the special district clerk, for special district offices.
218 (8) "Local government office" includes county offices, municipal offices, and special
219 district offices and other elective offices selected by the voters from a political division entirely
220 within one county.
221 (9) "Manual candidate qualification process" means the process for gathering
222 signatures to seek the nomination of a registered political party, using paper signature packets
223 that a signer physically signs.
224 (10) (a) "Multicounty office" means an elective office where the officeholder is
225 selected by the voters from more than one county.
226 (b) "Multicounty office" does not mean:
227 (i) a county office;
228 (ii) a federal office;
229 (iii) the office of justice or judge of any court of record or not of record;
230 (iv) the office of presidential elector;
231 (v) any political party offices; or
232 (vi) any municipal or special district offices.
233 (11) "Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
234 (12) (a) "Political division" means a geographic unit from which an officeholder is
235 elected and that an officeholder represents.
236 (b) "Political division" includes a county, a city, a town, a special district, a school
237 district, a legislative district, and a county prosecution district.
238 (13) "Qualified political party" means a registered political party that:
239 (a) (i) permits a delegate for the registered political party to vote on a candidate
240 nomination in the registered political party's convention remotely; or
241 (ii) provides a procedure for designating an alternate delegate if a delegate is not
242 present at the registered political party's convention;
243 (b) does not hold the registered political party's convention before the fourth Saturday
244 in March of an even-numbered year;
245 (c) subject to Section 20A-9-408.7, if applicable, permits a member of the registered
246 political party to seek the registered political party's nomination for any elective office by the
247 member choosing to seek the nomination by either or both of the following methods:
248 (i) seeking the nomination through the registered political party's convention process,
249 in accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-407; or
250 (ii) seeking the nomination by collecting signatures, in accordance with the provisions
251 of Section 20A-9-408; and
252 (d) (i) if the registered political party is a continuing political party, no later than 5 p.m.
253 on the first Monday of October of an odd-numbered year, certifies to the lieutenant governor
254 that, for the election in the following year, the registered political party intends to nominate the
255 registered political party's candidates in accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-406;
256 or
257 (ii) if the registered political party is not a continuing political party, certifies at the
258 time that the registered political party files the petition described in Section 20A-8-103 that, for
259 the next election, the registered political party intends to nominate the registered political
260 party's candidates in accordance with the provisions of Section 20A-9-406.
261 (14) "Signature," as it relates to a petition for a candidate to seek the nomination of a
262 registered political party, means:
263 (a) when using the manual candidate qualification process, a holographic signature
264 collected physically on a nomination petition described in Subsection 20A-9-405(3); or
265 (b) when using the electronic candidate qualification process:
266 (i) an electronic signature collected under Subsection 20A-21-201(6)(c)(ii)(A); or
267 (ii) a holographic signature collected electronically under Subsection
268 20A-21-201(6)(c)(ii)(B).
269 (15) "Special district office" means an elected office in a special district.
270 Section 4. Section 20A-9-406 is amended to read:
271 20A-9-406. Qualified political party -- Requirements and exemptions.
272 The following provisions apply to a qualified political party:
273 (1) the qualified political party shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday of
274 October of each odd-numbered year, certify to the lieutenant governor the identity of one or
275 more registered political parties whose members may vote for the qualified political party's
276 candidates and whether unaffiliated voters may vote for the qualified political party's
277 candidates;
278 (2) the following provisions do not apply to a nomination for the qualified political
279 party:
280 (a) Subsections 20A-9-403(1) through (3)(b) and (3)(d) through (4)(a);
281 (b) Subsection 20A-9-403(5)(c); and
282 (c) Section 20A-9-405;
283 (3) subject to Section 20A-9-408.7, if applicable, an individual may only seek the
284 nomination of the qualified political party by using a method described in Section 20A-9-407,
285 Section 20A-9-408, or both;
286 (4) subject to Section 20A-9-408.7, if applicable, the qualified political party shall
287 comply with the provisions of Sections 20A-9-407, 20A-9-408, and 20A-9-409;
288 (5) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-301(1)(a), (1)(e), or (2)(a), each election officer
289 shall ensure that a ballot described in Section 20A-6-301 includes each individual nominated
290 by a qualified political party:
291 (a) under the qualified political party's name , if any; or
292 (b) under the title of the qualified registered political party as designated by the
293 qualified political party in the certification described in Subsection (1), or, if none is
294 designated, then under some suitable title;
295 (6) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-302(1)(a), each election officer shall ensure, for
296 ballots in regular general elections, that each candidate who is nominated by the qualified
297 political party is listed by party;
298 (7) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-304(1)(e), each election officer shall ensure that
299 the party designation of each candidate who is nominated by the qualified political party is
300 displayed adjacent to the candidate's name on a mechanical ballot;
301 (8) "candidates for elective office," defined in Subsection 20A-9-101(1)(a), also
302 includes an individual who files a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-407 or
303 20A-9-408 to run in a regular general election for a federal office, constitutional office,
304 multicounty office, or county office;
305 (9) an individual who is nominated by, or seeking the nomination of, the qualified
306 political party is not required to comply with Subsection 20A-9-201(1)(c);
307 (10) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-403(3), the qualified political party is entitled
308 to have each of the qualified political party's candidates for elective office appear on the
309 primary ballot of the qualified political party with an indication that each candidate is a
310 candidate for the qualified political party;
311 (11) notwithstanding Section 20A-9-403, an election officer shall ensure that, for a
312 ballot in a regular primary election, if the qualified political party nominates at least one
313 candidate for a partisan elective office under the method described in Section 20A-9-407, or
314 nominates at least one candidate for a partisan elective office under each of the methods
315 described in Section 20A-9-407 and Section 20A-9-408:
316 (a) an asterisk is placed immediately to the right of the name of each candidate on the
317 ballot that was nominated under the method described in Section 20A-9-407; and
318 (b) a separate asterisk is placed at the bottom of the ballot, aligned left, followed by the
319 italicized statement: "This candidate has received the nomination of the candidate's political
320 party at the party's nominating convention.";
321 [
322 include on the list provided by the lieutenant governor to the county clerks:
323 (a) the names of all candidates of the qualified political party for federal, constitutional,
324 multicounty, and county offices; and
325 (b) the names of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by
326 the qualified political party and instruct the county clerks to exclude such candidates from the
327 primary-election ballot;
328 [
329 for an elective office in the regular primary election of the qualified political party is nominated
330 by the party for that office without appearing on the primary ballot; and
331 [
332 Section 20A-9-405, the qualified political party is entitled to have the names of its candidates
333 for elective office featured with party affiliation on the ballot at a regular general election.
334 Section 5. Section 20A-9-407 is amended to read:
335 20A-9-407. Convention process to seek the nomination of a qualified political
336 party.
337 (1) This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party
338 who is seeking the nomination of a qualified political party for an elective office through the
339 qualified political party's convention process.
340 (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(a), the form of the declaration of
341 candidacy for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking
342 the nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
343 described in Section 20A-9-408.5.
344 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
345 20A-9-202(4), a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking the
346 nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at the next
347 general election, shall:
348 (a) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy in
349 person with the filing officer during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in
350 Section 20A-9-201.5; and
351 (b) pay the filing fee.
352 (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(2)(a), a member of a qualified political
353 party who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
354 office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at the next
355 general election shall:
356 (a) file a declaration of candidacy with the county clerk designated in the interlocal
357 agreement creating the prosecution district during the declaration of candidacy filing period
358 described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
359 (b) pay the filing fee.
360 (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii), a lieutenant governor candidate
361 who files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
362 political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the declaration of
363 candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, file a declaration of candidacy and
364 submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names the lieutenant governor candidate as
365 a joint-ticket running mate.
366 (6) (a) A qualified political party that nominates a candidate under this section shall
367 certify the name of the candidate to the lieutenant governor before the deadline described in
368 Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(b).
369 (b) The lieutenant governor shall include, in the primary ballot certification or, for a
370 race where a primary is not held because the candidate is unopposed, in the general election
371 ballot certification, the name of each candidate nominated by a qualified political party under
372 this section.
373 (7) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701(2), the ballot shall, for each candidate who
374 is nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified political
375 party that nominated the candidate.
376 (8) A qualified political party that nominates one or more candidates under this section
377 shall certify the convention results to the lieutenant governor before the deadline described in
378 Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(b).
379 (9) The certification of convention results described in Subsection (8) shall include, for
380 each race for the nomination for an office:
381 (a) the name of each convention candidate seeking the party's nomination for that
382 office;
383 (b) an explanation of the voting method used by the qualified political party to
384 nominate and eliminate convention candidates for that office; and
385 (c) the percentage of the votes received by each candidate in each round of voting.
386 Section 6. Section 20A-9-408 is amended to read:
387 20A-9-408. Signature-gathering process to seek the nomination of a qualified
388 political party -- Removal of signature.
389 (1) This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party
390 who is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office through the
391 signature-gathering process described in this section.
392 (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(a), the form of the declaration of
393 candidacy for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking
394 the nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
395 described in Section 20A-9-408.5.
396 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
397 20A-9-202(4), a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking the
398 nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at the next
399 general election shall:
400 (a) during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5,
401 and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a form
402 approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy that
403 includes:
404 (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
405 political party under this section;
406 (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
407 nomination;
408 (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
409 (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
410 (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
411 (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy,
412 in person, with the filing officer during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in
413 Section 20A-9-201.5; and
414 (c) pay the filing fee.
415 (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(2)(a), a member of a qualified political
416 party who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
417 office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at the next
418 general election shall:
419 (a) during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5,
420 and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a form
421 approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy that
422 includes:
423 (i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
424 political party under this section;
425 (ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
426 nomination;
427 (iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
428 (iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
429 (v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
430 (b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy,
431 in person, with the filing officer during the declaration of candidacy filing period described in
432 Section 20A-9-201.5; and
433 (c) pay the filing fee.
434 (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii), a lieutenant governor candidate
435 who files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
436 political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the declaration of
437 candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, file a declaration of candidacy and
438 submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names the lieutenant governor candidate as
439 a joint-ticket running mate.
440 (6) [
441 ensure that the certification described in Subsection 20A-9-701(1) also includes the name of
442 each candidate nominated by a qualified political party under this section.
443 (7) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701(2), the ballot shall, for each candidate who
444 is nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified political
445 party that nominated the candidate.
446 (8) [
447 party may seek the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office by:
448 (a) complying with the requirements described in this section; and
449 (b) collecting signatures, on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
450 with Subsection 20A-9-405(3), during the period beginning on the day on which the member
451 files a notice of intent to gather signatures and ending at 5 p.m. 14 days before the day on
452 which the qualified political party's convention for the office is held, in the following amounts:
453 (i) for a statewide race, 28,000 signatures of registered voters in the state who are
454 permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in
455 a primary election;
456 (ii) for a congressional district race, 7,000 signatures of registered voters who are
457 residents of the congressional district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote
458 for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
459 (iii) for a state Senate district race, 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are
460 residents of the state Senate district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
461 the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
462 (iv) for a state House district race, 1,000 signatures of registered voters who are
463 residents of the state House district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
464 the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
465 (v) for a State Board of Education race, the lesser of:
466 (A) 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the State Board of
467 Education district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified
468 political party's candidates in a primary election; or
469 (B) 3% of the registered voters of the qualified political party who are residents of the
470 applicable State Board of Education district; and
471 (vi) for a county office race, signatures of 3% of the registered voters who are residents
472 of the area permitted to vote for the county office and are permitted by the qualified political
473 party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election.
474 (9) (a) This Subsection (9) applies only to the manual candidate qualification process.
475 (b) [
476 qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the qualified political party's nomination
477 for an elective office under this section, using the manual candidate qualification process, the
478 member shall:
479 (i) collect the signatures on a form approved by the lieutenant governor, using the same
480 circulation and verification requirements described in Sections 20A-7-105 and 20A-7-204; and
481 (ii) submit the signatures to the election officer before 5 p.m. no later than 14 days
482 before the day on which the qualified political party holds the party's convention to select
483 candidates, for the elective office, for the qualified political party's nomination.
484 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), the
485 election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 days after the day on which the election
486 officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which the qualified political party
487 holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets
488 relate:
489 (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
490 packet to determine whether each individual is a resident of Utah and is at least 18 years old;
491 (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (9)(c)(i) who is not a
492 Utah resident or who is not at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney;
493 (iii) with the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, determine whether each
494 signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition, using the same method,
495 described in Section 20A-1-1002, used to verify a signature on a petition; and
496 (iv) certify whether each name is that of a registered voter who is qualified to sign the
497 signature packet.
498 (d) (i) A registered voter who physically signs a form under Subsections (8) and (9)(b)
499 may have the voter's signature removed from the form by, no later than three business days
500 after the day on which the member submits the signature form to the election officer,
501 submitting to the election officer a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
502 (ii) A statement described in Subsection (9)(d)(i) shall comply with the requirements
503 described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
504 (iii) With the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, the election officer shall use
505 the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an
506 individual's signature after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the
507 signature.
508 (10) (a) This Subsection (10) applies only to the electronic candidate qualification
509 process.
510 (b) [
511 qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the qualified political party's nomination
512 for an elective office under this section, the member shall, before 5 p.m. no later than 14 days
513 before the day on which the qualified political party holds the party's convention to select
514 candidates, for the elective office, for the qualified political party's nomination, collect
515 signatures electronically:
516 (i) in accordance with Section 20A-21-201; and
517 (ii) using progressive screens, in a format approved by the lieutenant governor, that
518 complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(4).
519 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), the
520 election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 days after the day on which the election
521 officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which the qualified political party
522 holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets
523 relate:
524 (i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature to
525 determine whether each individual is a resident of Utah and is at least 18 years old; and
526 (ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (10)(c)(i) who is not a
527 Utah resident or who is not at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney.
528 (11) (a) An individual may not gather signatures under this section until after the
529 individual files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this section.
530 (b) An individual who files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy,
531 described in Subsection (3)(a) or (4)(a), is, beginning on the day on which the individual files
532 the notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy:
533 (i) required to comply with the reporting requirements that a candidate for office is
534 required to comply with; and
535 (ii) subject to the same enforcement provisions, and civil and criminal penalties, that
536 apply to a candidate for office in relation to the reporting requirements described in Subsection
537 (11)(b)(i).
538 (c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), or
539 Subsections (8) and (10)(b), the election officer shall, no later than one day before the day on
540 which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective
541 office to which the signature packets relate, notify the qualified political party and the
542 lieutenant governor of the name of each member of the qualified political party who qualifies
543 as a nominee of the qualified political party, under this section, for the elective office to which
544 the convention relates.
545 (d) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in
546 this section, the lieutenant governor shall post the notice of intent to gather signatures for
547 candidacy on the lieutenant governor's website in the same location that the lieutenant governor
548 posts a declaration of candidacy.
549 Section 7. Section 20A-9-408.7 is enacted to read:
550 20A-9-408.7. Elimination of candidate nominated by signature-gathering.
551 (1) A qualified political party may elect to nominate candidates for a partisan elective
552 office in accordance with the candidate elimination process described in this section.
553 (2) (a) Subject to Subsection (3), if a qualified political party nominates a candidate for
554 partisan elective office under Section 20A-9-407, the candidate nominated for that office
555 eliminates any other candidate qualifying for placement on the primary ballot under Section
556 20A-9-408, if:
557 (i) in the first round of voting, the candidate receives at least 70% of the votes cast by
558 the delegates at the convention; or
559 (ii) in a second or subsequent round of voting, the candidate receives at least 70% of
560 the votes cast by the delegates at the convention and, in the immediately preceding round of
561 voting, at least one other candidate for the partisan elective office is eliminated by the
562 delegates.
563 (b) A qualified political party, in a written notice filed with the election officer, shall
564 declare the qualified political party's intent to nominate candidates for an elective office in
565 accordance with Subsection (2)(a):
566 (i) no later than 5:00 p.m. on the first Monday in October in each odd-numbered year;
567 and
568 (ii) for a convention to fill a mid-term vacancy in the office of United States senator or
569 United States representative, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day after the day on which the
570 governor issues the proclamation described in Section 20A-1-502 or Section 20A-1-502.5.
571 (c) (i) A qualified political party that provides the notice of intent described in
572 Subsection (2)(b)(i) may withdraw the notice of intent, and not participate in the candidate
573 elimination process, if the qualified political party provides written notice of withdrawal to the
574 election office no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 30 of the year in which the notice of intent
575 is filed.
576 (ii) A qualified political party may not withdraw a notice of intent filed under
577 Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
578 (3) The candidate elimination process described in Subsection (2)(a) only applies if:
579 (a) a qualified political party timely files the notice of intent described in Subsection
580 (2)(b)(i) or (ii), as applicable; and
581 (b) for the regular primary election, the qualified political party does not withdraw the
582 notice of intent before the deadline described in Subsection (2)(c)(i).
583 Section 8. Section 20A-9-409 is amended to read:
584 20A-9-409. Primary election provisions relating to qualified political party.
585 (1) The regular primary election is held on the date specified in Section 20A-1-201.5.
586 (2) (a) A qualified political party that nominates one or more candidates for an elective
587 office under Section 20A-9-407 and does not have a candidate qualify as a candidate for that
588 office under Section 20A-9-408, may, but is not required to, participate in the primary election
589 for that office.
590 (b) A qualified political party that has only one candidate qualify as a candidate for an
591 elective office under Section 20A-9-408 and does not nominate a candidate for that office
592 under Section 20A-9-407, may, but is not required to, participate in the primary election for
593 that office.
594 (c) A qualified political party that nominates only one candidate for an elective office
595 under Section 20A-9-407 and has one or more candidates qualify as a candidate for that office
596 under Section 20A-9-408, may, but is not required to, participate in the primary election for
597 that office if:
598 (i) the qualified political party nominates candidates for an elective office under the
599 candidate elimination process described in Section 20A-9-408.7; and
600 (ii) the nomination of the candidate or candidates that qualify for elective office under
601 Section 20A-9-408 are, under Section 20A-9-408.7, eliminated by a candidate nominated for
602 that office under Section 20A-9-407.
603 [
604 elective office under Section 20A-9-407 and has one or more candidates qualify as a candidate
605 for that office under Section 20A-9-408 shall participate in the primary election for that office.
606 [
607 candidates for an elective office under Section 20A-9-408 and does not nominate a candidate
608 for that office under Section 20A-9-407 shall participate in the primary election for that office.
609 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), in an opt-in county, as defined in Section
610 17-52a-201 or 17-52a-202, a qualified political party shall participate in the primary election
611 for a county commission office if:
612 (a) there is more than one:
613 (i) open position as defined in Section 17-52a-201; or
614 (ii) midterm vacancy as defined in Section 17-52a-201; and
615 (b) the number of candidates nominated under Section 20A-9-407 or qualified under
616 Section 20A-9-408 for the respective open positions or midterm vacancies exceeds the number
617 of respective open positions or midterm vacancies.
618 (4) (a) As used in this Subsection (4), a candidate is "unopposed" if:
619 (i) no individual other than the candidate receives a certification, from the appropriate
620 filing officer, for the regular primary election ballot of the candidate's registered political party
621 for a particular elective office; or
622 (ii) for an office where more than one individual is to be elected or nominated, the
623 number of candidates who receive certification, from the appropriate filing officer, for the
624 regular primary election of the candidate's registered political party does not exceed the total
625 number of candidates to be elected or nominated for that office.
626 (b) Before the deadline described in Subsection (4)(c), the lieutenant governor shall:
627 (i) provide to the county clerks:
628 (A) a list of the names of all candidates for federal, constitutional, multi-county, single
629 county, and county offices who have received certifications from the appropriate filing officer,
630 along with instructions on how those names shall appear on the primary election ballot in
631 accordance with Section 20A-6-305; and
632 (B) a list of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by a
633 registered political party; and
634 (ii) instruct the county clerks to exclude unopposed candidates from the primary
635 election ballot.
636 (c) The deadline described in Subsection (4)(b) is 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday after
637 the fourth Saturday in April.
638 Section 9. Effective date.
639 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.