Read the full stored bill text
138
10-2-602
10-2-701.5
10-2a-208
17-60-302
17-61-201
17-61-301
17-61-401
17-62-303
17-62-505
17B-1-205
17B-1-506
17B-1-1304
17D-2-502
20A-1-102
20A-1-1004
20A-2-101.1
20A-2-104
20A-2-108
20A-2-204
20A-2-206
20A-2-304
20A-2-504
20A-2-505
20A-2-601
20A-2-602
20A-2-603
20A-2-604
20A-2-605
20A-2-606
20A-2-607
20A-5-410
20A-3a-401
20A-6-105
20A-7-103
20A-7-103
20A-7-105
20A-7-203
20A-7-215
20A-7-217
20A-7-303
20A-7-313
20A-7-315
20A-7-503
20A-7-514
20A-7-516
20A-7-603
20A-7-614
20A-7-616
20A-7-702
20A-7-703.1
20A-8-103
20A-9-203
20A-9-404
20A-9-405
20A-9-408
20A-9-502
20A-15-103
53G-3-301.1
53G-3-401
53G-3-501
53H-3-1304
63G-2-202
63G-2-210
63G-2-301
63G-2-302
63G-2-303
73-10d-4
SB0153
HB0209
20A-2-204 (04/06/26)
20A-2-504 (01/01/27)
20A-2-504 (immediate)
63G-2-302 (04/06/26)
SB0153
HB0361
33
0
Election Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: John D. Johnson
House Sponsor: Trevor Lee
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions relating to elections.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
modifies and recodifies provisions relating to:
the information in a voter registration record that is available to a person based on the
capacity in which the person requests the information; and
the requirements to obtain additional privacy protection for a voter registration record;
provides that a voter's voter registration record that, before April 6, 2026, was classified
as private without requiring a reason for the classification will be reclassified as a public
voter registration record, unless the voter takes certain action to obtain additional
protection for the voter's voter registration record;
requires an election officer to notify a voter whose voter registration is subject to
reclassification as described in the preceding paragraph in order to give the voter an
opportunity to apply for additional protection for the voter's voter registration record;
modifies the voter registration form to reflect the changes made in this bill and to give a
voter the option of authorizing disclosure of the voter's telephone number or email
address to the political party with which the voter affiliates;
requires the lieutenant governor to post information relating to the number of at-risk
voters in the state and in individual state House of Representatives districts;
establishes additional requirements to ensure the removal of deceased individuals from
voter registration records;
modifies penalties that may be imposed in relation to the unlawful disclosure of a voter
registration record;
places restrictions on the use and disclosure of information from the voter registration list;
provides criminal penalties for unlawfully obtaining, using, or disclosing information
from the voter registration list;
provides that if a voter, whose voter registration record is classified as private due to the
voter's status as an at-risk voter, signs a petition, the voter's voter identification and the
date the voter signed the petition may be publicly disclosed to the same extent, and in
the same manner, as the voter identification number and signature date of a voter signing
the petition who does not have a private voter registration record;
requires a petition to contain a warning regarding the provision described in the preceding
paragraph;
changes the person responsible for preparing the ballot title and analysis for a proposed
constitutional amendment submitted to the voters;
provides a coordination clause to merge provisions of this bill with H.B. 209, Voting
Amendments, and H.B. 361, Elections Provisions Amendments; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
This bill provides coordination clauses.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
10-2-602
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 400
10-2-701.5
Effective
05/25/26
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1981, Chapter 55
10-2a-208
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
17-60-302
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17-61-201
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17-61-301
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17-61-401
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17-62-303
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17-62-505
Effective
05/25/26
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 13
17B-1-205
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
17B-1-506
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
17B-1-1304
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 15
17D-2-502
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
20A-1-102
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
First Special Session, Chapter 6
20A-2-101.1
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-2-104
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
448
20A-2-108
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 381
20A-2-204
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
448
20A-2-206
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 381
20A-2-304
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-2-504
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
Chapter 448
20A-2-505
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
448
20A-3a-401
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
Session, Chapter 6
20A-6-105
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381,
448
20A-7-103
Effective
upon governor's approval
Contingently
Superseded
01/01/27
, as
last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-103
Contingently
Effective
01/01/27
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
Chapter 492
20A-7-105
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-203
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-215
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-217
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-303
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-313
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-315
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-503
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-514
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-516
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-603
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-614
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 442
20A-7-616
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-7-702
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024,
Chapter 465
20A-7-703.1
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as last amended by Laws of Utah
2025, Chapter 448
20A-8-103
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 38, 448
20A-9-203
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 38, 39
and 448
20A-9-404
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-9-405
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
20A-9-408
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special
Session, Chapter 2
20A-9-502
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special
Session, Chapter 2
20A-15-103
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
53G-3-301.1
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
53G-3-401
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
53G-3-501
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 528
63G-2-202
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025,
Chapter 188
63G-2-210
Effective
upon governor's approval
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025,
Chapter 188
63G-2-301
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
Session, Chapter 9
63G-2-302
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
63G-2-303
Effective
04/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 208
73-10d-4
Effective
05/25/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 116
ENACTS:
20A-1-1004
Effective
05/25/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-601
Effective
upon governor's approval
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-602
Effective
upon governor's approval
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-603
Effective
04/06/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-604
Effective
04/06/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-605
Effective
04/06/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-606
Effective
04/06/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20A-2-607
Effective
upon governor's approval
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53H-3-1304
Effective
04/06/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
RENUMBERS AND AMENDS:
20A-2-608
Effective
04/06/26
, (Renumbered from 20A-5-410, as last amended by
Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 188, 448)
Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
20A-2-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381, 448
20A-2-204 (04/06/26)
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381, 448
20A-2-504 (01/01/27)
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
20A-2-504 (immediate)
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 448
63G-2-302 (04/06/26)
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
63G-2-302
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 172
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
10-2-602
is amended to read:
10-2-602
Effective
05/25/26
. Contents of resolution or petition.
(1)
The resolution of the governing body or the petition of the electors shall include:
(a)
a statement fully describing each of the areas to be included within the consolidated
municipality;
(b)
the name of the proposed consolidated municipality; and
(c)
the names of the municipalities to be consolidated.
(2)
(a)
The resolution or petition shall state the population of each of the municipalities
within the area of the proposed consolidated municipality and the total population of
the proposed consolidated municipality.
(b)
The population for each municipality under Subsection
(2)(a)
shall be derived from:
(i)
the estimate of the Utah Population Committee created in Section
63C-20-103
; or
(ii)
if the Utah Population Committee estimate is not available, the most recent
official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census.
(3)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
Section 2. Section
10-2-701.5
is amended to read:
10-2-701.5
Effective
05/25/26
. Form of petition.
A petition for municipal disincorporation shall substantially comply with, and be
circulated in, the following form:
PETITION FOR MUNICIPAL DISINCORPORATION
To the Honorable District Court of ____ County, Utah:
We, the undersigned citizens and legal voters of the State of Utah, and residents of ____
City, Utah, respectfully petition the Court to submit a proposal to disincorporate ____ City,
Utah, to the legal voters resident within said city for their approval or rejection at a special
election ordered held by the court for that purpose; and each signator for himself or herself
says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a legal voter of the State of Utah; I am a
resident of ____ City, Utah, and my residence and post office address are correctly written
after my name.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
Section 3. Section
10-2a-208
is amended to read:
10-2a-208
Effective
05/25/26
. Petition for incorporation -- Requirements and
form -- Removal of signature.
(1)
At any time within one year after the day on which the county clerk completes the
public hearings required under Section
10-2a-207
, individuals within the proposed
municipality may proceed with the incorporation process by circulating, and submitting
to the county clerk, a petition for incorporation that, to be certified under Subsection
10-2a-209(1)(b)(i)
, is required to be signed by:
(a)
10% of all registered voters within the area proposed to be incorporated as a
municipality, as of the day on which the petition for incorporation is filed;
(b)
if the petition for incorporation proposes the incorporation of a city, and subject to
Subsection
(5)
, 10% of all registered voters within 90% of the voting precincts within
the area proposed to be incorporated as a city, as of the day on which the petition for
incorporation is filed; and
(c)
the owners of private real property that:
(i)
is located within the proposed municipality;
(ii)
covers at least 10% of the total private land area within the proposed
municipality; and
(iii)
on January 1 of the current year, was equal in assessed fair market value to at
least 7% of the assessed fair market value of all private real property within the
proposed municipality.
(2)
The petition for incorporation shall:
(a)
include the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter who
signs the petition for incorporation;
(b)
describe the area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality, as described in the
feasibility request or the modified feasibility request that complies with Subsection
10-2a-205(5)(a)
;
(c)
state the proposed name for the proposed municipality;
(d)
designate five signers of the petition for incorporation as petition sponsors, one of
whom is designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone
number of each;
(e)
if the sponsors propose the incorporation of a city, state that the signers of the
petition for incorporation appoint the sponsors, if the incorporation measure passes,
to represent the signers in:
(i)
selecting the number of commission or council members the new city will have;
and
(ii)
drawing district boundaries for the election of council members, if the voters
decide to elect council members by district;
(f)
be accompanied by and circulated with an accurate plat or map, prepared by a
licensed surveyor, showing the boundaries of the proposed municipality; and
(g)
substantially comply with and be circulated in the following form:
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION OF (insert the proposed name of the proposed
municipality)
To the Honorable Lieutenant Governor and the [name of county legislative body]:
We, the undersigned registered voters within the area described in this petition for
incorporation, respectfully petition the lieutenant governor and the county legislative body to
submit to the registered voters residing within the area described in this petition for
incorporation, at the next regular general election, the question of whether the area should
incorporate as a municipality. Each of the undersigned affirms that each has personally signed
this petition for incorporation and is a registered voter who resides within the described area,
and that the current residence address of each is correctly written after the signer's name.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
The area proposed to be incorporated as a municipality is described as follows:[insert an
accurate description of the area proposed to be incorporated].
(3)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(3)(b)
, a valid signature on a feasibility request
described in Section
10-2a-202
or a modified feasibility request described in Section
10-2a-206
may be used toward fulfilling the signature requirement described in
Subsection
(1)
if the feasibility request notified the signer in conspicuous language
that the signature, unless removed, would also be used for a petition for incorporation
under this section.
(b)
A signature described in Subsection
(3)(a)
may not be used toward fulfilling the
signature requirement described in Subsection
(1)
if the signer files with the county
clerk a written statement requesting removal of the signature before the petition for
incorporation is filed with the county clerk under this section.
(4)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition for incorporation may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the petition for incorporation is submitted to the county clerk, submitting to
the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(4)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition for
incorporation after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the
signature.
(5)
(a)
A signature does not qualify under Subsection
(1)(b)
if the signature is gathered
from a voting precinct that:
(i)
except in a proposed municipality that will be a city of the fifth class, is not
located entirely within the boundaries of a proposed city; or
(ii)
includes less than 50 registered voters.
(b)
A voting precinct that is not located entirely within the boundaries of the proposed
city does not qualify as a voting precinct under Subsection
(1)(b)
.
Section 4. Section
17-60-302
is amended to read:
17-60-302
Effective
05/25/26
. Initiating a petition to move a county seat --
Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Limitation.
(1)
(a)
A voter may file a petition to move the county seat with the county legislative
body of the county in which the voter lives if the petition is signed by a majority of
registered voters in the county, calculated by the number of votes cast in the county
at the preceding general election.
(b)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(b)
(c)
If the county legislative body receives a petition that complies with this section,
the county legislative body shall submit the question of moving the county seat to the
county's voters at the next general election.
(2)
(a)
Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
receives a petition under Subsection
(1)
, the county legislative body shall provide the
petition to the county clerk.
(b)
Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
county legislative body under Subsection
(2)(a)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(1)
;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
county; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(3)
(a)
An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(4)
The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed in all respects as provided by
law for the conducting of general elections and canvassing the returns.
(5)
In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article XI, Section 2, a proposition to move the
county seat may not be submitted in the same county more than once in four years, or
within four years after the day on which a proposition to move the county seat is
submitted to the voters.
Section 5. Section
17-61-201
is amended to read:
17-61-201
Effective
05/25/26
. Consolidation of counties -- Petition --
Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Election -- Ballot.
(1)
(a)
A voter of a county who desires to have the county joined to and consolidated
with an adjoining county may petition the county legislative body of the county in
which the voter resides and the county legislative body of the adjoining county, as
described in this section.
(b)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
Each petition under Subsection
(1)
shall be:
(a)
signed by a majority of the voters who reside in the originating county;
(b)
signed by a majority of the voters who reside in the consolidating county; and
(c)
presented to the county legislative body of the originating county and the county
legislative body of the consolidating county before the first Monday in June of any
year.
(3)
(a)
Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
receives a petition under Subsection
(1)
, the county legislative body shall provide the
petition to the county clerk.
(b)
Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
county legislative body under Subsection
(3)(a)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(2)
in regard to the voters of the
county in which the county clerk is an officer;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
county in which the county clerk is an officer; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(4)
(a)
An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(4)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(5)
If the county clerks of the originating county and consolidating county each determine
that the petition meets the requirements of Subsection
(2)(a)
, each county clerk shall
ensure that the petition is submitted to the voters of the respective counties as described
in Subsection
(6)
.
(6)
(a)
If a petition under Subsection
(1)
is presented in a year during which a regular
general election is held, the county legislative body of the originating county and the
county legislative body of the consolidating county shall cause the proposition to be
submitted to the legal voters of the respective counties at the next regular general
election.
(b)
If a petition under Subsection
(1)
is presented during a year in which there is no
regular general election, the county legislative body of the originating county and the
county legislative body of the consolidating county shall:
(i)
call a special election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November following the presentation of the petition; and
(ii)
cause the proposition to be submitted to the voters of the respective counties
during the special election.
(c)
Except as otherwise provided in this part, an election under this Subsection
(6)
shall
be held, the results canvassed, and returns made under the provisions of the general
election laws of the state.
(d)
The ballot language to be used at an election under this Subsection
(6)
shall be:
For combining ____ county with ____ county.
Against combining ____ county with ____ county.
Section 6. Section
17-61-301
is amended to read:
17-61-301
Effective
05/25/26
. Annexation of portion of county to adjoining
county -- Petition -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature --
Election -- Ballot.
(1)
(a)
Except as provided in Section
17-61-306
, a voter who desires to have initiating
county territory in which the voter resides included within the boundary of an
adjoining county, the voter may petition the county legislative body of the initiating
county and the county legislative body of the annexing county.
(b)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
A petition under Subsection
(1)
shall be:
(a)
signed by a majority of the voters living in the portion of the initiating county
proposed to be included within the boundaries of an annexing county; and
(b)
presented before the first Monday in June of a year during which a general election is
held.
(3)
(a)
Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
receives a petition under Subsection
(1)
, the county legislative body shall provide the
petition to the county clerk.
(b)
Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk of an initiating county receives
a petition from the county legislative body under Subsection
(3)(a)
, the county clerk
shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(2)
;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a voter in the portion of the
initiating county that is proposed to be annexed; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(4)
(a)
An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(4)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(5)
(a)
If the county clerk of the initiating county determines that the petition meets the
requirements of Subsection
(2)
, the county clerk of the initiating county and the
county clerk of the annexing county shall ensure the petition is submitted to the
voters of the respective counties at the next regular general election as described in
this Subsection
(5)
.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be held, the results canvassed, and
returns made under the provisions of the general election laws of the state.
(c)
The ballot language to be used in an election held under this Subsection
(5)
shall be:
For annexing a portion of ____ county to ____ county.
Against annexing a portion of ____ county to ____ county.
Section 7. Section
17-61-401
is amended to read:
17-61-401
Effective
05/25/26
. Creating a new county -- Petition -- Certification
of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Election -- Ballots.
(1)
(a)
Whenever a voter desires to have the territory within which the voter resides
created into a new county, the voter may file a petition for the creation of a new
county with the county legislative body of the seceding county in which the voter
resides as described in this section.
(b)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(a)
The petition described in Subsection
(1)
shall:
(i)
propose the name and define the boundaries of the new county; and
(ii)
be signed:
(A)
by at least one-fourth of the voters residing in the portion of the seceding
county proposed to be created into a new county; and
(B)
by no less than one-fourth of the voters residing in the remaining portion of
the seceding county.
(b)
If a petition proposes to take territory from more than one seceding county, the
requirements of Subsection
(2)(a)(ii)
apply to each seceding county affected by the
petition.
(3)
A voter shall file a petition for the creation of a new county on or before the first
Monday in May of any year with the county legislative body of the seceding county.
(4)
(a)
Within three business days after the day on which a county legislative body
receives a petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the county
clerk.
(b)
Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
county legislative body under Subsection
(4)(a)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(2)
;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
seceding county; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(5)
(a)
An individual who signs a petition under this section may have the individual's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day
on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the county clerk,
submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the individual's signature
be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(5)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(6)
The seceding county legislative body shall cause the proposition to be submitted to the
voters residing in the seceding county at a special election to be held according to the
dates established in Section
20A-1-204
, first causing 30 days' notice of the election to be
given in the manner provided by law for giving notice of general elections.
(7)
The county clerk shall ensure that the special election is held, the result canvassed, and
returns made under the provisions of the general election laws.
(8)
The form of ballot to be used at the special election shall be:
For the creation of (supplying the name proposed) county.
Against the creation of (supplying the name proposed) county.
(9)
(a)
Subject to Subsection
(9)(b)
, the expenses of any special election described in this
section shall be paid out of the general fund of the seceding county.
(b)
If the voters approve the creation of the new county, the new county shall reimburse
the seceding county for half of the cost of the special election within one year of the
effective date of the new county from the general fund of the new county.
Section 8. Section
17-62-303
is amended to read:
17-62-303
Effective
05/25/26
. Registered voter initiation of adoption of optional
plan -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Procedure.
(1)
(a)
Registered voters of a county may initiate the process of adopting an optional plan
by filing with the county clerk a notice of intent to gather signatures for a petition:
(i)
for the establishment of a study committee described in Section
17-62-402
; or
(ii)
to adopt an optional plan that:
(A)
accompanies the petition during the signature gathering process and
accompanies the petition in the submission to the county clerk under
Subsection
(2)(b)
; and
(B)
complies with the requirements described in Sections
17-62-403
and
17-62-404
.
(b)
A notice of intent described in Subsection
(1)(a)
shall:
(i)
designate five sponsors for the petition;
(ii)
designate a contact sponsor to serve as the primary contact for the petition
sponsors;
(iii)
list the mailing address and telephone number of each of the sponsors; and
(iv)
be signed by each of the petition sponsors.
(c)
Registered voters of a county may not file a notice of intent to gather signatures in
bad faith.
(d)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(a)
The sponsors of a petition may circulate the petition after filing a notice of intent
to gather signatures under Subsection
(1)
.
(b)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection
(2)(b)(ii)
, the petition is valid if the petition
contains the number of legal signatures required under Subsection
20A-7-501(2)
.
(ii)
For a county of the fifth or sixth class, the petition is valid if the petition contains
at least the number of legal signatures equal to 30% of the number of active
voters, as defined in Section
20A-7-501
, in the county.
(iii)
The county clerk may not count a signature that was collected for the petition
before the petition sponsors filed a notice of intent under Subsection
(1)(a)
.
(iv)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual may not sign a petition
circulated under this section by electronic signature as defined in Section
20A-1-202
.
(c)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(b)(ii)
, the sponsors of the petition shall submit
the completed petition and any amended or supplemental petition described in
Subsection
(4)
with the county clerk not more than 180 days after the day on which
the sponsors file the notice described in Subsection
(1)
.
(d)
(i)
Within 30 days after the day on which the sponsors submit a petition, the
sponsors shall submit financial disclosures to the county clerk that include:
(A)
a list of each contribution received by the sponsors and the name of the donor;
and
(B)
a list of each expenditure for purposes of furthering or sponsoring the petition
and the recipient of each expenditure.
(ii)
The county clerk shall publish the financial disclosures described in Subsection
(2)(d)(i)
.
(iii)
All sponsors of a petition shall date and sign each list described in Subsection
(2)(d)(i)
.
(3)
Within 30 days after the day on which the sponsors submit a petition under Subsection
(2)(c)
or an amended or supplemental petition under Subsection
(4)
, the county clerk
shall:
(a)
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether a
signer is a registered voter; and
(ii)
determine whether the petition or amended or supplemental petition has been
signed by the required number of registered voters;
(b)
(i)
if the petition was signed by a sufficient number of registered voters:
(A)
certify the petition;
(B)
deliver the petition to the county legislative body and county executive; and
(C)
notify the contact sponsor in writing of the certification; or
(ii)
if the petition was not signed by a sufficient number of registered voters:
(A)
reject the petition; and
(B)
notify the county legislative body and the contact sponsor in writing of the
rejection and the reasons for the rejection; and
(c)
for a petition described in Subsection
(1)(a)(ii)
, no later than 10 days after the day on
which the county clerk certifies the petition under Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
, the county
clerk shall send a copy of the optional plan that accompanied the petition to the
county attorney for review in accordance with Section
17-62-405
.
(4)
The sponsors of a petition circulated under this section may submit supplemental
signatures for the petition:
(a)
if the county clerk rejects the petition under Subsection
(3)(b)(ii)
; and
(b)
before the earlier of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(2)(c)
; or
(ii)
20 days after the day on which the county clerk rejects the petition under
Subsection
(3)(b)(ii)
.
(5)
With the unanimous approval of petition sponsors, a petition filed under this section
may be withdrawn at any time within 90 days after the day on which the county clerk
certifies the petition under Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
and no later than 45 days before an
election under Section
17-62-501
if the petition included a notification to petition
signers, in conspicuous language and in a conspicuous location, that the petition
sponsors are authorized to withdraw the petition.
(6)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the sponsors submit the petition to the county clerk, submitting to the county
clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(6)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 9. Section
17-62-505
is amended to read:
17-62-505
Effective
05/25/26
. Repeal of optional plan -- Certification of petition
signatures -- Removal of signature.
(1)
An optional plan that the voters in an election adopt under this chapter may be repealed
as provided in this section.
(2)
Registered voters of a county that has adopted an optional plan may initiate the process
of repealing an optional plan by filing a petition for the repeal of the optional plan.
(3)
(a)
Registered voters of a county may not file a petition to repeal an optional plan
sooner than four years or more than five years after the election of county officers
under Section
17-62-503
.
(b)
(i)
If the registered voters file a petition to repeal an optional plan under this
section, the petition is certified, and the optional plan is not repealed at an election
described in Subsection
(9)
, the voters may not circulate or file a subsequent
petition to repeal until at least four, and not more than five, years after the
certification of the original petition.
(ii)
If, after four years, the voters file a subsequent petition under Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
,
the voters:
(A)
may not circulate or file another petition to repeal until at least four, and not
more than five, years after certification of the subsequent petition; and
(B)
shall wait an additional four, and not more than five, years after the date of
certification of the previous petition for each petition filed thereafter.
(4)
A petition described in Subsection
(2)
shall:
(a)
be signed by registered voters residing in the county:
(i)
equal in number to at least 15% of the total number of votes cast in each precinct
described in Subsection
(4)(a)(ii)
for all candidates for president of the United
States at the most recent election in which a president of the United States was
elected; and
(ii)
who represent at least 85% of the voting precincts located within the county;
(b)
designate up to five of the petition signers as sponsors, designating one petition
signer as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each;
and
(c)
include the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the same
size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."; and
(c)
(d)
be filed in the office of the clerk of the county in which the petition signers
reside.
(5)
Within 30 days after the filing of a petition under Subsection
(2)
or an amended petition
under Subsection
(6)
, the county clerk shall:
(a)
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether a
signer is a registered voter; and
(ii)
determine whether the required number of voters have signed the petition or
amended petition has been signed by the required number of registered voters; and
(b)
(i)
if a sufficient number of voters have signed the petition, certify the petition or
amended petition and deliver it to the county legislative body, and notify in
writing the contact sponsor of the certification; or
(ii)
if a sufficient number of voters have not signed the petition, reject the petition or
the amended petition and notify the county legislative body and the contact
sponsor in writing of the rejection and the reasons for the rejection.
(6)
If a county clerk rejects a petition or an amended petition under Subsection
(5)(b)(ii)
,
the petition may be amended or an amended petition may be further amended with
additional signatures and refiled within 20 days of the date of rejection.
(7)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the sponsors file the petition in the office of the county clerk, submitting to the
county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(7)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(8)
If a county clerk certifies a petition under Subsection
(2)
, the county legislative body
shall hold an election on the proposal to repeal the optional plan at the next regular
general election that is at least 60 days after the day on which the county clerk certifies
the petition.
(9)
If, at an election held under Subsection
(8)
, a majority of voters voting on the proposal
to repeal the optional plan vote in favor of repealing:
(a)
the optional plan is repealed, effective January 1 of the year following the election of
county officers under Subsection
(9)(c)
;
(b)
upon the effective date of the repeal under Subsection
(9)(a)
, the form of government
under which the county operates reverts to the form it had before the optional plan
was adopted; and
(c)
the county officers under the form of government to which the county reverts, who
are different than the county officers under the repealed optional plan, shall be
elected at the next regular general election following the election under Subsection
(8)
.
Section 10. Section
17B-1-205
is amended to read:
17B-1-205
Effective
05/25/26
. Petition and request requirements -- Removal or
reinstatement of signature.
(1)
Each petition and request shall:
(a)
indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each property
owner, groundwater right owner, or registered voter signing the petition;
(b)
(i)
if it is a property owner request or petition, indicate the address of the property
as to which the owner is signing the request or petition; or
(ii)
if it is a groundwater right owner request or petition, indicate the location of the
diversion of the groundwater as to which the owner is signing the groundwater
right owner request or petition;
(c)
describe the entire area of the proposed special district;
(d)
be accompanied by a map showing the boundaries of the entire proposed special
district;
(e)
specify the service proposed to be provided by the proposed special district;
(f)
if the petition or request proposes the creation of a specialized special district, specify
the type of specialized special district proposed to be created;
(g)
for a proposed basic special district:
(i)
state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
whether some members will be elected and some appointed, as provided in
Section
17B-1-1402
;
(ii)
if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
member will be elected; and
(iii)
if applicable, explain how the election or appointment of board members will
transition from one method to another based on stated milestones or events, as
provided in Section
17B-1-1402
;
(h)
for a proposed improvement district whose remaining area members or county
members, as those terms are defined in Section
17B-2a-404
, are to be elected, state
that those members will be elected;
(i)
for a proposed service area that is entirely within the unincorporated area of a single
county, state whether the initial board of trustees will be:
(i)
the county legislative body;
(ii)
appointed as provided in Section
17B-1-304
; or
(iii)
elected as provided in Section
17B-1-306
;
(j)
designate up to five signers of the petition or request as sponsors, one of whom shall
be designated as the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number
of each;
(k)
if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
the creation of a special district to acquire a groundwater right under Section
17B-1-202
, explain the anticipated method:
(i)
of paying for the groundwater right acquisition; and
(ii)
of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water;
(l)
if the petition or request is a groundwater right owner petition or request proposing
the creation of a special district to assess a groundwater right under Section
17B-1-202
, explain the anticipated method:
(i)
of assessing the groundwater right and securing payment of the assessment; and
(ii)
of addressing blowing dust created by the reduced use of water; and
(m)
for a proposed infrastructure financing district:
(i)
state whether the members of the board of trustees will be elected or appointed or
whether some members will be elected and some appointed;
(ii)
if one or more members will be elected, state the basis upon which each elected
member will be elected;
(iii)
explain how appointed board member positions will transition to elected board
member positions based on stated milestones or events, as provided in Section
17B-2a-1303
;
(iv)
state whether divisions will be established within the boundary of the
infrastructure financing district so that some or all board members represent a
division rather than the district at large and, if so, describe the boundary of each
division; and
(v)
if applicable, be accompanied by the governing document prepared according to
Section
17B-2a-1303
.
(2)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(3)
(a)
Subject to Subsection
(2)(b)
(3)(b)
, a signer of a request or petition may
remove or, once removed, reinstate the signer's signature at any time before the filing
of the request or petition by filing a written statement for removal or reinstatement
with:
(i)
in the case of a request:
(A)
the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
applicable area the signer's property is located, if the request is a property
owner request;
(B)
the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
applicable area the signer's groundwater diversion point is located, if the
request is a groundwater right owner request; or
(C)
the clerk of the county or the clerk or recorder of the municipality in whose
applicable area the signer resides, if the request is a registered voter request; or
(ii)
in the case of a petition, the responsible clerk.
(b)
The time for a signer of a petition for the creation of an infrastructure financing
district to remove or reinstate the signer's signature is any time before the petition is
certified under Section
17B-1-209
.
(3)
(4)
(a)
A clerk of the county who receives a timely, valid written statement for
removal or reinstatement from a signer of a registered voter request or registered
voter petition shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove or reinstate the individual's signature.
(b)
If a municipal clerk or recorder receives a timely, valid written statement for removal
or reinstatement from a signer of a registered voter request or registered voter
petition, the clerk of the municipality's county shall assist the municipal clerk or
recorder with determining whether to remove or reinstate the individual's signature
using the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
.
Section 11. Section
17B-1-506
is amended to read:
17B-1-506
Effective
05/25/26
. Withdrawal petition requirements -- Removal or
reinstatement of signature.
(1)
Each petition under Section
17B-1-504
shall:
(a)
indicate the typed or printed name and current address of each owner of acre-feet of
water, property owner, registered voter, or authorized representative of the governing
body signing the petition;
(b)
separately group signatures by municipality and, in the case of unincorporated areas,
by county;
(c)
if it is a petition signed by the owners of land, the assessment of which is based on
acre-feet of water, indicate the address of the property and the property tax
identification parcel number of the property as to which the owner is signing the
request;
(d)
designate up to three signers of the petition as sponsors, or in the case of a petition
filed under Subsection
17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv)
, designate a governmental representative
as a sponsor, and in each case, designate one sponsor as the contact sponsor with the
mailing address and telephone number of each;
(e)
state the reasons for withdrawal;
and
(f)
when the petition is filed with the special district board of trustees, be accompanied
by a map generally depicting the boundaries of the area proposed to be withdrawn
and a legal description of the area proposed to be withdrawn
.
; and
(g)
include the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the same
size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(a)
The special district may prepare an itemized list of expenses, other than attorney
expenses, that will necessarily be incurred by the special district in the withdrawal
proceeding. The itemized list of expenses may be submitted to the contact sponsor.
If the list of expenses is submitted to the contact sponsor within 21 days after receipt
of the petition, the contact sponsor on behalf of the petitioners shall be required to
pay the expenses to the special district within 90 days of receipt. Until funds to cover
the expenses are delivered to the special district, the district will have no obligation to
proceed with the withdrawal and the time limits on the district stated in this part will
be tolled. If the expenses are not paid within the 90 days, or within 90 days from the
conclusion of any arbitration under Subsection
(2)(b)
, the petition requesting the
withdrawal shall be considered to have been withdrawn.
(b)
If there is no agreement between the board of trustees of the special district and the
contact sponsor on the amount of expenses that will necessarily be incurred by the
special district in the withdrawal proceeding, either the board of trustees or the
contact sponsor may submit the matter to binding arbitration in accordance with Title
78B, Chapter 6, Part 2, Alternative Dispute Resolution Act
;
,
provided that, if the
parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator and the rules and procedures that will control
the arbitration, either party may pursue arbitration under Title 78B, Chapter 11, Utah
Uniform Arbitration Act.
(3)
(a)
A signer of a petition may remove or, once removed, reinstate the signer's
signature at any time before the public hearing under Section
17B-1-508
by
submitting a written statement requesting removal or reinstatement with the board of
trustees of the special district in which the area proposed to be withdrawn is located.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
As applicable and using the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
, the
county clerk shall assist the board of trustees to determine whether to remove or
reinstate a registered voter's signature after the voter submits a timely, valid statement
described in Subsection
(3)(a)
.
(4)
If it reasonably appears that, if the withdrawal which is the subject of a petition filed
under Subsection
17B-1-504(1)(a)(i)
or
(ii)
is granted, it will be necessary for a
municipality to provide to the withdrawn area the service previously supplied by the
special district, the board of trustees of the special district may, within 21 days after
receiving the petition, notify the contact sponsor in writing that, before it will be
considered by the board of trustees, the petition shall be presented to and approved by
the governing body of the municipality as provided in Subsection
17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv)
before it will be considered by the special district board of trustees. If the notice is
timely given to the contact sponsor, the petition shall be considered to have been
withdrawn until the municipality files a petition with the special district under
Subsection
17B-1-504(1)(a)(iv)
.
(5)
(a)
After receiving the notice required by Subsection
17B-1-504(2)
, unless
specifically allowed by law, a public entity may not make expenditures from public
funds to support or oppose the gathering of signatures on a petition for withdrawal.
(b)
Nothing in this section prohibits a public entity from providing factual information
and analysis regarding a withdrawal petition to the public, so long as the information
grants equal access to both the opponents and proponents of the petition for
withdrawal.
(c)
Nothing in this section prohibits a public official from speaking, campaigning,
contributing personal money, or otherwise exercising the public official's
constitutional rights.
(6)
Subsections
(2)
, (3), (4), and (5) do not apply to a petition seeking the withdrawal of an
area from an infrastructure financing district.
Section 12. Section
17B-1-1304
is amended to read:
17B-1-1304
Effective
05/25/26
. Petition requirements.
(1)
Each petition under Subsection
17B-1-1303(1)(a)
or
(2)
shall:
(a)
indicate the typed or printed name and current residence address of each owner of
acre-feet of water, property owner, or registered voter signing the petition;
(b)
if it is a petition signed by the owners of acre-feet of water or property owners,
indicate the address of the property as to which the owner is signing;
(c)
designate up to three signers of the petition as sponsors, one of whom shall be
designated the contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of
each; and
(d)
be filed with the clerk.
(2)
A signer of a petition to dissolve a special district may withdraw, or, once withdrawn,
reinstate the signer's signature at any time until 30 days after the public hearing under
Section
17B-1-1306
.
(3)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
Section 13. Section
17D-2-502
is amended to read:
17D-2-502
Effective
05/25/26
. Required process for issuance of local building
authority bonds -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature.
(1)
A local building authority may not issue bonds unless the creating local entity's
governing body approves the issuance and terms of the bonds.
(2)
(a)
Before issuing bonds, the authority board of a local building authority shall give
public notice of the authority board's intent to issue bonds.
(b)
(i)
A local building authority may not issue bonds without the approval of the
creating local entity's voters if, within 30 days after the notice under Subsection
(2)(a)
is given, a written petition requesting an election is filed with the local
building authority, signed by at least 20% of the active voters, as defined in
Section
20A-1-102
, within the creating local entity.
(ii)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on
the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you
signed may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an
at-risk voter with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private
record."
(ii)
(iii)
Each election under Subsection
(2)(b)(i)
shall be held as provided in
Title
11, Chapter 14, Local Government Bonding Act
, in the same manner as an
election for general obligation bonds issued by the creating local entity.
(3)
(a)
Within three business days after the day on which a local building authority
receives a petition under Subsection
(2)(b)(i)
, the local building authority shall
provide the petition to the county clerk of the county in which the creating local
entity is located.
(b)
Within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
local building authority under Subsection
(3)(a)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(2)(b)(i)
;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of an active voter within the
creating local entity; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the local building authority.
(4)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the local building authority provides the petition to the county clerk,
submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(4)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in
Section
Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 14. Section
20A-1-102
is amended to read:
20A-1-102
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Definitions.
As used in this title:
(1)
"Active voter" means a registered voter who has not been classified as an inactive voter
by the county clerk.
(2)
"Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus that automatically examines and
counts votes recorded on ballots and tabulates the results.
(3)
(a)
"Ballot" means the storage medium, including a paper, mechanical, or electronic
storage medium, that records an individual voter's vote.
(b)
"Ballot" does not include a record to tally multiple votes.
(4)
"Ballot proposition" means a question, issue, or proposal that is submitted to voters on
the ballot for their approval or rejection including:
(a)
an opinion question specifically authorized by the Legislature;
(b)
a constitutional amendment;
(c)
an initiative;
(d)
a referendum;
(e)
a bond proposition;
(f)
a judicial retention question;
(g)
an incorporation of a city or town; or
(h)
any other ballot question specifically authorized by the Legislature.
(5)
"Bind," "binding," or "bound" means securing more than one piece of paper together
using staples or another means in at least three places across the top of the paper in the
blank space reserved for securing the paper.
(6)
"Board of canvassers" means the entities established by Sections
20A-4-301
and
20A-4-306
to canvass election returns.
(7)
"Bond election" means an election held for the purpose of approving or rejecting the
proposed issuance of bonds by a government entity.
(8)
"Business day" means a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday that is not
a holiday.
(9)
"Business reply mail envelope" means an envelope that may be mailed free of charge by
the sender.
(10)
"Calendar day" means any day, regardless of whether the day is a weekend, a holiday,
a business day, or any other type of day.
(11)
"Canvass" means the review of election returns and the official declaration of election
results by the board of canvassers.
(12)
"Canvassing judge" means a poll worker designated to assist in counting ballots at the
canvass.
(13)
"Contracting election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
interlocal agreement with a provider election officer.
(14)
"Convention" means the political party convention at which party officers and
delegates are selected.
(15)
"Counting center" means one or more locations selected by the election officer in
charge of the election for the automatic counting of ballots.
(16)
"Counting judge" means a poll worker designated to count the ballots during election
day.
(17)
"Counting room" means a suitable and convenient private place or room for use by the
poll workers and counting judges to count ballots.
(18)
"County officers" means those county officers that are required by law to be elected.
(19)
"Date of the election" or "election day" or "day of the election":
(a)
means the day that is specified in the calendar year as the day on which the election
occurs; and
(b)
does not include:
(i)
deadlines established for voting by mail, military-overseas voting, or emergency
voting; or
(ii)
any early voting or early voting period as provided under Chapter
3a, Part 6
,
Early Voting.
(20)
"Elected official" means:
(a)
a person elected to an office under Section
20A-1-303
or Chapter
4, Part 6
,
Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project;
(b)
a person who is considered to be elected to a municipal office in accordance with
Subsection
20A-1-206(1)(c)(ii)
; or
(c)
a person who is considered to be elected to a special district office in accordance
with Subsection
20A-1-206(3)(b)(ii)
.
(21)
"Election" means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a statewide
special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal primary
election, and a special district election.
(22)
"Election Assistance Commission" means the commission established by the Help
America Vote Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252.
(23)
"Election cycle" means the period beginning on the first day on which individuals are
eligible to file declarations of candidacy and ending when the canvass is completed.
(24)
"Election judge" means a poll worker that is assigned to:
(a)
preside over other poll workers at a polling place;
(b)
act as the presiding election judge; or
(c)
serve as a canvassing judge, counting judge, or receiving judge.
(25)
"Election material" includes:
(a)
the verification documentation described in Subsection
20A-3a-401(9)(b)(iv)
;
(b)
the list of voters contacted to cure a ballot described in Subsection
20A-3a-401(10)(b)
;
(c)
the record of rejected and resolved ballots described in Subsection
20A-3a-401(11)(a)
;
(d)
any chain of custody documentation described in Section
20A-3a-401.1
, including:
(i)
the count of ballots described in Subsection
20A-3a-401.1(3)
; and
(ii)
the batch log described in Subsection
20A-3a-401.1(5)
;
(e)
the record of signature verification audits described in Subsection
20A-3a-402.5(4)
;
(f)
the affidavit of compliance described in Subsection
20A-3a-404(2)
;
(g)
the physical and electronic log of replicated ballots described in Subsection
20A-4-104(3)
;
(h)
the physical or electronic log of adjudicated ballots described in Section
20A-5-802.5
;
(i)
the record of voter database access described in Subsection
20A-5-905(2)
;
(j)
the reports on military and overseas voters described in Section
20A-16-202
;
(k)
scanned copies of return envelopes;
(l)
a copy of the final election results database described in Section
20A-5-802.5
; and
(m)
the materials used in the programming of the automatic tabulating equipment.
(26)
"Election officer" means:
(a)
the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;
(b)
the county clerk for:
(i)
a county ballot and election; and
(ii)
a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
20A-5-400.1
or
20A-5-400.5
;
(c)
the municipal clerk for:
(i)
a municipal ballot and election; and
(ii)
a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
20A-5-400.1
or
20A-5-400.5
;
(d)
the special district clerk or chief executive officer for:
(i)
a special district ballot and election; and
(ii)
a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
20A-5-400.1
or
20A-5-400.5
; or
(e)
the business administrator or superintendent of a school district for:
(i)
a school district ballot and election; and
(ii)
a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section
20A-5-400.1
or
20A-5-400.5
.
(27)
"Election official" means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker.
(28)
"Election results" means:
(a)
for an election other than a bond election, the count of votes cast in the election and
the election returns requested by the board of canvassers; or
(b)
for bond elections, the count of those votes cast for and against the bond proposition
plus any or all of the election returns that the board of canvassers may request.
(29)
"Election results database" means the following information generated by voting
equipment:
(a)
one or more electronic files that contains a digital interpretation of each ballot that is
counted in an election;
(b)
a ballot image; and
(c)
other information related to a ballot that is adjudicated under Section
20A-4-105
.
(30)
"Election returns" means:
(a)
the pollbook;
(b)
the military and overseas absentee voter registration and voting certificates;
(c)
one of the tally sheets;
(d)
any unprocessed ballots;
(e)
all counted ballots;
(f)
all excess ballots;
(g)
all unused ballots;
(h)
all spoiled ballots;
(i)
all ballot disposition forms, including any provisional ballot disposition forms;
(j)
the final election results database described in Section
20A-5-802.5
;
(k)
all return envelopes;
(l)
any provisional ballot envelopes; and
(m)
the total votes cast form.
(31)
"Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or
logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to
sign the record.
(32)
"Holiday" means a legal holiday described in Subsections
63G-1-301(1)
and (2).
(33)
"Inactive voter" means a registered voter who is listed as inactive by a county clerk
under Subsection
20A-2-505(4)(c)(i)
or
(ii)
.
(34)
"Judicial office" means the office filled by any judicial officer.
(35)
"Judicial officer" means any justice or judge of a court of record or any county court
judge.
(36)
"Local election" means a regular county election, a regular municipal election, a
municipal primary election, a local special election, a special district election, and a
bond election.
(37)
"Local political subdivision" means a county, a municipality, a special district, or a
local school district.
(38)
"Local special election" means a special election called by the governing body of a
local political subdivision in which all registered voters of the local political subdivision
may vote.
(39)
"Manual ballot" means a paper document produced by an election officer on which an
individual records an individual's vote by directly placing a mark on the paper document
using a pen or other marking instrument.
(40)
"Mechanical ballot" means a record, including a paper record, electronic record, or
mechanical record, that:
(a)
is created via electronic or mechanical means; and
(b)
records an individual voter's vote cast via a method other than an individual directly
placing a mark, using a pen or other marking instrument, to record an individual
voter's vote.
(41)
"Municipal executive" means:
(a)
the mayor in the council-mayor form of government defined in Section
10-3b-102
; or
(b)
the mayor in the council-manager form of government defined in Subsection
10-3b-103(6)
.
(42)
"Municipal general election" means the election held in municipalities and, as
applicable, special districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of
each odd-numbered year for the purposes established in Section
20A-1-202
.
(43)
"Municipal legislative body" means the council of the city or town in any form of
municipal government.
(44)
"Municipal office" means an elective office in a municipality.
(45)
"Municipal officers" means those municipal officers that are required by law to be
elected.
(46)
"Municipal primary election" means an election held to nominate candidates for
municipal office.
(47)
"Municipality" means a city or town.
(48)
"Official ballot" means the ballots distributed by the election officer for voters to
record their votes.
(49)
"Official endorsement" means the information on the ballot that identifies:
(a)
the ballot as an official ballot;
(b)
the date of the election; and
(c)
(i)
for a ballot prepared by an election officer other than a county clerk, the
facsimile signature required by Subsection
20A-6-401(1)(a)(iii)
; or
(ii)
for a ballot prepared by a county clerk, the words required by Subsection
20A-6-301(1)(b)(iii)
.
(50)
"Official register" means the official record furnished to election officials by the
election officer that contains the information required by Section
20A-5-401
.
(51)
"Political party" means an organization of registered voters that has qualified to
participate in an election by meeting the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party
Formation and Procedures.
(52)
(a)
"Poll worker" means a person assigned by an election official to assist with an
election, voting, or counting votes.
(b)
"Poll worker" includes election judges.
(c)
"Poll worker" does not include a watcher.
(53)
"Pollbook" means a record of the names of voters in the order that the voters appear to
cast votes.
(54)
"Polling place" means a building where voting is conducted.
(55)
"Position" means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot in
which the voter marks the voter's choice.
(56)
"Presidential Primary Election" means the election established in
Chapter 9, Part 8,
Presidential Primary Election
.
(57)
"Primary convention" means the political party conventions held during the year of the
regular general election.
(58)
"Protective counter" means a separate counter, which cannot be reset, that:
(a)
is built into a voting machine; and
(b)
records the total number of movements of the operating lever.
(59)
"Provider election officer" means an election officer who enters into a contract or
interlocal agreement with a contracting election officer to conduct an election for the
contracting election officer's local political subdivision in accordance with Section
20A-5-400.1
.
(60)
"Provisional ballot" means a ballot voted provisionally by a person:
(a)
whose name is not listed on the official register at the polling place;
(b)
whose legal right to vote is challenged as provided in this title; or
(c)
whose identity was not sufficiently established by a poll worker.
(61)
"Provisional ballot envelope" means an envelope printed in the form required by
Section
20A-6-105
that is used to identify provisional ballots and to provide information
to verify a person's legal right to vote.
(62)
(a)
"Public figure" means an individual who, due to the individual being considered
for, holding, or having held a position of prominence in a public or private capacity,
or due to the individual's celebrity status, has an increased risk to the individual's
safety.
(b)
"Public figure" does not include an individual:
(i)
elected to public office; or
(ii)
appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected public office.
(b)
"Public figure" includes an individual who is elected to public office, appointed to
fill a vacancy in an elected public office, or employed by a government entity if, in
relation to the individual's service in public office or employment as an employee of
a government entity, the individual has received a threat of harm to a person or
property.
(63)
"Qualify" or "qualified" means to take the oath of office and begin performing the
duties of the position for which the individual was elected.
(64)
"Receiving judge" means the poll worker that checks the voter's name in the official
register at a polling place and provides the voter with a ballot.
(65)
"Registration form" means a form by which an individual may register to vote under
this title.
(66)
"Regular ballot" means a ballot that is not a provisional ballot.
(67)
"Regular general election" means the election held throughout the state on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the
purposes established in Section
20A-1-201
.
(68)
"Regular primary election" means the election, held on the date specified in Section
20A-1-201.5
, to nominate candidates of political parties and candidates for nonpartisan
local school board positions to advance to the regular general election.
(69)
"Resident" means a person who resides within a specific voting precinct in Utah.
(70)
"Return envelope" means the envelope, described in Subsection
20A-3a-202(4)
,
provided to a voter with a manual ballot:
(a)
into which the voter places the manual ballot after the voter has voted the manual
ballot in order to preserve the secrecy of the voter's vote; and
(b)
that includes the voter affidavit and a place for the voter's signature.
(71)
"Sample ballot" means a mock ballot similar in form to the official ballot, published as
provided in Section
20A-5-405
.
(72)
"Special district" means a local government entity under Title
17B, Limited Purpose
Local Government Entities - Special Districts
, and includes a special service district
under
Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act
.
(73)
"Special district officers" means those special district board members who are required
by law to be elected.
(74)
"Special election" means an election held as authorized by Section
20A-1-203
.
(75)
"Spoiled ballot" means each ballot that:
(a)
is spoiled by the voter;
(b)
is unable to be voted because it was spoiled by the printer or a poll worker; or
(c)
lacks the official endorsement.
(76)
"Statewide special election" means a special election called by the governor or the
Legislature in which all registered voters in Utah may vote.
(77)
"Tabulation system" means a device or system designed for the sole purpose of
tabulating votes cast by voters at an election.
(78)
"Ticket" means a list of:
(a)
political parties;
(b)
candidates for an office; or
(c)
ballot propositions.
(79)
"Transfer case" means the sealed box used to transport voted ballots to the counting
center.
(80)
"Vacancy" means:
(a)
except as provided in Subsection
(80)(b)
, the absence of an individual to serve in a
position created by state constitution or state statute, whether that absence occurs
because of death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or other cause; or
(b)
in relation to a candidate for a position created by state constitution or state statute,
the removal of a candidate due to the candidate's death, resignation, or
disqualification.
(81)
"Valid voter identification" means:
(a)
a form of identification that bears the name and photograph of the voter which may
include:
(i)
a currently valid Utah driver license;
(ii)
a currently valid identification card issued under
Title 53, Chapter 3, Part 8,
Identification Card Act
;
(iii)
a currently valid identification card that is issued by:
(A)
the state; or
(B)
a branch, department, or agency of the United States;
(iv)
a currently valid Utah permit to carry a concealed weapon;
(v)
a currently valid United States passport; or
(vi)
a currently valid United States military identification card;
(b)
one of the following identification cards, regardless of whether the card includes a
photograph of the voter:
(i)
a valid tribal identification card;
(ii)
a Bureau of Indian Affairs card; or
(iii)
a tribal treaty card; or
(c)
two forms of identification not listed under Subsection
(81)(a)
or
(b)
but that bear the
name of the voter and provide evidence that the voter resides in the voting precinct,
which may include:
(i)
before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a current utility bill, dated no more
than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
(ii)
before January 1, 2029, an original or copy of a bank or other financial account
statement, dated no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
(iii)
a certified birth certificate;
(iv)
a valid social security card;
(v)
an original or copy of a check issued by the state or the federal government, dated
no more than 90 calendar days before the date of the election;
(vi)
an original or copy of a paycheck from the voter's employer, dated no more than
90 calendar days before the date of the election;
(vii)
a currently valid Utah hunting or fishing license;
(viii)
certified naturalization documentation;
(ix)
a currently valid license issued by an authorized agency of the United States;
(x)
a certified copy of court records showing the voter's adoption or name change;
(xi)
a valid Medicaid card, Medicare card, or Electronic Benefits Transfer
Card
card
;
(xii)
a currently valid identification card issued by:
(A)
a local government within the state;
(B)
an employer for an employee; or
(C)
a college, university, technical school, or professional school located within
the state; or
(xiii)
a current Utah vehicle registration.
(82)
"Valid write-in candidate" means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate
by following the procedures and requirements of this title.
(83)
"Vote by mail" means to vote, using a manual ballot that is mailed to the voter, by:
(a)
mailing the ballot to the location designated in the mailing; or
(b)
depositing the ballot in a ballot drop box designated by the election officer.
(84)
"Voter" means an individual who:
(a)
meets the requirements for voting in an election;
(b)
meets the requirements of election registration;
(c)
is registered to vote; and
(d)
is listed in the official register.
(85)
"Voter registration deadline" means the registration deadline provided in Section
20A-2-102.5
.
(86)
"Voting area" means the area within six feet of the voting booths, voting machines,
and ballot box.
(87)
"Voting booth" means:
(a)
the space or compartment within a polling place that is provided for the preparation
of ballots, including the voting enclosure or curtain; or
(b)
a voting device that is free standing.
(88)
"Voting device" means any device provided by an election officer for a voter to vote a
mechanical ballot.
(89)
"Voting precinct" means the smallest geographical voting unit, established under
Chapter 5, Part 3, Duties of the County and Municipal Legislative Bodies
.
(90)
"Watcher" means an individual who complies with the requirements described in
Section
20A-3a-801
to become a watcher for an election.
(91)
"Write-in ballot" means a ballot containing any write-in votes.
(92)
"Write-in vote" means a vote cast for an individual, whose name is not printed on the
ballot, in accordance with the procedures established in this title.
Section 15. Section
20A-1-1004
is enacted to read:
20A-1-1004
Effective
05/25/26
. Signing a petition -- Waiver of privacy status by
at-risk voter.
(1)
As used in this section, "at-risk voter" means the same as that term is defined in Section
20A-2-601
.
(2)
Subject to Subsection
(3)
, if an at-risk voter signs a petition, the voter's voter
identification number and date of signature are subject to disclosure to the same extent,
and in the same manner, as the voter identification number and date of signature of a
voter who is not an at-risk voter who signs the petition.
(3)
(a)
Subsection
(2)
applies only to the extent of a disclosure made in direct relation to
the petition, including:
(i)
disclosing the voter identification number and date of signature of an at-risk voter
who signed the petition;
(ii)
signature verification or certification for the petition; or
(iii)
removing a signature from the petition.
(b)
Except to the extent described in Subsection
(3)(a)
, the voter registration record of an
at-risk voter retains the classification as a private record.
Section 16. Section
20A-2-101.1
is amended to read:
20A-2-101.1
Effective
04/06/26
. Preregistering to vote.
(1)
An individual may preregister to vote if the individual:
(a)
is 16 or 17 years
of age
old
;
(b)
is not eligible to register to vote because the individual does not comply with the age
requirements described in Subsection
20A-2-101(1)(c)
;
(c)
is a citizen of the United States;
(d)
has been a resident of Utah for at least 30 calendar days; and
(e)
currently resides within the voting district or precinct in which the individual
preregisters to vote.
(2)
An individual described in Subsection
(1)
may not vote in an election and is not
registered to vote until:
(a)
the individual is otherwise eligible to register to vote because the individual complies
with the age requirements described in Subsection
20A-2-101(1)(c)
; and
(b)
the county clerk registers the individual to vote under Subsection
(4)
.
(3)
An individual who preregisters to vote shall:
(a)
complete a voter registration form, including an indication that the individual is
preregistering to vote; and
(b)
submit the voter registration form to a county clerk in person, by mail, or in any
other manner authorized by this chapter for the submission of a voter registration
form.
(4)
(a)
A county clerk shall:
(i)
retain the voter registration form of an individual who meets the qualifications for
preregistration and who submits a completed voter registration form to the county
clerk under Subsection
(3)(b)
;
(ii)
register the individual to vote in the next election in which the individual will be
eligible to vote, before the voter registration deadline established in Section
20A-2-102.5
for that election; and
(iii)
send a notice to the individual that:
(A)
informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been
accepted as an application for preregistration;
(B)
informs the individual that the individual will be registered to vote in the next
election in which the individual will be eligible to vote; and
(C)
indicates in which election the individual will be registered to vote.
(b)
An individual who the county clerk registers under Subsection
(4)(a)(ii)
is
considered to have applied for voter registration on the earlier of:
(i)
the day of the voter registration deadline immediately preceding the election day
on which the individual will be at least 18 years
of age
old
; or
(ii)
the day on which the individual turns 18 years
of age
old
.
(c)
A county clerk shall refer a voter registration form to the county attorney for
investigation and possible prosecution if the clerk or the clerk's designee believes the
individual is attempting to preregister to vote in an election in which the individual
will not be legally entitled to vote.
(5)
(a)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall classify the voter registration
record of an individual who preregisters to vote as a private record until the day on
which the individual turns 18 years
of age
old
.
(b)
On
Subject to Subsection
63G-2-301(2)(l)
,
and except as otherwise provided in
Subsections
63G-2-302(1)(j)
through (m), on
the day on which the individual
described in Subsection
(5)(a)
turns 18 years
of age
old
, the lieutenant governor or
county clerk shall classify the individual's voter registration record as a public record
in accordance with Subsection
63G-2-301(2)(l)
.
(6)
If an individual who is at least 18 years
of age
old
erroneously indicates on the voter
registration form that the individual is preregistering to vote, the county clerk shall
consider the form as a voter registration form and shall process the form in accordance
with this chapter.
Section 17. Section
20A-2-104
is amended to read:
20A-2-104
Effective
04/06/26
. Voter registration form -- Registered voter lists
-- Fees for copies.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Candidate for public office" means an individual:
(i)
who files a declaration of candidacy for a public office;
(ii)
who files a notice of intent to gather signatures under Section
20A-9-408
; or
(iii)
employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an individual described in
Subsection
(1)(a)(i)
or
(ii)
for political campaign purposes.
(b)
"Dating violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section
78B-7-402
and
the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
(c)
"Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section
77-36-1
and
the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
(d)
"Hash Code" means a code generated by applying an algorithm to a set of data to
produce a code that:
(i)
uniquely represents the set of data;
(ii)
is always the same if the same algorithm is applied to the same set of data; and
(iii)
cannot be reversed to reveal the data applied to the algorithm.
(e)
"Protected individual" means an individual:
(i)
who submits a withholding request form with the individual's voter registration
record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the individual indicates
on the form that the individual, or an individual who resides with the individual, is
a victim of domestic violence or dating violence or is likely to be a victim of
domestic violence or dating violence;
(ii)
who submits a withholding request form with the individual's voter registration
record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the individual indicates
on the form and provides verification that the individual, or an individual who
resides with the individual, is a law enforcement officer, a member of the armed
forces as defined in Section
20A-1-513
, a public figure, or protected by a
protective order or protection order; or
(iii)
whose voter registration record was classified as a private record at the request
of the individual before May 12, 2020.
(2)
(1)
(a)
An individual applying for voter registration, or an individual preregistering
to vote, shall complete a voter registration form in substantially the following form:
(i)
the first part of the form shall include the following:
"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTAH ELECTION REGISTRATION FORM
Are you a citizen of the United States of America?
Yes
No
If you checked "no" to the above question, do not complete this form.
Will you be 18 years
of age
old
on or before election day?
Yes
No
If you checked "no" to the above question, are you 16 or 17 years
of age
old
and
preregistering to vote?
Yes
No
If you checked "no" to both of the prior two questions, do not complete this form.
Name of Voter
_________________________________________________________________
First
Middle
Last
Utah Driver License or Utah Identification Card
Number____________________________
Date of Birth ______________________________________________________
Street Address of Principal Place of Residence
____________________________________________________________________________
City
County
State
Zip Code
Telephone Number (optional) _________________________
Email Address (optional) _____________________________________________
";
(ii)
beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the form
described in Subsection
(1)(a)(i)
, the form shall include the following:
"Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to
the political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
The email address you provided above? Yes No
The phone number you provided above? Yes No"; and
(iii)
following the portions of the form required under Subsections
(1)(a)(i)
and
(ii)
, the form
shall include the following:
"
Last four digits of Social Security Number ______________________
Last former address at which I was registered to vote (if
known)__________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
City
County
State
Zip Code
Political Party
(a listing of each registered political party, as defined in Section
20A-8-101
and
maintained by the lieutenant governor under Section
67-1a-2
, with each party's name preceded
by a checkbox)
Unaffiliated (no political party preference)
Other (Please
specify)___________________
I do swear (or affirm), subject to penalty of law for false statements, that the information
contained in this form is true, and that I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
state of Utah, residing at the above address. Unless I have indicated above that I am
preregistering to vote in a later election, I will be at least 18 years
of age
old
and will have
resided in Utah for 30 calendar days immediately before the next election. I am not a
convicted felon currently incarcerated for commission of a felony.
Signed and sworn
__________________________________________________________
Voter's Signature
_______________(month/day/year).
PRIVACY INFORMATION
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
political party with which you choose to affiliate.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
violence;
a law enforcement officer;
a member of the armed forces;
a public figure; or
an individual who is protected by a court order.
To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor].
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
requirements of law.
Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
_____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
paragraphs.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
violence.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order.
CITIZENSHIP AFFIDAVIT
Name:
Name at birth, if different:
Place of birth:
Date of birth:
Date and place of naturalization (if applicable):
I hereby swear and affirm, under penalties for voting fraud set forth below, that I am a
citizen and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information above is true and
correct.
____________________________
Signature of Applicant
In accordance with Section
20A-2-401
, the penalty for willfully causing, procuring, or
allowing yourself to be registered or preregistered to vote if you know you are not entitled to
register or preregister to vote is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
NOTICE: IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO VOTE, YOU MUST PRESENT VALID
VOTER IDENTIFICATION TO THE POLL WORKER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Type of I.D. ____________________________
Voting Precinct _________________________
Voting I.D. Number _____________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"
(b)
The voter registration form described in Subsection
(2)(a)
(
1)(a
)
shall include:
(i)
a section in substantially the following form:
"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above? Yes No
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------";
and
(ii)
no later than November 5, 2025,
the following, immediately after the question described
in Subsection
(2)(b)(i)
(1)(b)(i)
:
"Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
_____ Mail a ballot to me.
_____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
(c)
(i)
Except as provided under Subsection
(2)(c)(ii)
, the county clerk shall retain a
copy of each voter registration form in a permanent countywide alphabetical file,
which may be electronic or some other recognized system.
(ii)
The county clerk may transfer a superseded voter registration form to the
Division of Archives and Records Service created under Section
63A-12-101
.
(3)
(a)
Each county clerk shall retain lists of currently registered voters.
(b)
The lieutenant governor shall maintain a list of registered voters in electronic form.
(c)
If there are any discrepancies between the two lists, the county clerk's list is the
official list.
(d)
The lieutenant governor and the county clerks may charge the fees established under
the authority of Subsection
63G-2-203(10)
to individuals who wish to obtain a copy
of the list of registered voters.
(4)
(a)
As used in this Subsection
(4)
, "qualified person" means:
(i)
a government official or government employee acting in the government official's
or government employee's capacity as a government official or a government
employee;
(ii)
a health care provider, as defined in Section
26B-8-501
, or an agent, employee,
or independent contractor of a health care provider;
(iii)
an insurance company, as defined in Section
67-4a-102
, or an agent, employee,
or independent contractor of an insurance company;
(iv)
a financial institution, as defined in Section
7-1-103
, or an agent, employee, or
independent contractor of a financial institution;
(v)
a political party, or an agent, employee, or independent contractor of a political
party;
(vi)
a candidate for public office, or an employee, independent contractor, or
volunteer of a candidate for public office;
(vii)
a person described in Subsections
(4)(a)(i)
through
(vi)
who, after obtaining a
year of birth from the list of registered voters:
(A)
provides the year of birth only to a person described in Subsections
(4)(a)(i)
through
(vi)
;
(B)
verifies that the person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(vii)(A)
is a person
described in Subsections
(4)(a)(i)
through
(vi)
;
(C)
ensures, using industry standard security measures, that the year of birth may
not be accessed by a person other than a person described in Subsections
(4)(a)(i)
through
(vi)
;
(D)
verifies that each person described in Subsections
(4)(a)(ii)
through
(iv)
to
whom the person provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth to
verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by an individual or to
confirm the identity of a person in order to prevent fraud, waste, or abuse;
(E)
verifies that each person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
to whom the person
provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth in the person's capacity
as a government official or government employee; and
(F)
verifies that each person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
to whom the
person provides the year of birth will only use the year of birth for a political
purpose of the political party or candidate for public office; or
(viii)
a person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
who, after obtaining
information under Subsection
(4)(n)
and
(o)
:
(A)
provides the information only to another person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
;
(B)
verifies that the other person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(viii)(A)
is a
person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
;
(C)
ensures, using industry standard security measures, that the information may
not be accessed by a person other than a person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
; and
(D)
verifies that each person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
to whom
the person provides the information will only use the information for a political
purpose of the political party or candidate for public office.
(b)
Notwithstanding Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(j)(iv)
, and except as provided in
Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(k)
or
(l)
, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall,
when providing the list of registered voters to a qualified person under this section,
include, with the list, the years of birth of the registered voters, if:
(i)
the lieutenant governor or a county clerk verifies the identity of the person and
that the person is a qualified person; and
(ii)
the qualified person signs a document that includes the following:
(A)
the name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the list of
registered voters;
(B)
an indication of the type of qualified person that the person requesting the list
claims to be;
(C)
a statement regarding the purpose for which the person desires to obtain the
years of birth;
(D)
a list of the purposes for which the qualified person may use the year of birth
of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered voters;
(E)
a statement that the year of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the
list of registered voters may not be provided or used for a purpose other than a
purpose described under Subsection
(4)(b)(ii)(D)
;
(F)
a statement that if the person obtains the year of birth of a registered voter
from the list of registered voters under false pretenses, or provides or uses the
year of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered
voters in a manner that is prohibited by law, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor
and is subject to a civil fine;
(G)
an assertion from the person that the person will not provide or use the year
of birth of a registered voter that is obtained from the list of registered voters in
a manner that is prohibited by law; and
(H)
notice that if the person makes a false statement in the document, the person
is punishable by law under Section
76-8-504
.
(c)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk:
(i)
may not disclose the year of birth of a registered voter to a person that the
lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes:
(A)
is not a qualified person or a person described in Subsection
(4)(l)
; or
(B)
will provide or use the year of birth in a manner prohibited by law; and
(ii)
may not disclose information under Subsections
(4)(n)
or
(o)
to a person that the
lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes:
(A)
is not a person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
; or
(B)
will provide or use the information in a manner prohibited by law.
(d)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the voter registration
form of a person, or information included in the person's voter registration form,
whose voter registration form is classified as private under Subsection
(4)(h)
to a
person other than:
(i)
a government official or government employee acting in the government official's
or government employee's capacity as a government official or government
employee; or
(ii)
subject to Subsection
(4)(e)
, a person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
for
a political purpose.
(e)
(i)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(e)(ii)
, when disclosing a record or
information under Subsection
(4)(d)(ii)
, the lieutenant governor or county clerk
shall exclude the information described in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(j)
, other than
the year of birth.
(ii)
If disclosing a record or information under Subsection
(4)(d)(ii)
in relation to the
voter registration record of a protected individual, the lieutenant governor or
county clerk shall comply with Subsections
(4)(n)
through
(p)
.
(f)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose a withholding request
form, described in Subsections
(7)
and
(8)
, submitted by an individual, or information
obtained from that form, to a person other than a government official or government
employee acting in the government official's or government employee's capacity as a
government official or government employee.
(g)
A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the person:
(i)
obtains from the list of registered voters, under false pretenses, the year of birth
of a registered voter or information described in Subsection
(4)(n)
or
(o)
;
(ii)
uses or provides the year of birth of a registered voter, or information described
in Subsection
(4)(n)
or
(o)
, that is obtained from the list of registered voters in a
manner that is not permitted by law;
(iii)
obtains a voter registration record described in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(k)
under false pretenses;
(iv)
uses or provides information obtained from a voter registration record described
in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(k)
in a manner that is not permitted by law;
(v)
unlawfully discloses or obtains a voter registration record withheld under
Subsection
(7)
or a withholding request form described in Subsections
(7)
and
(8)
;
or
(vi)
unlawfully discloses or obtains information from a voter registration record
withheld under Subsection
(7)
or a withholding request form described in
Subsections
(7)
and
(8)
.
(h)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall classify the voter registration record
of a voter as a private record if the voter:
(i)
submits a written application, created by the lieutenant governor, requesting that
the voter's voter registration record be classified as private;
(ii)
requests on the voter's voter registration form that the voter's voter registration
record be classified as a private record; or
(iii)
submits a withholding request form described in Subsection
(7)
and any
required verification.
(i)
Except as provided in Subsections
(4)(d)(ii)
and
(e)(ii)
, the lieutenant governor or a
county clerk may not disclose to a person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
a
voter registration record, or information obtained from a voter registration record, if
the record is withheld under Subsection
(7)
.
(j)
In addition to any criminal penalty that may be imposed under this section, the
lieutenant governor may impose a civil fine against a person who violates a provision
of this section, in an amount equal to the greater of:
(i)
the product of 30 and the square root of the total number of:
(A)
records obtained, provided, or used unlawfully, rounded to the nearest whole
dollar; or
(B)
records from which information is obtained, provided, or used unlawfully,
rounded to the nearest whole dollar; or
(ii)
$200.
(k)
A qualified person may not obtain, provide, or use the year of birth of a registered
voter, if the year of birth is obtained from the list of registered voters or from a voter
registration record, unless the person:
(i)
is a government official or government employee who obtains, provides, or uses
the year of birth in the government official's or government employee's capacity
as a government official or government employee;
(ii)
is a qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(ii)
,
(iii)
, or
(iv)
and obtains or
uses the year of birth only to verify the accuracy of personal information
submitted by an individual or to confirm the identity of a person in order to
prevent fraud, waste, or abuse;
(iii)
is a qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
and obtains,
provides, or uses the year of birth for a political purpose of the political party or
candidate for public office; or
(iv)
is a qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(vii)
and obtains, provides, or
uses the year of birth to provide the year of birth to another qualified person to
verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by an individual or to
confirm the identity of a person in order to prevent fraud, waste, or abuse.
(l)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may provide a year of birth to a member
of the media, in relation to an individual designated by the member of the media, in
order for the member of the media to verify the identity of the individual.
(m)
A person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
may not use or disclose
information from a voter registration record for a purpose other than a political
purpose.
(n)
Notwithstanding Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(k)
or
(l)
, the lieutenant governor or a
county clerk shall, when providing the list of registered voters to a qualified person
described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
, include, from the record of a voter whose
record is withheld under Subsection
(7)
, the information described in Subsection
(4)(o)
, if:
(i)
the lieutenant governor or a county clerk verifies the identity of the person and
that the person is a qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
; and
(ii)
the qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
signs a document
that includes the following:
(A)
the name, address, and telephone number of the person requesting the list of
registered voters;
(B)
an indication of the type of qualified person that the person requesting the list
claims to be;
(C)
a statement regarding the purpose for which the person desires to obtain the
information;
(D)
a list of the purposes for which the qualified person may use the information;
(E)
a statement that the information may not be provided or used for a purpose
other than a purpose described under Subsection
(4)(n)(ii)(D)
;
(F)
a statement that if the person obtains the information under false pretenses, or
provides or uses the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, the
person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and is subject to a civil fine;
(G)
an assertion from the person that the person will not provide or use the
information in a manner that is prohibited by law; and
(H)
notice that if the person makes a false statement in the document, the person
is punishable by law under Section
76-8-504
.
(o)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(p)
, the information that the lieutenant
governor or a county clerk is required to provide, under Subsection
(4)(n)
, from the
record of a protected individual is:
(i)
a single hash code, generated from a string of data that includes both the voter's
voter identification number and residential address;
(ii)
the voter's residential address;
(iii)
the voter's mailing address, if different from the voter's residential address;
(iv)
the party affiliation of the voter;
(v)
the precinct number for the voter's residential address;
(vi)
the voter's voting history; and
(vii)
a designation of which age group, of the following age groups, the voter falls
within:
(A)
25 or younger;
(B)
26 through 35;
(C)
36 through 45;
(D)
46 through 55;
(E)
56 through 65;
(F)
66 through 75; or
(G)
76 or older.
(p)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose:
(i)
information described in Subsection
(4)(o)
that, due to a small number of voters
affiliated with a particular political party, or due to another reason, would likely
reveal the identity of a voter if disclosed; or
(ii)
the address described in Subsection
(4)(o)(iii)
if the lieutenant governor or the
county clerk determines that the nature of the address would directly reveal
sensitive information about the voter.
(q)
A qualified person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(v)
or
(vi)
, may not obtain,
provide, or use the information described in Subsection
(4)(n)
or
(o)
, except to the
extent that the qualified person uses the information for a political purpose of a
political party or candidate for public office.
(5)
(2)
When political parties not listed on the voter registration form qualify as registered
political parties under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and Procedures, the
lieutenant governor shall inform the county clerks of the name of the new political party
and direct the county clerks to ensure that the voter registration form is modified to
include that political party.
(6)
(3)
Upon receipt of a voter registration form from an applicant, the county clerk or the
clerk's designee shall:
(a)
review each voter registration form for completeness and accuracy; and
(b)
if the county clerk believes, based upon a review of the form, that an individual may
be seeking to register or preregister to vote who is not legally entitled to register or
preregister to vote, refer the form to the county attorney for investigation and
possible prosecution.
(7)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall withhold from a person, other than a
person described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
, the voter registration record, and information
obtained from the voter registration record, of a protected individual.
(8)
(a)
The lieutenant governor shall design and distribute a withholding request form
for the purpose described in Subsections
(1)(e)(i)
, (1)(e)(ii),
(7)
, and this Subsection
(8)
to each election officer and to each agency that provides a voter registration form.
(b)
An individual described in Subsection
(1)(e)(i)
is not required to provide
verification, other than the individual's attestation and signature on the withholding
request form, that the individual, or an individual who resides with the individual, is a
victim of domestic violence or dating violence or is likely to be a victim of domestic
violence or dating violence.
(c)
The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall make
rules, in accordance with
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
,
establishing requirements for providing the verification described in Subsection
(1)(e)(ii)
.
(9)
An election officer or an employee of an election officer may not encourage an
individual to submit, or discourage an individual from submitting, a withholding request
form.
(10)
(a)
The lieutenant governor shall make and execute a plan to provide notice to
registered voters who are protected individuals, that includes the following
information:
(i)
that the voter's classification of the record as private remains in effect;
(ii)
that certain non-identifying information from the voter's voter registration record
may, under certain circumstances, be released to political parties and candidates
for public office;
(iii)
that the voter's name, driver license or identification card number, social
security number, email address, phone number, and the voter's day, month, and
year of birth will remain private and will not be released to political parties or
candidates for public office;
(iv)
that a county clerk will only release the information to political parties and
candidates in a manner that does not associate the information with a particular
voter; and
(v)
that a county clerk may, under certain circumstances, withhold other information
that the county clerk determines would reveal identifying information about the
voter.
(b)
The lieutenant governor may include in the notice described in this Subsection
(10)
a statement that a voter may obtain additional information on the lieutenant
governor's website.
(c)
The plan described in Subsection
(10)(a)
may include providing the notice described
in Subsection
(10)(a)
by:
(i)
publication on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section
63A-16-601
;
(ii)
publication on the lieutenant governor's website or a county's website;
(iii)
posting the notice in public locations;
(iv)
publication in a newspaper;
(v)
sending notification to the voters by electronic means;
(vi)
sending notice by other methods used by government entities to communicate
with citizens; or
(vii)
providing notice by any other method.
(d)
The lieutenant governor shall provide the notice included in a plan described in this
Subsection
(10)
before June 16, 2023.
Section 18. Section
20A-2-108
is amended to read:
20A-2-108
Effective
04/06/26
. Driver license or state identification card
registration form -- Transmittal of information.
(1)
As used in this section, "qualifying form" means:
(a)
a driver license application form; or
(b)
a state identification card application form.
(2)
The lieutenant governor and the Driver License Division shall design each qualifying
form to include:
(a)
(i)
the following question, which an applicant is required to answer: "Do you
authorize the use of information in this form for voter registration purposes?
YES____ NO____"; and
(ii)
no later than November 5, 2025,
the following:
"Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
_____ Mail a ballot to me.
_____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person.";
(b)
the following statement:
"PRIVACY INFORMATION
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
political party with which you choose to affiliate.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
violence;
a law enforcement officer;
a member of the armed forces;
a public figure; or
an individual who is protected by a court order.
To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor]."; and
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
requirements of law.
Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
_____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
paragraphs.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
violence.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order."; and
(c)
a section in substantially the following form:
"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above? Yes No
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------".
(3)
The lieutenant governor and the Driver License Division shall ensure that a qualifying
form contains:
(a)
a place for an individual to affirm the individual's citizenship, voting eligibility, and
Utah residency, and that the information provided in the form is true;
(b)
a records disclosure that is similar to the records disclosure on a voter registration
form described in Section
20A-2-104
;
(c)
a statement that if an applicant declines to register or preregister to vote, the fact that
the applicant has declined to register or preregister will remain confidential and will
be used only for voter registration purposes;
(d)
a statement that if an applicant does register or preregister to vote, the office at which
the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will
be used only for voter registration purposes; and
(e)
if the applicant answers "yes" to the question described in Subsection
(2)(a)
(2)(a)(i)
,
a space where an individual may, if desired:
(i)
indicate the individual's desired political affiliation from a listing of each
registered political party, as defined in Section
20A-8-101
;
(ii)
specify a political party that is not listed under Subsection
(3)(e)(i)
with which the
individual desires to affiliate; or
(iii)
indicate that the individual does not wish to affiliate with a political party.
The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
Section 19. Section
20A-2-204
is amended to read:
20A-2-204
Effective
04/06/26
. Registering to vote when applying for or
renewing a driver license or other qualifying form.
(1)
As used in this section, "voter registration form" means, when an individual named on a
qualifying form, as defined in Section
20A-2-108
, answers "yes" to the question
described in Subsection
20A-2-108(2)(a)(i)
, the information on the qualifying form that
can be used for voter registration purposes.
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(2)(b)
, a citizen who is qualified to vote may
register to vote, and a citizen who is qualified to preregister to vote may preregister to
vote, by answering "yes" to the question described in Subsection
20A-2-108(2)(a)(i)
and completing the voter registration form.
(b)
A citizen who is a program participant in the Safe at Home Program created in
Section
77-38-602
is not eligible to register to vote as described in Subsection
(2)(a)
,
but is eligible to register to vote by any other means described in this part.
(3)
The Driver License Division shall:
(a)
assist an individual in completing the voter registration form unless the individual
refuses assistance;
(b)
electronically transmit each address change to the lieutenant governor on or before
the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on which the
division receives the address change; and
(c)
on or before the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on
which the division receives a voter registration form, electronically transmit the form
to the
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
lieutenant governor
, including the
following for the individual named on the form:
(i)
the name, date of birth, driver license or state identification card number, last four
digits of the social security number, Utah residential address, place of birth, and
signature;
(ii)
a mailing address, if different from the individual's Utah residential address;
(iii)
an email address and phone number, if available;
(iv)
the desired political affiliation, if indicated;
and
(v)
an indication of whether the individual requested that the individual's voter
registration record be classified as a private record under Subsection
20A-2-108(2)(b)
; and
(vi)
(v)
a withholding
an at-risk designation
request form described in
Subsections
20A-2-104(7)
and
(8)
Section
20A-2-606
and any verification submitted with the
form.
(4)
Upon receipt of an individual's voter registration form from the Driver License Division
under Subsection
(3)
, the lieutenant governor
or county clerk
shall:
(a)
enter the information into the statewide voter registration database; and
(b)
if the individual
requests on the individual's voter registration form that the
individual's voter registration record be classified as a private record or the individual
submits a withholding request form described in Subsections
20A-2-104(7)
and
(8)
submits an at-risk designation request form described in Section
20A-2-606
and any
required verification, classify the individual's voter registration record as a private
record.
(5)
The county clerk of an individual whose information is entered into the statewide voter
registration database under Subsection
(4)
shall:
(a)
ensure that the individual meets the qualifications to be registered or preregistered to
vote; and
(b)
(i)
if the individual meets the qualifications to be registered to vote:
(A)
ensure that the individual is assigned to the proper voting precinct; and
(B)
send the individual the notice described in Section
20A-2-304
; or
(ii)
if the individual meets the qualifications to be preregistered to vote, process the
form in accordance with the requirements of Section
20A-2-101.1
.
(6)
(a)
When the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form
under this section, the clerk shall:
(i)
comply with the applicable provisions of this Subsection
(6)
; or
(ii)
if the individual is preregistering to vote, comply with Section
20A-2-101.1
.
(b)
If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form under this
section no later than 5 p.m. or, if submitting the form electronically, midnight, 11
calendar days before the date of an election, the county clerk shall:
(i)
accept the voter registration form; and
(ii)
unless the individual is preregistering to vote:
(A)
enter the individual's name on the list of registered voters for the voting
precinct in which the individual resides; and
(B)
notify the individual that the individual is registered to vote in the upcoming
election; and
(iii)
if the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote, comply with Section
20A-2-101.1
.
(c)
If the county clerk receives a correctly completed voter registration form under this
section after the deadline described in Subsection
(6)(b)
, the county clerk shall,
unless the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote:
(i)
accept the application for registration of the individual;
(ii)
process the voter registration form; and
(iii)
unless the individual is preregistering to vote, and except as provided in
Subsection
20A-2-207(6)
, inform the individual that the individual will not be
registered to vote in the pending election, unless the individual registers to vote by
provisional ballot during the early voting period, if applicable, or on election day,
in accordance with Section
20A-2-207
.
(7)
(a)
If the county clerk determines that an individual's voter registration form received
from the Driver License Division is incorrect because of an error, because the form is
incomplete, or because the individual does not meet the qualifications to be registered
to vote, the county clerk shall mail notice to the individual stating that the individual
has not been registered or preregistered because of an error, because the registration
form is incomplete, or because the individual does not meet the qualifications to be
registered to vote.
(b)
If a county clerk believes, based upon a review of a voter registration form, that an
individual, who knows that the individual is not legally entitled to register or
preregister to vote, may be intentionally seeking to register or preregister to vote, the
county clerk shall refer the form to the county attorney for investigation and possible
prosecution.
Section 20. Section
20A-2-206
is amended to read:
20A-2-206
Effective
04/06/26
. Electronic registration -- Requesting to receive a
ballot by mail.
(1)
The lieutenant governor shall create and maintain an electronic system that is publicly
available on the
Internet
internet
for an individual to:
(a)
apply for voter registration or preregistration; or
(b)
beginning no later than July 1, 2025, request to receive a ballot by mail.
(2)
The electronic system described in Subsection
(1)
shall require, to register to vote, the
applicant to:
(a)
enter the applicant's name, address, date of birth, driver license number or state
identification card number, and any other information determined to be necessary by
the lieutenant governor;
(b)
provide the information required by Section
20A-2-104
, except that the applicant's
signature may be obtained in the manner described in Subsections
(2)(d)
and
(5)
;
(c)
attest to the truth of the information provided; and
(d)
authorize the lieutenant governor's and county clerk's use of the applicant's:
(i)
driver license or identification card signature, obtained under
Title 53, Chapter 3,
Uniform Driver License Act
, for voter registration or preregistration purposes; or
(ii)
signature on file in the lieutenant governor's statewide voter registration database
developed under Section
20A-2-502
, for voter registration or preregistration
purposes.
(3)
Notwithstanding Section
20A-2-104
, an applicant using the electronic system described
in Subsection
(1)
is not required to complete a printed registration form.
(4)
A system created and maintained under this section shall provide to an individual who is
registering to vote the notices concerning a voter's presentation of identification
described in Subsection
20A-2-104(2)
20A-2-104(1)
.
(5)
The lieutenant governor shall, in relation to an individual who is registering to vote:
(a)
obtain a digital copy of the applicant's driver license signature or identification card
signature from the Driver License Division; or
(b)
ensure that the applicant's signature is on file in the lieutenant governor's statewide
voter registration database developed under Section
20A-2-502
.
(6)
The lieutenant governor shall send the information described in Subsections
(2)
and (5)
to the county clerk for the county in which the applicant's principal place of residence is
found for further action as required by Section
20A-2-304
after:
(a)
receiving all information from an applicant;
and
(b)
(i)
receiving all information from the Driver License Division, if applicable; and
(ii)
(c)
ensuring that the applicant's signature is on file in the lieutenant governor's
statewide voter registration database developed under Section
20A-2-502
.
(7)
The lieutenant governor may use additional security measures to ensure the accuracy
and integrity of information submitted electronically under this section.
(8)
If an individual applies to register under this section no later than 11 calendar days
before the date of an election, the county clerk shall:
(a)
accept and process the voter registration form;
(b)
unless the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote:
(i)
enter the applicant's name on the list of registered voters for the voting precinct in
which the applicant resides; and
(ii)
notify the individual that the individual is registered to vote in the upcoming
election; and
(c)
if the individual named in the form is preregistering to vote, comply with Section
20A-2-101.1
.
(9)
If an individual applies to register under this section after the deadline described in
Subsection
(8)
, the county clerk shall, unless the individual is preregistering to vote:
(a)
accept the application for registration; and
(b)
except as provided in Subsection
20A-2-207(6)
, if possible, promptly inform the
individual that the individual will not be registered to vote in the pending election,
unless the individual registers to vote by provisional ballot during the early voting
period, if applicable, on election day, in accordance with Section
20A-2-207
.
(10)
The lieutenant governor shall provide a means by which a registered voter shall sign
the application form.
(11)
For an individual who is registering to vote or is already registered to vote, the electronic
system described in Subsection
(1)
shall include the following:
"Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
_____ Mail a ballot to me.
_____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
Section 21. Section
20A-2-304
is amended to read:
20A-2-304
Effective
04/06/26
. County clerk's responsibilities -- Notice of
disposition.
Each county clerk shall:
(1)
register to vote each individual who meets the requirements for registration and who:
(a)
submits a completed voter registration form to the county clerk;
(b)
submits a completed voter registration form, as defined in
Section
20A-2-204
Subsection
20A-2-204(1)
, to the Driver License Division;
(c)
submits a completed voter registration form to a public assistance agency or a
discretionary voter registration agency; or
(d)
mails a completed voter registration form to the county clerk; and
(2)
within 30 calendar days after the day on which the county clerk processes a voter
registration form, send a notice to the individual who submits the form that:
(a)
(i)
informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been
accepted and that the individual is registered to vote;
(ii)
informs the individual of the procedure for designating or changing the
individual's political affiliation;
(iii)
informs the individual of the procedure to cancel a voter registration;
(iv)
provides instructions to the voter on how the voter may sign up to receive
electronic ballot status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in
Section
20A-3a-401.5
; and
(v)
confirms that the individual has chosen to receive electronic ballot status
notifications if the individual opted to receive electronic ballot status notifications
on the voter registration form;
(b)
informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form has been rejected
and the reason for the rejection; or
(c)
(i)
informs the individual that the individual's voter registration form is being
returned to the individual for further action because the form is incomplete; and
(ii)
gives instructions to the individual on how to properly complete the form.
The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
Section 22. Section
20A-2-504
is amended to read:
20A-2-504
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Removing names from the
official register -- General requirements -- Deceased individuals.
(1)
The county clerk may not remove a voter's name from the official register solely
because the voter has failed to vote in an election.
(2)
The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register if:
(a)
the voter dies and the requirements of Subsection
(3)
(4)
are met;
(b)
the county clerk, after complying with the requirements of Section
20A-2-505
,
receives written confirmation from the voter that the voter no longer resides within
the county clerk's county;
(c)
(i)
the county clerk obtains evidence that the voter's residence has changed;
(ii)
the county clerk mails notice to the voter as required under Section
20A-2-505
;
(iii)
the county clerk:
(A)
receives no response from the voter; or
(B)
does not receive information that confirms the voter's residence; and
(iv)
the voter does not vote or appear to vote in an election during the period
beginning on the date of the notice described in Section
20A-2-505
and ending on
the day after the date of the second regular general election occurring after the
date of the notice;
(d)
the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed from the official
register;
(e)
the county clerk receives notice that a voter has been convicted of any felony or a
misdemeanor for an offense under this title and the voter's right to vote has not been
restored as provided in Section
20A-2-101.3
or
20A-2-101.5
; or
(f)
the county clerk receives notice that a voter has registered to vote in another state
after the day on which the voter registered to vote in this state.
(3)
The lieutenant governor shall make available to a county clerk the United States Social
Security Administration data received by the lieutenant governor regarding deceased
individuals.
(3)
(4)
The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register within five
business days after the day on which the county clerk
:
(a)
receives, from the lieutenant governor, the information described in Subsection
(3)
or
26B-8-114(11)
in relation to the voter; or
(b)
receives confirmation from the Office of Vital Records
and Statistics
that the voter is
deceased.
(4)
(5)
No later than 90 calendar days before each primary election day and general
election day
,
:
(a)
the county clerk shall update the official register by reviewing the official register
and taking the actions permitted or required by law under this section, Section
20A-2-503
, and Section
20A-2-505
.
; and
(b)
the lieutenant governor shall compare the records that the lieutenant governor
receives under Subsections
(3)
and
26B-8-114(11)
to the official register to ensure
that each county clerk complies with Subsection
(4)
.
Section 23. Section
20A-2-505
is amended to read:
20A-2-505
Effective
04/06/26
. Removing names from the official register --
Determining and confirming change of residence.
(1)
A county clerk may not remove a voter's name from the official register on the grounds
that the voter has changed residence unless the voter:
(a)
confirms in writing that the voter has changed residence to a place outside the
county; or
(b)
(i)
does not vote in an election during the period beginning on the date of the
notice described in Subsection
(3)
, and ending on the day after the date of the
second regular general election occurring after the date of the notice; and
(ii)
does not respond to the notice described in Subsection
(3)
.
(2)
(a)
Within 31 calendar days after the day on which a county clerk obtains information
that a voter's address has changed, if it appears that the voter still resides within the
same county, the county clerk shall:
(i)
change the official register to show the voter's new address; and
(ii)
send to the voter, by forwardable mail, the notice described in Subsection
(3)
.
(b)
When a county clerk obtains information that a voter's address has changed and it
appears that the voter now resides in a different county, the county clerk shall verify
the changed residence by sending to the voter, by forwardable mail, the notice
described in Subsection
(3)
, printed on a postage prepaid, preaddressed return form.
(3)
(a)
Each county clerk shall use substantially the following form to notify voters
whose addresses have changed:
(i)
the first part of the form shall include the following:
"VOTER REGISTRATION NOTICE
We have been notified that your residence has changed. Please read, complete, and
return this form so that we can update our voter registration records. What is your current
street address?
___________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
County
State
Zip
What is your current phone number (optional)?________________________________
What is your current email address (optional)?_________________________________
";
(ii)
beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the form described in
Subsection
(3)(a)(i)
, the form shall include the following:
"Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to the
political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
The email address you provided above? Yes No
The phone number you provided above? Yes No"; and
(iii)
following the portions of the form required under Subsections
(3)(a)(i)
and
(ii)
, the form
shall include the following:
"
If you have not changed your residence, or have moved but stayed within the same county,
you must complete and return this form to the county clerk so that it is received by the county
clerk before 5 p.m. no later than 30 calendar days before the date of the election. If you fail to
return this form within that time:
- you may be required to show evidence of your address to the poll worker before being
allowed to vote in either of the next two regular general elections; or
- if you fail to vote at least once, from the date this notice was mailed until the passing of
two regular general elections, you will no longer be registered to vote. If you have changed
your residence and have moved to a different county in Utah, you may register to vote by
contacting the county clerk in your county.
________________________________________
Signature of Voter
PRIVACY INFORMATION
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such
as your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
political party with which you choose to affiliate.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
violence;
a law enforcement officer;
a member of the armed forces;
a public figure; or
an individual who is protected by a court order.
To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor]."
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
requirements of law.
Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
_____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
paragraphs.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
violence.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order."
(b)
The form described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall also include:
(i)
a section in substantially the following form:
"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above? Yes No
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------";
and
(ii)
no later than November 5, 2025,
the following, immediately after the question described
in Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
:
"Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
_____ Mail a ballot to me.
_____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(4)(b)
, the county clerk may not remove the
names of any voters from the official register during the 90 calendar days before a
regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before a regular general election.
(b)
The county clerk may remove the names of voters from the official register during
the 90 calendar days before a regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before
a regular general election if:
(i)
the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed; or
(ii)
the voter dies.
(c)
(i)
After a county clerk mails a notice under this section, the county clerk shall,
unless otherwise prohibited by law, list that voter as inactive.
(ii)
If a county clerk receives a returned voter identification card, determines that
there was no clerical error causing the card to be returned, and has no further
information to contact the voter, the county clerk shall, unless otherwise
prohibited by law, list that voter as inactive.
(iii)
An inactive voter may vote, sign petitions, and have all other privileges of a
registered voter.
(iv)
A county is not required to:
(A)
send routine mailings to an inactive voter; or
(B)
count inactive voters when dividing precincts and preparing supplies.
(5)
The lieutenant governor shall make available to a county clerk United States Social
Security Administration data received by the lieutenant governor regarding deceased
individuals.
(6)
A county clerk shall, within 10 business days after the day on which the county clerk
receives the information described in Subsection
(5)
or Subsections
26B-8-114(11)
and
(12)
relating to a decedent whose name appears on the official register, remove the
decedent's name from the official register.
(7)
Ninety calendar days before each primary and general election the lieutenant governor
shall compare the information the lieutenant governor has received under Subsection
26B-8-114(11)
with the official register of voters to ensure that all deceased voters have
been removed from the official register.
Section 24. Section
20A-2-601
is enacted to read:
6. Provision and Protection of Voter Data
20A-2-601
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
"Age range" means one of the following age ranges within which a registered voter's
age falls:
(a)
18 through 19 years old;
(b)
20 through 22 years old;
(c)
23 through 25 years old;
(d)
26 through 30 years old;
(e)
31 through 35 years old;
(f)
36 through 40 years old;
(g)
41 through 45 years old;
(h)
46 through 55 years old; or
(i)
an age range above the age range described in Subsection
(1)(h)
, in increasing
10-year increments.
(2)
"Armed forces" means the same as that term is defined in Section
20A-1-513
.
(3)
"At-risk voter" means a voter who is designated as an at-risk voter under Subsection
20A-2-602(4)(a)
or Section
20A-2-606
.
(4)
(a)
"Candidate for public office" means an individual:
(i)
who files a declaration of candidacy for a public office;
(ii)
who files a notice of intent to gather signatures under Section
20A-9-408
; or
(iii)
who is employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an individual
described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
or
(ii)
, who is authorized to act on behalf of the
individual described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
or
(ii)
for political purposes.
(b)
"Candidate for public office" does not include:
(i)
an individual described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
or
(ii)
who is eliminated as a
candidate for:
(A)
failure to qualify for the primary election ballot via signature-gathering or
convention;
(B)
failure to advance to the general election; or
(C)
any other reason provided by law; or
(ii)
an individual who is employed by, under contract with, or a volunteer of, an
individual described in Subsection
(4)(b)(i)
.
(5)
"Dating violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section
78B-7-102
and the
federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
(6)
"Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section
77-36-1
and the
federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994, as amended.
(7)
(a)
"Government entity" means:
(i)
the state; or
(ii)
a county, city, town, school district, special district, special service district, or
other political subdivision of the state.
(b)
"Government entity" includes an agency, bureau, office, department, division, board,
commission, institution, laboratory, or other instrumentality of an entity described in
Subsection
(7)(a)
.
(8)
"Government official" means:
(a)
an elected or appointed officer of a government entity; or
(b)
an employee of a government entity.
(9)
"Mailed ballot report" means the following information for an election:
(a)
for each public registered voter:
(i)
the voter's voter identification number;
(ii)
the voter's full legal name;
(iii)
the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
(iv)
the voter's county of residence;
(v)
the voter's precinct and congressional district;
(vi)
the date the election officer created the ballot order;
(vii)
the date the ballot was processed; and
(viii)
the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated; and
(b)
for each at-risk voter, the information described in Subsections
(9)(a)(iv)
through
(viii)
, without disclosing the identity of the voter.
(10)
"Political party" means the same as that term is defined in Section
20A-1-102
.
(11)
"Political purpose" means to lawfully engage in, bring about, prevent, advocate for or
against, or otherwise influence a political activity or process, including:
(a)
candidacy for public office;
(b)
a ballot measure;
(c)
voting;
(d)
an election;
(e)
a political caucus or convention;
(f)
political party administration; or
(g)
circulating a political petition.
(12)
"Public office" means the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general,
state auditor, state treasurer, state senator, state representative, state school board
member, or an elective office of a local political subdivision.
(13)
"Public registered voter" means a registered voter who is not an at-risk voter.
(14)
"Standard voter data" means the following information from a voter registration record:
(a)
the voter's full legal name;
(b)
the voter's voter identification number and federal information processing series
geographic code;
(c)
the voter's age range;
(d)
the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
(e)
the voter's county of residence;
(f)
the voter's mailing address, including the city;
(g)
the voter's precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
council district, and city council district;
(h)
the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
(i)
the voter's status as active or inactive;
(j)
the last day on which the voter's voter registration record was updated; and
(k)
the voting history of the voter.
(15)
"Voted report" means, the following information for an election:
(a)
for a public registered voter:
(i)
the voter's voter identification number;
(ii)
the voter's full legal name;
(iii)
the voter's complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
(iv)
the voter's county of residence;
(v)
the voter's precinct and congressional district;
(vi)
the method by which the voter voted;
(vii)
the date the ballot was processed; and
(viii)
the voter's party affiliation or status as unaffiliated; and
(b)
for an at-risk voter, the information described in Subsections
(15)(a)(iv)
through
(viii)
,
without disclosing the identity of the voter.
(16)
"Voting history" means the following information in relation to a registered voter for
an election held in the preceding eight years:
(a)
the voter's voter identification number;
(b)
the voter's full legal name;
(c)
the voter's status as active or inactive;
(d)
the voter's precinct; and
(e)
whether the voter voted in that election.
Section 25. Section
20A-2-602
is enacted to read:
20A-2-602
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Change of voter registration
record disclosure status -- Notice -- Redesignation of status.
(1)
On or before April 6, 2026, the lieutenant governor shall mail to each registered voter
whose voter registration record is designated as withheld:
(a)
an at-risk designation request form;
(b)
the following written notice:
"Notice of Voter Registration Record Status Change
You are receiving this notice because your voter registration record is currently
classified as withheld and is not subject to public disclosure. Your voter registration
will no longer be classified as withheld, and will be subject to public disclosure
unless, before May 6, 2026, you submit the enclosed at-risk designation request form,
and the required proof that you qualify as an at-risk voter, to your county clerk. If
you do not take this action before May 6, 2026, or if you do not qualify as an at-risk
voter, you will be designated as a public registered voter.
As a public registered voter, the following information from your voter
registration record is subject to public disclosure:
full legal name;
voter identification number and federal information processing series geographic
code;
age range;
complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
county of residence;
mailing address, including the city;
voting precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
council district, and city council district;
party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
status as an active or inactive voter;
the last day on which your registration record was updated; and
your voting history.
You may apply for designation as an at-risk voter in accordance with Utah Code
Section
20A-2-606
at any time, but if the application is not received by your county
clerk before May 6, 2026, your information, described above will, beginning on May
25, 2026, be subject to public disclosure, unless and until you request and receive
designation as an at-risk voter.
A person who uses or discloses information from a voter registration record in a
manner that is prohibited by law, including information in a voter registration that is
subject to public disclosure, is subject to criminal prosecution."; and
(c)
immediately after the notice described in Subsection
(1)(b)
, a brief, concise statement
of:
(i)
the qualifications to become an at-risk voter; and
(ii)
how to apply for designation as an at-risk voter.
(2)
On or before April 8, 2026, the lieutenant governor shall mail to each registered voter
whose voter registration record is designated as private:
(a)
the following written notice:
"Notice of Voter Registration Record Status Change
You are receiving this notice because your voter registration record is currently
classified as private and is not subject to public disclosure. Your voter registration
will no longer be classified as private, and will be subject to public disclosure unless,
before May 6, 2026, you submit the enclosed at-risk designation request form, and
the required proof that you qualify as an at-risk voter, to your county clerk. If you do
not take this action before May 6, 2026, or if you do not qualify as an at-risk voter,
you will be designated as a public registered voter.
As a public registered voter, the following information from your voter
registration record is subject to public disclosure:
full legal name;
voter identification number and federal information processing series geographic
code;
age range;
complete residential address, including the unit type and number;
county of residence;
mailing address, including the city;
voting precinct, congressional district, state House of Representatives district,
state Senate district, state school board district, local school board district, county
council district, and city council district;
party affiliation or status as unaffiliated;
status as an active or inactive voter;
the last day on which your registration record was updated; and
your voting history.
You may apply for designation as an at-risk voter in accordance with Utah Code
Section
20A-2-606
at any time, but if the application is not received by your county
clerk before May 6, 2026, your information, described above will, beginning on May
25, 2026, be subject to public disclosure, unless and until you request and receive
designation as an at-risk voter.
A person who uses or discloses information from a voter registration record in a
manner that is prohibited by law, including information in a voter registration that is
subject to public disclosure, is subject to criminal prosecution."; and
(b)
immediately after the notice described in Subsection
(2)(a)
, a brief, concise statement
of:
(i)
the qualifications to become an at-risk voter;
(ii)
how to apply for designation as an at-risk voter; and
(iii)
how to obtain an at-risk voter designation request form.
(3)
A county clerk who receives a completed at-risk designation request form on or before
May 6, 2026, shall, on or before May 21, 2026:
(a)
process the form; and
(b)
(i)
if, based on the information provided in the form and the supporting documents
provided with the form, the county clerk determines that the voter has established
that the voter qualifies as an at-risk voter, designate the voter as an at-risk voter; or
(ii)
if, based on the information provided in the form and the supporting documents
provided with the form, the county clerk does not make the determination
described in Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
, the county clerk shall, as soon as reasonably
possible, notify the voter, by mail or other means:
(A)
that the county clerk was not able to make the determination described in
Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
;
(B)
of the reason that the county clerk was not able to make the determination
described in Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
; and
(C)
of what, if anything, the voter can do to resolve the reason the county clerk
was not able to make the determination described in Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
.
(4)
On or before May 24, 2026, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall:
(a)
designate a current registered voter as an at-risk voter if:
(i)
before May 12, 2020, the voter's voter registration record was protected from
disclosure due to the election officer determining that the voter was facing a threat
or risk of harm;
(ii)
on or after May 12, 2020, the voter was designated as a withheld voter; or
(iii)
on or before May 24, 2026, the voter was designated as an at-risk voter under
Subsection
20A-2-606
; and
(b)
designate a current registered voter who is not designated as an at-risk voter under
Subsection
(4)(a)
as a public registered voter.
(5)
After the lieutenant governor or a county clerk finishes taking the action described in
Subsection
(4)
:
(a)
a voter designated as an at-risk voter shall maintain the designation, unless and until:
(i)
the voter is removed from the list of registered voters in accordance with the
requirements of this chapter;
(ii)
the voter requests removal of the designation; or
(iii)
the designation is removed in accordance with Subsection
20A-2-606(6)
; and
(b)
a voter designated as a public registered voter shall maintain the designation, unless
and until the voter is designated as an at-risk voter in accordance with Section
20A-2-606
.
(6)
Beginning on January 1, 2027, the lieutenant governor shall ensure that the Statewide
Electronic Voter Information Website provides a process where:
(a)
an individual may enter a voter identification number;
(b)
the website will respond to the entry described in Subsection
(6)(a)
with:
(i)
the current political party affiliation of the voter to which the voter identification
relates; and
(ii)
the last date on which the voter's voter registration was updated; and
(c)
the website will not provide any information, other than the information described in
Subsection
(6)(b)
, in response to the entry described in Subsection
(6)(a)
.
(7)
As soon as possible, but no later than January 1, 2027, the lieutenant governor shall post
the following information on the lieutenant governor's website, and update the
information on a monthly basis:
(a)
for the entire state:
(i)
the total number of at-risk voters in the state; and
(ii)
the total number of at-risk voters in the state who are affiliated with a political
party; and
(b)
for each state House of Representatives district and each state Senate district:
(i)
the total number of at-risk voters in the district; and
(ii)
the total number of at-risk voters in the district who are affiliated with a political
party.
Section 26. Section
20A-2-603
is enacted to read:
20A-2-603
Effective
04/06/26
. General request for voter registration records.
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, this part, or another express provision of
law, upon receiving a request under this section from a person for voter registration
records, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk:
(a)
shall disclose to the person the standard voter data from a public registered voter's
voter registration record; and
(b)
may not disclose to the person:
(i)
information from a public registered voter's voter registration record that is not
standard voter data; or
(ii)
any information from an at-risk voter's voter registration record.
(2)
A person that receives information under Subsection
(1)(a)
:
(a)
shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
be accessed by another person, unless the other person is an authorized agent of the
person that receives the information under Subsection
(1)(a)
;
(b)
may only use the information in a manner the person is permitted to use the
information under Subsection 20A-2-607(3);
(c)
may not:
(i)
use or share the information for a purpose other than a purpose described in
Subsection
(2)(b)
; or
(ii)
grant access to the information to a person other than an authorized agent of the
person that receives the information under Subsection
(1)(a)
;
(d)
notwithstanding Subsection
(2)(b)
, may not grant access to the information or share
the information with another person, if the person that receives the information under
this section believes that the other person:
(i)
will use or share the information in a manner other than a manner described in
Subsection
(2)(b)
; or
(ii)
will not comply with Subsection
(2)(a)
, (b), or (c); and
(e)
may limit access by an authorized agent of the person to only the portion of the
information needed for the authorized agent to fulfill a purpose for which the
authorized agent is:
(i)
permitted by law to use the information; and
(ii)
authorized by the person who receives the information under Subsection
(1)(a)
.
(3)
Before providing the information described in Subsection
(1)(a)
to a person under this
section:
(a)
if an individual is requesting the information on behalf of another person, the
lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that the individual requesting the
information on behalf of the other person is an authorized agent of the other person;
and
(b)
the individual requesting the information under Subsection
(3)(a)
shall sign a request
form that includes:
(i)
the name, address, and telephone number of the person that is seeking the
information;
(ii)
the individual's name, address, and telephone number;
(iii)
a statement that the individual is requesting the information:
(A)
on the individual's own behalf; or
(B)
as an authorized agent of the other person described in Subsection
(3)(a)
and
has presented to the lieutenant governor or the county clerk valid verification
that the individual is an authorized agent of the other person;
(iv)
a statement that the individual and, if applicable, the other person described in
Subsection
(3)(a)
:
(A)
will comply with the requirements described in Subsection
(2)
; and
(B)
will not provide or use the information obtained from the list of registered
voters in a manner that is prohibited by law;
(v)
a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
using the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, is punishable as a
class A misdemeanor and by a civil fine; and
(vi)
notice that if a person makes a false statement in the request form, the person is
punishable by law under Section
76-8-504
.
(c)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information described
in Subsection
(1)(a)
to a person requesting the information under this section if the
lieutenant governor or county clerk has probable cause to believe that the person:
(i)
is not the person whom the person claims to be;
(ii)
is not an agent of the person of whom the person claims to be an agent; or
(iii)
will use or share the information in a manner prohibited by law.
Section 27. Section
20A-2-604
is enacted to read:
20A-2-604
Effective
04/06/26
. Request for voter registration records by
political party -- Confirmation of political party affiliation.
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this section or another express provision of law, upon
receiving a request from a political party for voter registration records, the lieutenant
governor or a county clerk:
(a)
for each public registered voter who is not affiliated with the political party:
(i)
shall provide to the political party the voter's standard voter data; and
(ii)
may not provide to the political party any information from the public registered
voter's voter registration record that is not standard voter data;
(b)
for each public registered voter who is affiliated with the political party:
(i)
shall provide to the political party the voter's standard voter data;
(ii)
beginning January 1, 2027, shall provide the public registered voter's phone
number, only if the voter consents on the voter's voter registration form to the
election officer disclosing the voter's phone number to the political party;
(iii)
beginning January 1, 2027, shall provide the public registered voter's email
address, only if the voter consents on the voter's voter registration form to the
election officer disclosing the voter's email address to the political party; and
(iv)
may not provide to the political party any information relating to the voter other
than the information provided in accordance with Subsections
(1)(b)(i)
through
(iii); and
(c)
may not provide to the political party any information from an at-risk voter's voter
registration record.
(2)
If an at-risk voter consents, on the voter's voter registration form, to provide the political
party with which the voter chooses to affiliate with the voter's phone number or email
address, the county clerk or the lieutenant governor:
(a)
may not provide the phone number or email address to the political party; and
(b)
shall notify the at-risk voter that the voter must contact the political party directly to
provide the voter's phone number or email address to the political party.
(3)
A political party, or an agent of a political party, that receives information under this
section:
(a)
shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
be accessed by a person other than the political party or an authorized agent of the
political party;
(b)
may only use the information:
(i)
to communicate with an individual who is affiliated with the political party in
relation to the business of the political party or for a political purpose;
(ii)
to verify that the voter is a member of the political party;
(iii)
to conduct demographic or other analysis for a political purpose; or
(iv)
for a purpose described in Subsection
20A-2-607(3)
;
(c)
may not:
(i)
use or share the information for a purpose other than a purpose described in
Subsection
(3)(b)
; or
(ii)
grant access to the information to a person other than an authorized agent of the
political party;
(d)
notwithstanding Subsection
(1)(a)
or
(b)
, may not grant access to the information or
share the information with a person whom the political party believes:
(i)
will use or share the information in a manner other than a manner described in
Subsection
(3)(b)
; or
(ii)
will not comply with Subsection
(3)(a)
, (b), or (c); and
(e)
may limit access by an authorized agent to only the portion of the information
needed for the authorized agent to fulfill a purpose for which the authorized agent is:
(i)
permitted by law to use the information; and
(ii)
authorized by the state political party to use the information.
(4)
Before providing the information described in this section to a political party:
(a)
the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that the individual requesting the
information on behalf of the political party is an authorized agent of the political
party; and
(b)
the individual requesting the information under Subsection
(4)(a)
shall sign a request
form that includes:
(i)
the name, address, and telephone number of the political party that is seeking the
information;
(ii)
the individual's name, address, and telephone number;
(iii)
a statement that the individual is an authorized agent of the political party and
has presented to the lieutenant governor or the county clerk valid verification that
the individual is an authorized agent of the political party;
(iv)
a statement that the political party and the individual will comply with the
requirements described in Subsection
(3)
;
(v)
a statement that the political party, or an agent of the political party, will not
provide or use the information obtained from the list of registered voters in a
manner that is prohibited by law;
(vi)
a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
using the information in a manner that is prohibited by law, is punishable as a
class A misdemeanor and by a civil fine; and
(vii)
notice that if a person makes a false statement in the request form, the person is
punishable by law under Section
76-8-504
.
(5)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information described in
Subsection
(1)(a)
or
(b)
to a person requesting the information under this section if the
lieutenant governor or county clerk has probable cause to believe that the person:
(a)
is not a political party or an agent of the political party; or
(b)
will use or share the information in a manner prohibited by law.
Section 28. Section
20A-2-605
is enacted to read:
20A-2-605
Effective
04/06/26
. Request for voter registration records by a
government official.
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this section or another express provision of law, upon
request by a government official acting in the government official's capacity as a
government official, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk:
(a)
shall disclose to the government official only the information in a voter registration
record necessary to permit the government official to fulfill an official duty imposed
by law on the government official; and
(b)
may not disclose to the government official the information in a voter registration
record that is not necessary to permit the government official to fulfill an official duty
imposed by law on the government official.
(2)
A government official who receives information under Subsection
(1)(a)
:
(a)
shall ensure, using industry standard security measures, that the information may not
be accessed by a person other than the government official or the government entity
that the government official represents;
(b)
may only use the information to the extent necessary to fulfill a duty of the
government official; and
(c)
may not disclose the information to a person other than a person needing the
information to fulfill a duty of the government official or the government entity that
the government official represents.
(3)
Before providing the information described in Subsection
(1)(a)
to a government
official:
(a)
the lieutenant governor or county clerk shall verify that:
(i)
the person requesting the information is a government official; and
(ii)
it is necessary to provide the information requested to permit the government
official to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on the government official; and
(b)
the government official requesting the information shall sign a request form that
includes:
(i)
the name, address, and telephone number of the government official;
(ii)
the government official's position or title;
(iii)
a description of the information requested;
(iv)
a description of the official duty imposed by law on the government official that
requires the requested information;
(v)
a statement that the government official will ensure, using industry standard
security measures, that the information may not be accessed by a person other
than the government official or the government entity that the government official
represents;
(vi)
a statement that the government official will only use the information to the
extent necessary to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on the government
official;
(vii)
an assertion that the government official will not provide or use the information
obtained from the voter registration records in a manner that is prohibited by law;
(viii)
a statement that obtaining the information under false pretenses, or providing or
using the information from the voter registration records in a manner that is
prohibited by law, is punishable as a class A misdemeanor and a civil fine; and
(ix)
notice that if the person signing the request form makes a false statement in the
request form, the person is punishable by law under Section
76-8-504
.
(4)
The lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose the information under this
section if the lieutenant governor or county clerk reasonably believes that the person:
(a)
is not a government official;
(b)
does not need the information requested to fulfill an official duty imposed by law on
the government official; or
(c)
will provide or use the information in a manner prohibited by law.
Section 29. Section
20A-2-606
is enacted to read:
20A-2-606
Effective
04/06/26
. At-risk registered voter -- Application --
Designation -- Change of status.
(1)
Except to the extent expressly authorized in this part or otherwise expressly provided by
law, the lieutenant governor or a county clerk may not disclose an at-risk voter's voter
registration record, or any information from an at-risk voter's voter registration record.
(2)
(a)
The lieutenant governor shall design and distribute an at-risk designation request
form to each election officer and to each agency that provides a voter registration
form.
(b)
The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may make
rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
establishing requirements for providing the proof described in Subsections
(4)(a)(ii)
and (b)(ii).
(3)
The following may not encourage an individual to submit, or discourage an individual
from submitting, an at-risk designation request form:
(a)
an election officer;
(b)
an agency described in Subsection
(2)(a)
; or
(c)
an employee of a person described in Subsection
(3)(a)
or
(b)
.
(4)
A voter may apply for designation as an at-risk voter by submitting, either with the
voter's voter registration form, or separately to the voter's county clerk:
(a)
(i)
an at-risk designation request form indicating that the voter is, or resides with,
an individual who is a victim of, or who is threatened with, domestic violence or
dating violence; and
(ii)
in accordance with any rules made under Subsection
(2)(b)
, proof of the
indication described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
in the form of a sworn affidavit where
the voter swears to the following statement: "I am applying for designation as an
at-risk voter because I am, or I reside with, an individual who is a victim of, or
who is threatened with, domestic violence or dating violence."; or
(b)
(i)
an at-risk designation request form indicating that the voter, or an individual
who resides with the voter, is a law enforcement officer, a public figure, a member
of the armed forces, or protected by a protective order or protection order; and
(ii)
in accordance with any rules made under Subsection
(2)(b)
, proof of the
indication described in Subsection
(4)(b)(i)
.
(5)
A county clerk shall designate a voter as an at-risk voter if the voter complies with
Subsection
(4)
.
(6)
A county clerk shall, beginning in 2030, and every five years after 2030, before July 15:
(a)
mail to each voter who, for a period of one year or longer, has been designated as an
at-risk voter:
(i)
notice that the voter is designated as an at-risk voter and the grounds for the
designation;
(ii)
a list of the grounds for designating a voter as an at-risk voter;
(iii)
an inquiry regarding whether the voter still qualifies as an at-risk voter; and
(iv)
a self-addressed envelope, with postage prepaid, for the voter to mail the voter's
response to the inquiry described in Subsection (6)(a)(iii); and
(b)
remove the designation of a voter as an at-risk voter if the voter responds that the
voter no longer qualifies as an at-risk voter.
Section 30. Section
20A-2-607
is enacted to read:
20A-2-607
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Applicability and enforcement
-- Transition.
(1)
This part does not govern or restrict the release of a voter registration record:
(a)
to an election officer or an employee of an election officer;
(b)
for a government purpose relating to maintaining the voter registration list or the
administration of an election;
(c)
to the extent required by law, to the federal government to comply with, or verify
compliance with, the requirements of federal election law;
(d)
in accordance with an order of a court with jurisdiction; or
(e)
to a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for a legitimate law enforcement
purpose related to election law.
(2)
Beginning on March 9, 2026, and ending on May 25, 2026, a person that requests a
copy of the voter registration list:
(a)
will receive the portion of the list, as the list existed on March 8, 2026, that the
person was eligible to receive on March 8, 2026; and
(b)
will not receive an updated version of the list, or of any information in an updated
version of the list, until May 25, 2026.
(3)
A person may only obtain or use information from the list of registered voters for:
(a)
a political purpose;
(b)
another purpose for which the person is, under this part, expressly permitted to
obtain or use the information; or
(c)
another purpose for which the person is permitted to obtain or use the information:
(i)
under a provision of state or federal law; or
(ii)
by order of a court with jurisdiction.
(4)
It is unlawful for a person to:
(a)
obtain information from the list of registered voters under false pretenses;
(b)
obtain or use information from the list of registered voters for a purpose other than:
(i)
a political purpose;
(ii)
another purpose for which the person is, under this part, expressly permitted to
obtain or use the information; or
(iii)
another purpose for which the person is permitted to obtain or use the
information:
(A)
under a provision of state or federal law; or
(B)
by order of a court with jurisdiction;
(c)
knowingly post on the internet or otherwise disclose to the public, for a fee or free of
charge, the list of registered voters or information obtained from the list of registered
voters; or
(d)
knowingly disclose information from the list of registered voters in a manner that is
not permitted by law.
(5)
A violation of Subsection
(4)
is a class A misdemeanor.
Section 31. Section
20A-2-608
, which is renumbered from Section 20A-5-410 is renumbered
and amended to read:
20A-5-410
20A-2-608
Effective
04/06/26
. Election officer to keep voting
history information and status -- Restrictions.
(1)
As used in this section, "voting history record" means the following information
relating to a registered voter:
(a)
the information in the voter's voter registration record, other than the information
classified as private under Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(j)
;
(b)
the voter's privacy status;
(c)
the voter's status as active or inactive;
(d)
the voter's voter identification number;
(e)
the voter's federal information processing system code;
(f)
the voter's precinct;
(g)
each political district in which the voter is a resident;
(h)
a list of elections in which the voter voted;
(i)
whether the voter voted in person on election day;
(j)
whether the voter voted in person before election day;
(k)
whether the voter returned a mailed ballot;
(l)
whether the voter's ballot was mailed to an alternate address; and
(m)
the date on which the voter voted or on which the voter returned a mailed ballot.
(2)
(a)
Each election officer shall maintain, in the election officer's office, a voting
history record of those voters registered to vote in the election officer's jurisdiction.
(b)
The voting history record is a public record under
Title 63G, Chapter 2,
Government Records Access and Management Act
, except:
(i)
as it relates to a voter whose voter registration record is classified as private under
Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(k)
or (l); or
(ii)
a record or information described in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(n)
.
(1)
A county clerk shall maintain:
(a)
for each registered voter:
(i)
the standard voter information for that voter; and
(ii)
whether the voter is a public registered voter or an at-risk voter; and
(b)
only during the time period beginning on the day on which the bulk of ballots are
mailed for an election and ending at the close of operating hours on the day before
the election, a voted report and a mailed ballot report for the election.
(2)
(a)
Except as provided under Subsection
(2)(b)
, the county clerk shall retain a copy of
each voter registration form in a permanent countywide alphabetical file, which may
be electronic or some other recognized system.
(b)
The county clerk may transfer a superseded voter registration form to the Division of
Archives and Records Service created under Section
63A-12-101
.
(c)
A county clerk shall retain a list of currently registered voters.
(d)
The lieutenant governor shall maintain a list of registered voters in electronic form.
(e)
If there are any discrepancies between the lists described in Subsections
(2)(c)
and
(d)
,
the county clerk's list is the official list.
(3)
Subsection
(1)
or
(2)
does not authorize the disclosure of the information described in
Subsection
(1)
or
(2)
beyond the extent expressly provided in this part.
(3)
(a)
When an election officer reports voting history for an election, the election
officer shall, for each voter whose voter registration is classified as private under
Subsection
20A-2-104(4)(h)
, report the following, for that election only, without
disclosing the identity of the voter:
(i)
for voting by mail, the information described in Subsection
(4)(a)
;
(ii)
for early voting, the date the individual voted; and
(iii)
for voting on election day, the date the individual voted.
(b)
In relation to the information of a voter whose voter registration is classified as
private under Subsection
20A-2-104(4)(h)
, a report described in Subsection
(3)(a)
may not disclose, by itself or in conjunction with any other public information, the
identity or any other personal identifying information of the voter.
(4)
Subject to Subsection
(5)
, the election officer shall ensure that the voting history record
kept by the election officer for each voting precinct contains:
(a)
for voting by mail:
(i)
the date that the manual ballot was mailed to the voter; and
(ii)
the date that the voted manual ballot was received by the election officer;
(b)
for early voting:
(i)
the name and address of each individual who participated in early voting; and
(ii)
the date the individual voted; and
(c)
for voting on election day, the name and address of each individual who voted on
election day.
(5)
Subsection
(4)
does not authorize the disclosure of the information described in
Subsection
(4)
beyond the extent expressly provided in Subsections
(2)
and
(3)
.
(4)
A person may, on a subscription basis, obtain the voted report and the mailed ballot
report during the time period described in Subsection
(1)(b)
.
(6)
(5)
(a)
Notwithstanding the time limits for response to a request for records under
Section
63G-2-204
or the time limits for a request for records established in any
ordinance, the election officer shall ensure that the information required to be
disclosed under this
section
part
is recorded and made available
to the public
, upon
request and subject to the provisions of this part,
no later than one business day after
the day on which the election officer receives the information.
(b)
Notwithstanding the fee requirements of Section
63G-2-203
or the fee requirements
established in any ordinance, the election officer shall
make copies of the voting
history record available to the public, in accordance with this section, for the actual
cost of production or copying
provide the information disclosed under this section,
Section
20A-6-603
, or Section
20A-6-604
, in accordance with the fees established
under Subsection
63G-2-203(10)
.
Section 32. Section
20A-3a-401
is amended to read:
20A-3a-401
Effective
04/06/26
. Custody of voted ballots mailed or deposited in
a ballot drop box -- Disposition -- Notice -- Disclosures relating to unresolved ballots.
(1)
This section governs ballots returned by mail, via a ballot drop box, or by other legal
means.
(2)
Poll workers shall process return envelopes containing manual ballots that are in the
custody of the poll workers in accordance with this section.
(3)
Poll workers shall examine a return envelope to make the determinations described in
Subsection
(4)
.
(4)
The poll workers shall take the action described in Subsection
(5)(a)
if the poll workers
determine:
(a)
for an election held before January 1, 2029:
(i)
that the return envelope contains the last four digits of the voter's Utah driver
license number, Utah state identification card number, or social security number;
or
(ii)
if the return envelope does not contain the digits described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
,
that:
(A)
in accordance with the rules made under Subsection
(13)
, the signature on the
affidavit of the return envelope is reasonably consistent with the individual's
signature in the voter registration records; or
(B)
for an individual who checks the box described in Subsection
(7)(d)(v)
, the
signature is verified by alternative means;
(b)
for an election held on or after January 1, 2029:
(i)
that the return envelope contains the last four digits of the voter's Utah driver
license number, Utah state identification card number, or social security number;
(ii)
if the return envelope does not contain the digits described in Subsection
(4)(b)(i)
,
that the voter included in the return envelope a copy of the identification described
in Subsection
20A-3a-204(2)(c)(ii)
; or
(iii)
for a voter described in Subsection
20A-3a-301(7)
, that the voter complied with
Subsection
20A-3a-301(7)
;
(c)
that the affidavit is sufficient;
(d)
that the voter is registered to vote in the correct precinct;
(e)
that the voter's right to vote the ballot has not been challenged;
(f)
that the voter has not already voted in the election; and
(g)
for a voter who has not yet provided valid voter identification with the voter's voter
registration, whether the voter has provided valid voter identification with the return
envelope.
(5)
(a)
If the poll workers make all of the findings described in Subsection
(4)
, the poll
workers shall:
(i)
remove the manual ballot from the return envelope in a manner that does not
destroy the affidavit on the return envelope;
(ii)
ensure that the ballot is not examined in connection with the return envelope; and
(iii)
place the ballot with the other ballots to be counted.
(b)
If the poll workers do not make all of the findings described in Subsection
(4)
, the
poll workers shall:
(i)
disallow the vote;
(ii)
except as provided in Subsection
(6)
, without opening the return envelope, record
the ballot as "rejected" and state the reason for the rejection; and
(iii)
except as provided in Subsection
(6)
, place the return envelope, unopened, with
the other rejected return envelopes.
(6)
A poll worker may open a return envelope, if necessary, to determine compliance with
Subsection
(4)(b)(ii)
, (4)(b)(iii), or (4)(g).
(7)
(a)
If the poll workers reject an individual's ballot because the poll workers determine
that the return envelope does not comply with Subsection
(4)
, the election officer
shall:
(i)
contact the individual in accordance with Subsection
(8)
; and
(ii)
inform the individual:
(A)
that the identification information provided on the return envelope is in
question;
(B)
how the individual may resolve the issue; and
(C)
that, in order for the ballot to be counted, the individual is required to deliver
to the election officer a correctly completed affidavit, provided by the county
clerk, that meets the requirements described in Subsection
(7)(d)
.
(b)
If, under Subsection
(4)(a)(ii)(A)
, the poll workers reject an individual's ballot
because the poll workers determine, in accordance with rules made under Subsection
(13)
, that the signature on the return envelope is not reasonably consistent with the
individual's signature in the voter registration records, the election officer shall:
(i)
contact the individual in accordance with Subsection
(8)
; and
(ii)
inform the individual:
(A)
that the individual's signature is in question;
(B)
how the individual may resolve the issue; and
(C)
that, in order for the ballot to be counted, the individual is required to deliver
to the election officer a correctly completed affidavit, provided by the county
clerk, that meets the requirements described in Subsection
(7)(d)
.
(c)
The election officer shall ensure that the notice described in Subsection
(7)(a)
or
(b)
includes:
(i)
when communicating the notice by mail, a printed copy of the affidavit described
in Subsection
(7)(d)
and a courtesy reply envelope;
(ii)
when communicating the notice electronically, a link to a copy of the affidavit
described in Subsection
(7)(d)
or information on how to obtain a copy of the
affidavit; or
(iii)
when communicating the notice by phone, either during a direct conversation
with the voter or in a voicemail, arrangements for the voter to receive a copy of
the affidavit described in Subsection
(7)(d)
, either in person from the clerk's
office, by mail, or electronically.
(d)
An affidavit described in Subsection
(7)(a)(ii)(C)
or
(7)(b)(ii)(C)
shall include:
(i)
an attestation that the individual voted the ballot;
(ii)
a space for the individual to enter the individual's name, date of birth, and driver
license number or the last four digits of the individual's social security number;
(iii)
a space for the individual to sign the affidavit;
(iv)
a statement that, by signing the affidavit, the individual authorizes the lieutenant
governor's and county clerk's use of the information in the affidavit and the
individual's signature on the affidavit for voter identification purposes; and
(v)
a check box accompanied by language in substantially the following form: "I am
a voter with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act that
impacts my ability to sign my name consistently. I can provide appropriate
documentation upon request. To discuss accommodations, I can be contacted at
__________________".
(e)
In order for an individual described in Subsection
(7)(a)
or
(b)
to have the
individual's ballot counted, the individual shall deliver the affidavit described in
Subsection
(7)(d)
to the election officer.
(f)
An election officer who receives a signed affidavit under Subsection
(7)(e)
shall
immediately:
(i)
scan the signature on the affidavit electronically and keep the signature on file in
the statewide voter registration database developed under Section
20A-2-502
;
(ii)
if the election officer receives the affidavit no later than noon on the last business
day before the day on which the canvass begins, count the individual's ballot; and
(iii)
if the check box described in Subsection
(7)(d)(v)
is checked, comply with the
rules described in Subsection
(13)(c)
.
(8)
(a)
The election officer shall, within two business days after the day on which an
individual's ballot is rejected, notify the individual of the rejection and the reason for
the rejection, by phone, mail, email, or, if consent is obtained, text message, unless:
(i)
the ballot is cured within one business day after the day on which the ballot is
rejected; or
(ii)
the ballot is rejected because the ballot is received late or for another reason that
cannot be cured.
(b)
If an individual's ballot is rejected for a reason described in Subsection
(8)(a)(ii)
, the
election officer shall notify the individual of the rejection and the reason for the
rejection by phone, mail, email, or, if consent is obtained, text message, within the
later of:
(i)
30 calendar days after the day of the rejection; or
(ii)
30 calendar days after the day of the election.
(c)
The election officer may, when notifying an individual by phone under this
Subsection
(8)
, use auto-dial technology.
(9)
An election officer may not count the ballot of an individual whom the election officer
contacts under Subsection
(7)
or
(8)
unless, no later than noon on the last business day
before the day on which the canvass begins, the election officer:
(a)
receives a signed affidavit from the individual under Subsection
(7)
; or
(b)
(i)
contacts the individual;
(ii)
if the election officer has reason to believe that an individual, other than the voter
to whom the ballot was sent, signed the ballot affidavit, informs the individual that
it is unlawful to sign a ballot affidavit for another person, even if the person gives
permission;
(iii)
verifies the identity of the individual by:
(A)
requiring the individual to provide at least two types of personal identifying
information for the individual; and
(B)
comparing the information provided under Subsection
(9)(b)(iii)(A)
to records
relating to the individual that are in the possession or control of an election
officer; and
(iv)
documents the verification described in Subsection
(9)(b)(iii)
, by recording:
(A)
the name and voter identification number of the individual contacted;
(B)
the name of the individual who conducts the verification;
(C)
the date and manner of the communication;
(D)
the type of personal identifying information provided by the individual;
(E)
a description of the records against which the personal identifying information
provided by the individual is compared and verified; and
(F)
other information required by the lieutenant governor.
(10)
(a)
The election officer shall retain and preserve:
(i)
the return envelopes in accordance with Subsection
20A-4-202(2)
; and
(ii)
the documents described in Subsection
(9)(b)(iv)
in accordance with Subsection
20A-4-202(3)
.
(b)
If the election officer complies with Subsection
(10)(a)(ii)
by including the
documentation in the voter's voter registration record, the election officer shall make,
retain, and preserve a record of the name and voter identification number of each
voter contacted under Subsection
(9)(b)
.
(11)
(a)
The election officer shall record the following in the database used in the
verification process:
(i)
any initial rejection of a ballot under Subsection
(5)(b)
, within one business day
after the day on which the election officer rejects the ballot; and
(ii)
any resolution of a rejection of a ballot under Subsection
(9)
, within one business
day after the day on which the ballot rejection is resolved.
(b)
An election officer shall include, in the canvass report, a final report of the
disposition of all rejected and resolved ballots, including, for ballots rejected, the
following:
(i)
the number of ballots rejected because the voter did not sign the voter's ballot; and
(ii)
the number of ballots rejected because the voter's signatures on the ballot, and in
records on file, do not correspond.
(12)
Willful failure to comply with this section constitutes willful neglect of duty under
Section
20A-5-701
.
(13)
The director of elections within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall make
rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to
establish:
(a)
criteria and processes for use by poll workers in determining if a signature
corresponds with the signature on file for the voter under Subsection
(4)(a)(ii)(A)
;
(b)
training and certification requirements for election officers and employees of election
officers regarding the criteria and processes described in Subsection
(13)(a)
; and
(c)
in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C.
Secs. 12131 through 12165, an alternative means of verifying the identity of an
individual who checks the box described in Subsection
(7)(d)(v)
.
(14)
(a)
Upon request, and subject to Subsections
(14)(b)
and
(c)
, an election officer may
disclose the name and address of a voter whose ballot has been rejected and not yet
resolved with:
(i)
a candidate in the election;
(ii)
an individual who represents the candidate's campaign;
(iii)
the sponsors of an initiative or referendum appearing on the ballot; or
(iv)
for a ballot proposition appearing on the ballot, an individual who represents a
political issues committee, as defined in Section
20A-11-101
, if the political
issues committee supports or opposes the ballot proposition.
(b)
If an election officer discloses the information described in Subsection
(14)(a)
, the
election officer shall:
(i)
make the disclosure within two business days after the day on which the request is
made;
(ii)
respond to each request in the order the requests were made; and
(iii)
make each disclosure in a manner, and within a period of time, that does not
reflect favoritism to one requestor over another.
(c)
A disclosure described in this Subsection
(14)
may not include
the name or address
of a protected individual, as defined in Subsection 20A-2-104(1)
any information
relating to an at-risk voter, as defined in Section
20A-2-601
.
Section 33. Section
20A-6-105
is amended to read:
20A-6-105
Effective
04/06/26
. Provisional ballot envelopes.
(1)
Each election officer shall ensure that provisional ballot envelopes are printed in
substantially the following form:
(a)
the envelope shall include the following
statement
:
"AFFIRMATION
Are you a citizen of the United States of America? Yes No
Will you be 18 years old on or before election day? Yes No
If you checked "no" in response to either of the two above questions, do not complete
this form.
Name of Voter _________________________________________________________
First
Middle
Last
Driver License or Identification Card Number _________________________________
State of Issuance of Driver License or Identification Card Number _________________
Date of Birth ___________________________________________________________
Street Address of Principal Place of Residence
______________________________________________________________________
City
County
State
Zip Code
Telephone Number (optional) ______________________________________________
Email Address (optional)__________________________________________________
";
(b)
beginning on January 1, 2027, immediately following the portion of the envelope
described in Subsection
(1)(a)
, the envelope shall include the following:
"Do you consent to the election officer providing the following information to the
political party with which you affiliate? (optional):
The email address you provided above? Yes No
The phone number you provided above? Yes No";
(c)
following the statement required under Subsections
(1)(a)
and
(b)
, the envelope shall
include the following:
"
Last four digits of Social Security Number ____________________________
Last former address at which I was registered to vote (if known)
______________________________________________________________________
City
County
State
Zip Code
Voting Precinct (if known) _________________________________________________
I, (please print your full name)__________________________do solemnly swear or
affirm:
That I am eligible to vote in this election; that I have not voted in this election in any
other precinct; that I am eligible to vote in this precinct; and that I request that I be permitted
to vote in this precinct; and
Subject to penalty of law for false statements, that the information contained in this form
is true, and that I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of Utah, residing at the above
address; and that I am at least 18 years old and have resided in Utah for the 30 calendar days
immediately before this election.
Signed
______________________________________________________________________
Dated
______________________________________________________________________
In accordance with Section
20A-3a-506
, wilfully providing false information above is a
class B misdemeanor under Utah law and is punishable by imprisonment and by fine.
PRIVACY INFORMATION
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
your name, address, and age range. Your date of birth, driver license number, state
identification card number, and social security number are available only to an authorized
government entity. Your email address and phone number are also only available to an
authorized government entity, unless you have consented, above, to disclose them to the
political party with which you choose to affiliate.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that your voter registration
record be withheld from public disclosure if you are, or reside with:
an individual who is a victim of, or is threatened with, domestic violence or dating
violence;
a law enforcement officer;
a member of the armed forces;
a public figure; or
an individual who is protected by a court order.
To make this request for additional privacy protection, you must prove that you qualify by
submitting an at-risk designation request form, and any required proof, to your county clerk.
You may obtain the form, and information on the proof required, from your county clerk or at
the following website [insert the website address specified by the lieutenant governor].
Voter registration records contain some information that is available to the public, such as
your name and address, some information that is available only to government entities, and
some information that is available only to certain third parties in accordance with the
requirements of law.
Your driver license number, identification card number, social security number, email
address, full date of birth, and phone number are available only to government entities. Your
year of birth is available to political parties, candidates for public office, certain third parties,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, in accordance with the requirements of law.
You may request that all information on your voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by indicating here:
_____ Yes, I request that all information on my voter registration records be withheld
from all persons other than government entities, political parties, candidates for public office,
and their contractors, employees, and volunteers.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTION
In addition to the protections provided above, you may request that identifying
information on your voter registration records be withheld from all political parties, candidates
for public office, and their contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a
withholding request form, and any required verification, as described in the following
paragraphs.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form with this
registration record, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk, if the person is or is likely
to be, or resides with a person who is or is likely to be, a victim of domestic violence or dating
violence.
A person may request that identifying information on the person's voter registration
records be withheld from all political parties, candidates for public office, and their
contractors, employees, and volunteers, by submitting a withholding request form and any
required verification with this registration form, or to the lieutenant governor or a county clerk,
if the person is, or resides with a person who is, a law enforcement officer, a member of the
armed forces, a public figure, or protected by a protective order or a protection order.
CITIZENSHIP AFFIDAVIT
Name:
Name at birth, if different:
Place of birth:
Date of birth:
Date and place of naturalization (if applicable):
I hereby swear and affirm, under penalties for voting fraud set forth below, that I am a
citizen and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information above is true and
correct.
____________________________
Signature of Applicant
In accordance with Section
20A-2-401
, the penalty for willfully causing, procuring, or
allowing yourself to be registered to vote if you know you are not entitled to register to vote is
up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.";
and
(b)
(d)
the following statement shall appear after the statement described in Subsection
(1)(a)
(1)(c)
:
"BALLOT NOTIFICATIONS
Do you consent to receive communications about the status of your ballot and other official
communications, by text, at the phone number you provided above? Yes No
"; and
(c)
no later than November 5, 2025, after the statement described in Subsection
(1)(b)
, the
following:
"
Indicate below how you want to vote in upcoming elections:
_____ Mail a ballot to me.
_____ Do not mail a ballot to me. I will vote in person."
(2)
The provisional ballot envelope shall include:
(a)
a unique number;
(b)
a detachable part that includes the unique number;
(c)
a telephone number, internet address, or other indicator of a means, in accordance
with Section
20A-6-105.5
, where the voter can find out if the provisional ballot was
counted; and
(d)
an insert containing written instructions on how a voter may sign up to receive ballot
status notifications via the ballot tracking system described in Section
20A-3a-401.5
.
Section 34. Section
20A-7-103
is amended to read:
20A-7-103
Effective
upon governor's approval
Contingently
Superseded
01/01/27
.
Constitutional amendments and other questions submitted by the Legislature --
Publication -- Ballot title -- Procedures for submission to popular vote.
(1)
The procedures contained in this section govern when the Legislature submits a
proposed constitutional amendment or other question to the voters.
(2)
The lieutenant governor shall, not more than 60 calendar days or less than 14 calendar
days before the date of the election, publish the full text of the amendment, question, or
statute for the state, as a class A notice under Section
63G-30-102
, through the date of
the election.
(3)
(a)
The
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
shall:
(a)
(i)
entitle each proposed constitutional amendment "Constitutional Amendment
__" and assign a letter to the constitutional amendment in accordance with the
requirements of Section
20A-6-107
;
(b)
(ii)
entitle each proposed question "Proposition Number __" with the number
assigned to the proposition under Section
20A-6-107
placed in the blank;
(c)
(iii)
draft and designate a ballot title for each proposed amendment or question
submitted by the Legislature that:
(i)
(A)
summarizes the subject matter of the amendment or question; and
(ii)
(B)
for a proposed constitutional amendment, summarizes any legislation that
is enacted and will become effective upon the voters' adoption of the proposed
constitutional amendment; and
(d)
(iv)
deliver each letter or number and ballot title to the lieutenant governor.
(b)
Consistent with Section
36-12-12
, the legislative general counsel performs the duties
in this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
(4)
The lieutenant governor shall certify the letter or number and ballot title of each
amendment or question to the county clerk of each county no later than 65 calendar days
before the date of the election.
(5)
The county clerk of each county shall:
(a)
ensure that the letter or number and the ballot title of each amendment and question
prepared in accordance with this section are included in the sample ballots and
official ballots; and
(b)
publish the sample ballots and official ballots as provided by law.
Section 35. Section
20A-7-103
is amended to read:
20A-7-103
Contingently
Effective
01/01/27
. Constitutional amendments and
other questions submitted by the Legislature -- Publication -- Ballot title -- Procedures
for submission to popular vote.
(1)
The procedures contained in this section govern when the Legislature submits a
proposed constitutional amendment or other question to the voters.
(2)
The lieutenant governor shall:
(a)
for a proposed constitutional amendment, in accordance with Utah Constitution,
Article XXIII, Section 1, publish the entire text of the proposed constitutional
amendment for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election, as
a class A notice under Section
63G-30-102
; or
(b)
for a question other than a proposed constitutional amendment, publish the question
for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election, as a class A
notice under Section
63G-30-102
.
(3)
(a)
The
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
shall:
(a)
(i)
entitle each proposed constitutional amendment "Constitutional Amendment
__" and assign a letter to the constitutional amendment in accordance with the
requirements of Section
20A-6-107
;
(b)
(ii)
entitle each proposed question "Proposition Number __" with the number
assigned to the proposition under Section
20A-6-107
placed in the blank;
(c)
(iii)
draft and designate a ballot title for each proposed amendment or question
submitted by the Legislature that:
(i)
(A)
summarizes the subject matter of the amendment or question; and
(ii)
(B)
for a proposed constitutional amendment, summarizes any legislation that
is enacted and will become effective upon the voters' adoption of the proposed
constitutional amendment; and
(d)
(iv)
deliver each letter or number and ballot title to the lieutenant governor.
(b)
Consistent with Section
36-12-12
, the legislative general counsel performs the duties
in this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
(4)
The lieutenant governor shall certify the letter or number and ballot title of each
amendment or question to the county clerk of each county no later than 65 calendar days
before the date of the election.
(5)
The county clerk of each county shall:
(a)
ensure that the letter or number and the ballot title of each amendment and question
prepared in accordance with this section are included in the sample ballots and
official ballots; and
(b)
publish the sample ballots and official ballots as provided by law.
Section 36. Section
20A-7-105
is amended to read:
20A-7-105
Effective
05/25/26
. Manual petition processes -- Obtaining
signatures -- Verification -- Submitting the petition -- Certification of signatures --
Transfer to lieutenant governor -- Removal of signature.
(1)
This section applies only to the manual initiative process and the manual referendum
process.
(2)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Local petition" means:
(i)
a manual local initiative petition described in Part 5, Local Initiatives -
Procedures; or
(ii)
a manual local referendum petition described in Part 6, Local Referenda -
Procedures.
(b)
"Packet" means an initiative packet or referendum packet.
(c)
"Petition" means a local petition or statewide petition.
(d)
"Statewide petition" means:
(i)
a manual statewide initiative petition described in Part 2, Statewide Initiatives; or
(ii)
a manual statewide referendum petition described in Part 3, Statewide Referenda.
(3)
(a)
A Utah voter may sign a statewide petition if the voter is a legal voter.
(b)
A Utah voter may sign a local petition if the voter:
(i)
is a legal voter; and
(ii)
resides in the local jurisdiction.
(4)
(a)
The sponsors shall ensure that the individual in whose presence each signature
sheet was signed:
(i)
is at least 18 years old;
(ii)
verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification printed on the last
page of each packet; and
(iii)
is informed that each signer is required to read and understand:
(A)
for an initiative petition, the law proposed by the initiative; or
(B)
for a referendum petition, the law that the referendum seeks to overturn.
(b)
An individual may not sign the verification printed on the last page of a packet if the
individual signed a signature sheet in the packet.
(5)
(a)
The sponsors, or an agent of the sponsors, shall submit a signed and verified
packet to the county clerk of the county in which the packet was circulated before 5
p.m. no later than the earlier of:
(i)
for a statewide initiative:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the first individual signs the initiative packet;
(B)
the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
which the application for the initiative petition is filed; or
(C)
the February 15 immediately before the next regular general election
immediately after the application is filed under Section
20A-7-202
;
(ii)
for a statewide referendum:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the first individual signs the referendum packet; or
(B)
the first business day that is at least 40 calendar days after the day on which
the legislative session at which the law passed ends;
(iii)
for a local initiative:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the first individual signs the initiative packet;
(B)
the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
which the application is filed;
(C)
the April 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately
after the application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
, if the local initiative is a
county initiative; or
(D)
the April 15 immediately before the next municipal general election
immediately after the application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
, if the local
initiative is a municipal initiative; or
(iv)
for a local referendum:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the first individual signs the referendum packet; or
(B)
the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which
the sponsors receive the items described in Subsection
20A-7-604(3)
from the
local clerk.
(b)
A person may not submit a packet after the applicable deadline described in
Subsection
(5)(a)
.
(c)
Before delivering an initiative packet to the county clerk under this Subsection
(5)
,
the sponsors shall send an email to each individual who provides a legible, valid
email address on the signature sheet that includes the following:
(i)
the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
Your Petition Signature"; and
(ii)
the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following initiative:
[insert title of initiative]
To access a copy of the initiative petition, the initiative, the fiscal impact statement, and
information on the deadline for removing your signature from the petition, please visit the
following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the individual directly to the page
on the lieutenant governor's or county clerk's website that includes the information referred to
in the email]."
(d)
For a statewide initiative, the sponsors shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the day on which
the sponsors submit the last initiative packet to the county clerk, submit to the
lieutenant governor:
(i)
a list containing:
(A)
the name and email address of each individual the sponsors sent, or caused to
be sent, the email described in Subsection
(5)(c)
; and
(B)
the date the email was sent;
(ii)
a copy of the email described in Subsection
(5)(c)
; and
(iii)
the following written verification, completed and signed by each of the sponsors:
"Verification of initiative sponsor State of Utah, County of __________I, __________,
of __________, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
I am a sponsor of the initiative petition entitled ____________________; and
I sent, or caused to be sent, to each individual who provided a legible, valid email
address on a signature sheet submitted to the county clerk in relation to the initiative petition,
the email described in Utah Code Subsection
20A-7-105(5)(c)
.
______________________________________________________________ __
(Name)
(Residence Address)
(Date)
.
"
.
(e)
For a local initiative, the sponsors shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the day on which the
sponsors submit the last initiative packet to the local clerk, submit to the local clerk
the items described in Subsection
(5)(d)
.
(f)
Signatures gathered for an initiative petition are not valid if the sponsors do not
comply with Subsection
(5)(c)
, (d), or (e).
(6)
(a)
Within 21 calendar days after the day on which the county clerk receives the
packet, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
, or
20A-7-106
if applicable,
to determine whether each signer is a legal voter and, as applicable, the
jurisdiction where the signer is registered to vote;
(ii)
for a statewide initiative or a statewide referendum:
(A)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a legal voter;
(B)
post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of
each legal voter certified under Subsection
(6)(a)(ii)(A)
on the lieutenant
governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant
governor; and
(C)
deliver the verified packet to the lieutenant governor;
(iii)
for a local initiative or a local referendum:
(A)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a legal voter who is
registered in the jurisdiction to which the initiative or referendum relates;
(B)
post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of
each legal voter certified under Subsection
(6)(a)(iii)(A)
on the lieutenant
governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant
governor; and
(C)
deliver the verified packet to the local clerk.
(b)
For a local initiative or local referendum, the local clerk shall post a link in a
conspicuous location on the local government's website to the posting described in
Subsection
(6)(a)(iii)(B)
:
(i)
for a local initiative, during the period of time described in Subsection
20A-7-507(3)(a)
; or
(ii)
for a local referendum, during the period of time described in Subsection
20A-7-607(2)(a)(i)
.
(7)
The county clerk may not certify a signature under Subsection
(6)
:
(a)
on a packet that is not verified in accordance with Subsection
(4)
; or
(b)
that does not have a date of signature next to the signature.
(8)
(a)
A voter who signs a statewide initiative petition may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section
20A-1-1003
, submitting to
the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
(i)
for an initiative packet received by the county clerk before December 1:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
(B)
the first business day that is at least 90 calendar days after the day on which
the lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection
20A-7-207(2)
;
or
(ii)
for an initiative packet received by the county clerk on or after December 1:
(A)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which
the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
(B)
the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which
the lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection
20A-7-207(2)
.
(b)
A voter who signs a statewide referendum petition may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section
20A-1-1003
, submitting to
the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
(i)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
voter signs the statement requesting removal; or
(ii)
the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which the
lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection
20A-7-307(2)
.
(c)
A voter who signs a local initiative petition may have the voter's signature removed
from the petition by, in accordance with Section
20A-1-1003
, submitting to the
county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later than
5 p.m. the earlier of:
(i)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
voter signs the signature removal statement;
(ii)
the first business day that is at least 90 calendar days after the day on which the
local clerk posts the voter's name under Subsection
20A-7-507(2)
;
(iii)
the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on
which the application is filed; or
(iv)
(A)
for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular
general election immediately after the application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
; or
(B)
for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal
general election immediately after the application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
.
(d)
A voter who signs a local referendum petition may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, in accordance with Section
20A-1-1003
, submitting to
the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed no later
than 5 p.m. the earlier of:
(i)
the first business day that is at least 30 calendar days after the day on which the
voter signs the statement requesting removal; or
(ii)
the first business day that is at least 45 calendar days after the day on which the
local clerk posts the voter's name under Subsection
20A-7-607(2)(a)
.
(e)
In order for the signature to be removed, the county clerk must receive the statement
described in this Subsection
(8)
before 5 p.m. no later than the applicable deadline
described in this Subsection
(8)
.
(f)
A county clerk shall analyze a signature, for purposes of removing a signature from a
petition, in accordance with Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
.
(9)
(a)
If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
Subsection
(8)
and determines that the signature should be removed from the petition
under Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
not included in the posting described in Subsection
(6)(a)(ii)(B)
or
(iii)(B)
; and
(ii)
remove the voter's signature from the signature packets and signature packet
totals.
(b)
The county clerk shall comply with Subsection
(9)(a)
before the later of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(6)(a)
; or
(ii)
two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
requesting signature removal under Subsection
(8)
.
(10)
A person may not retrieve a packet from a county clerk, or make any alterations or
corrections to a packet, after the packet is submitted to the county clerk.
Section 37. Section
20A-7-203
is amended to read:
20A-7-203
Effective
05/25/26
. Manual initiative process -- Form of initiative
petition and signature sheets.
(1)
This section applies only to the manual initiative process.
(2)
(a)
Each proposed initiative petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
"INITIATIVE PETITION To the Honorable ____, Lieutenant Governor:
We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully demand that the following proposed
law be submitted to the legal voters/Legislature of Utah for their/its approval or rejection at the
regular general election/session to be held/ beginning on _________(month\day\year);
Each signer says:
I have personally signed this initiative petition or, if I am an individual with a qualifying
disability, I have signed this initiative petition by directing the signature gatherer to enter the
initials "AV" as my signature;
The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
initiative petition;
I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
NOTICE TO SIGNERS:
Public hearings to discuss this initiative were held at: (list dates and locations of public
hearings.)".
(b)
If the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement shall appear, in at least
14-point, bold type, immediately following the information described in Subsection
(2)(a)
:
"This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."
.
(c)
The sponsors of an initiative or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
proposed law to each initiative petition.
(3)
Each initiative signature sheet shall:
(a)
be printed on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
be ruled with a horizontal line
three-fourths inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the
space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(c)
include the title of the initiative printed below the horizontal line, in at least 14-point,
bold type;
(d)
include a table immediately below the title of the initiative, and beginning .5 inch
from the left side of the paper, as follows:
(i)
the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
(ii)
the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
(iii)
the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
(iv)
the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
(v)
the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(vi)
the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
type;
(vii)
the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(viii)
the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
(ix)
the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(x)
the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(xi)
the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
(xii)
the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xiii)
the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
(xiv)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xv)
the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
(xvi)
the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Date Signed" in 10-point type;
(xvii)
the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xviii)
the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
(xix)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
(xx)
the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
and contain the following statement, "By signing this initiative petition, you are
stating that you have read and understand the law proposed by this initiative
petition." in 12-point type;
(e)
the table described in Subsection
(3)(d)
shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection
(3)(f)
; and
(f)
at the bottom of the sheet, include in the following order:
(i)
the words "Fiscal Impact of" followed by the title of the initiative, in at least
12-point, bold type;
(ii)
except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, the initial fiscal impact statement issued by
the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-202.5(2)(a)
, including any update in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-204.1(5)
, in not less than 12-point type;
(iii)
if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in 12-point, bold type:
"This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."; and
(iv)
the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by the following statement in not
less than eight-point type:
"It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
that the individual is not a registered voter.
Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
(4)
The final page of each initiative packet shall contain the following printed or typed
statement:
Verification of signature collector
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear in this initiative packet were signed by individuals who
professed to be the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed
the individual's name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying
disability, I have signed this initiative petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the
individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's
signature;
I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this initiative
packet by the initials "AV":
I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the initiative
petition on the individual's behalf;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
capacity to give direction or consent;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
understand the purpose or nature of my signing the initiative petition on the individual's behalf;
I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
or consenting for me to, sign the initiative petition on the individual's behalf; and
I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
sheet;
I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law proposed by
the initiative;
I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
correctly, that each signer has read the law proposed by the initiative, and that each signer is
registered to vote in Utah;
The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name; and
I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this initiative
packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
______________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address) (Date)
(5)
If the initial fiscal impact statement described in Subsection
(3)(f)(ii)
, as updated in
accordance with Subsection
20A-7-204.1(5)
, exceeds 200 words, the Office of the
Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall prepare a shorter summary statement, for the purpose of
inclusion on an initiative signature sheet, that does not exceed 200 words.
(6)
If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the initiative petitions
are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
Section 38. Section
20A-7-215
is amended to read:
20A-7-215
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic initiative process -- Form of initiative
petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
(2)
(a)
The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
"This INITIATIVE PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, Lieutenant
Governor:
The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully demand that the following
proposed law be submitted to the legal voters/Legislature of Utah for their/its approval or
rejection at the regular general election/session to be held/beginning on
_________(month\day\year)."
(b)
An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
understand the information presented on this screen."
(3)
(a)
The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the following
statement:
"Public hearings to discuss this initiative were held at: (list dates and locations of public
hearings.)".
(b)
An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the information presented on this screen."
(4)
(a)
The third screen presented on the approved device shall include the title of
proposed law, described in Subsection
20A-7-202(2)(e)(i)
, followed by the entire text
of the proposed law.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the third screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the entire text of the proposed law."
(5)
Subsequent screens shall be presented on the device in the following order, with the
individual viewing the device being required, before advancing to the next screen, to
click a link at the bottom of the screen with the following statement: "By clicking here, I
attest that I have read and understand the information presented on this screen.":
(a)
a description of all proposed sources of funding for the costs associated with the
proposed law, including the proposed percentage of total funding from each source;
(b)
(i)
if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement, "This initiative
seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax percentage
difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."; or
(ii)
if the initiative does not propose a tax increase, the following statement, "This
initiative does not propose a tax increase.";
(c)
the initial fiscal impact statement issued by the Office of the Legislative Fiscal
Analyst in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-202.5(2)(a)
, including any update in
accordance with Subsection
20A-7-204.1(5)(b)
;
(d)
a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the initiative petition
may be paid for gathering signatures; and
(e)
the following statement, followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
"I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
I am personally signing this initiative petition;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
accurate.
It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
that the individual is not a registered voter.
WARNING
Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this initiative petition will be
made public.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
Do you wish to continue and sign this initiative petition?"
(6)
(a)
If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)(e)
, the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your
time. Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
(b)
If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)(e)
, the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
signature-gatherer and the individual signing the initiative petition through the
signature process described in Section
20A-21-201
.
Section 39. Section
20A-7-217
is amended to read:
20A-7-217
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic initiative process -- Collecting
signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
(2)
A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., the earlier of:
(a)
the last business day that is no more than 316 calendar days after the day on which
the initiative application is filed; or
(b)
the February 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately
after the initiative application is filed under Section
20A-7-202
.
(3)
The lieutenant governor shall send to each individual who provides a valid email
address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a)
the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
Your Petition Signature"; and
(b)
the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following initiative:
[insert title of initiative]
To access a copy of the initiative petition, the text of the law proposed by the initiative,
the fiscal impact statement, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from
the initiative petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that
takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
information referred to in the email]."
(4)
Except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, the county clerk shall, within two business days
after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs an initiative petition is
certified under Section
20A-21-201
, post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
(a)
If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
Subsection
20A-7-216(4)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
not included in the posting described in Subsection
(4)
; and
(ii)
remove the voter's signature from the initiative petition and the initiative petition
signature totals.
(b)
The county clerk shall comply with Subsection
(5)(a)
before the later of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(4)
; or
(ii)
two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
requesting signature removal under Subsection
20A-7-216(4)
.
Section 40. Section
20A-7-303
is amended to read:
20A-7-303
Effective
05/25/26
. Manual referendum process -- Form of
referendum petition and signature sheets.
(1)
This section applies only to the manual referendum process.
(2)
(a)
Each proposed referendum petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
"REFERENDUM PETITION To the Honorable ____, Lieutenant Governor:
We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully order that Senate (or House) Bill No.
____, entitled (title of act, and, if the petition is against less than the whole act, set forth here
the part or parts on which the referendum is sought), passed by the Legislature of the state of
Utah during the ____ Session, be referred to the people of Utah for their approval or rejection
at a regular general election or a statewide special election;
Each signer says:
I have personally signed this referendum petition or, if I am an individual with a
qualifying disability, I have signed this referendum petition by directing the signature gatherer
to enter the initials "AV" as my signature;
The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
referendum petition;
I have personally read the entire statement included with this referendum packet;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.
".
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(b)
The sponsors of a referendum or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
law that is the subject of the referendum to each referendum petition.
(3)
Each referendum signature sheet shall:
(a)
be printed on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
be ruled with a horizontal line
three-fourths inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the
space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(c)
include the title of the referendum printed below the horizontal line, in at least
14-point, bold type;
(d)
include a table immediately below the title of the referendum, and beginning .5 inch
from the left side of the paper, as follows:
(i)
the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
(ii)
the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
(iii)
the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
(iv)
the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
(v)
the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(vi)
the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
type;
(vii)
the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(viii)
the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
(ix)
the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(x)
the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(xi)
the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
(xii)
the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xiii)
the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
(xiv)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xv)
the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
(xvi)
the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Date Signed" in 10-point type;
(xvii)
the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xviii)
the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
(xix)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
(xx)
the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
and contain the following words "By signing this referendum petition, you are
stating that you have read and understand the law that this referendum petition
seeks to overturn." in 12-point type;
(e)
the table described in Subsection
(3)(d)
shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection
(3)(f)
; and
(f)
at the bottom of the sheet, include the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by
the following statement in not less than eight-point type:
"It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
(4)
The final page of each referendum packet shall contain the following printed or typed
statement:
Verification of signature collector
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear in this referendum packet were signed by individuals who
professed to be the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed
the individual's name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying
disability, I have signed this referendum petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of
the individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's
signature;
I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this referendum
packet by the initials "AV":
I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the referendum
petition on the individual's behalf;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
capacity to give direction or consent;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
understand the purpose or nature of my signing the referendum petition on the individual's
behalf;
I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
or consenting for me to, sign the referendum petition on the individual's behalf; and
I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
sheet;
I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law this petition
seeks to overturn;
I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
correctly, that each signer has read the law that the referendum seeks to overturn, and that each
signer is registered to vote in Utah;
The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name; and
I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this referendum
packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
________________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address) (Date).
(5)
If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the referendum
petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
Section 41. Section
20A-7-313
is amended to read:
20A-7-313
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic referendum process -- Form of
referendum petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
(2)
(a)
The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
"This REFERENDUM PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, Lieutenant
Governor:
The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully order that Senate (or House) Bill
No.____, entitled (title of act, and, if the petition is against less than the whole act, set forth
here the part or parts on which the referendum is sought), passed by the Legislature of the state
of Utah during the ____ Session, be referred to the people of Utah for their approval or
rejection at a regular general election or a statewide special election."
(b)
An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
understand the information presented on this screen."
(3)
(a)
The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the entire text
of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the entire text of the law that is the subject of the referendum
petition."
(4)
(a)
The third screen presented on the approved device shall include a statement
indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the referendum petition may be
paid for gathering signatures.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
understand the information presented on this screen."
(5)
The fourth screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement,
followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
"I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
I am personally signing this referendum petition;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
accurate.
It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
WARNING
Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this referendum petition will
be made public.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
Do you wish to continue and sign this referendum petition?"
(6)
(a)
If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)
,
the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your time.
Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
(b)
If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)
,
the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
signature-gatherer and the individual signing the referendum petition through the
signature process described in Section
20A-21-201
.
Section 42. Section
20A-7-315
is amended to read:
20A-7-315
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic referendum process -- Collecting
signatures -- Removal of signatures.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
(2)
A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., 40 calendar days after the
day on which the legislative session at which the law passed ends.
(3)
The lieutenant governor shall send to each individual who provides a valid email
address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a)
the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
Your Petition Signature"; and
(b)
the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following referendum:
[insert title of referendum]
To access a copy of the referendum petition, the law that is the subject of the referendum
petition, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the referendum
petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the
individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
information referred to in the email]."
(4)
Except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, the county clerk shall, within two business days
after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs a referendum petition is
certified under Section
20A-21-201
, post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
(a)
If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
Subsection
20A-7-314(4)
, the county clerk shall:
(i)
ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
not included in the posting described in Subsection
(4)
; and
(ii)
remove the voter's signature from the referendum petition and the signature totals.
(b)
The county clerk shall comply with Subsection
(5)(a)
before the later of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(4)
; or
(ii)
two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
requesting signature removal under Subsection
20A-7-314(4)
.
Section 43. Section
20A-7-503
is amended to read:
20A-7-503
Effective
05/25/26
. Manual initiative process -- Form of initiative
petition and signature sheet.
(1)
This section applies only to the manual initiative process.
(2)
(a)
Each proposed initiative petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
"INITIATIVE PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City Recorder/Town
Clerk:
We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully demand that the following proposed
law be submitted to: the legislative body for its approval or rejection at its next meeting; and
the legal voters of the county/city/town, if the legislative body rejects the proposed law or
takes no action on it.
Each signer says:
I have personally signed this initiative petition or, if I am an individual with a qualifying
disability, I have signed this initiative petition by directing the signature gatherer to enter the
initials "AV" as my signature;
The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
petition;
I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.
"
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(b)
If the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement shall appear, in at least
14-point, bold type, immediately following the information described in Subsection
(2)(a)
:
"This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."
(c)
The sponsors of an initiative or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
proposed law to each initiative petition.
(3)
Each initiative signature sheet shall:
(a)
be printed on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
be ruled with a horizontal line
three-fourths inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the
space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(c)
include the title of the initiative printed below the horizontal line, in at least 14-point,
bold type;
(d)
include a table immediately below the title of the initiative, and beginning .5 inch
from the left side of the paper, as follows:
(i)
the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
(ii)
the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
(iii)
the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
(iv)
the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
(v)
the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(vi)
the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
type;
(vii)
the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(viii)
the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
(ix)
the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(x)
the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(xi)
the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
(xii)
the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xiii)
the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
(xiv)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xv)
the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
(xvi)
the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Date Signed" in 10-point type;
(xvii)
the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xviii)
the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
(xix)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
(xx)
the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
and contain the following words "By signing this initiative petition, you are
stating that you have read and understand the law proposed by this initiative
petition." in 12-point type;
(e)
the table described in Subsection
(3)(d)
shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
the bottom of the sheet for the information described in Subsection
(3)(f)
; and
(f)
at the bottom of the sheet, include in the following order:
(i)
the words "Fiscal and legal impact of" followed by the title of the initiative, in at
least 12-point, bold type;
(ii)
the summary statement in the initial fiscal impact and legal statement issued by
the budget officer in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-502.5(2)(b)
and the cost
estimate for printing and distributing information related to the initiative petition
in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-502.5(3)
, in not less than 12-point, bold
type;
(iii)
if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in 12-point, bold type:
"This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."; and
(iv)
the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by the following statement in not
less than eight-point type:
"It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
that the individual is not a registered voter.
Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
(4)
The final page of each initiative packet shall contain the following printed or typed
statement:
"Verification of signature collector
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear in this packet were signed by individuals who professed to be
the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed the individual's
name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have
signed this initiative petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and in
the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature;
I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this initiative
packet by the initials "AV":
I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the initiative
petition on the individual's behalf;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
capacity to give direction or consent;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
understand the purpose or nature of my signing the initiative petition on the individual's behalf;
I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
or consenting for me to, sign the initiative petition on the individual's behalf; and
I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
sheet;
I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law proposed by
the initiative; and
I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
correctly, that each signer has read the law proposed by the initiative, and that each signer is
registered to vote in Utah.
______________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address)
(Date)
The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name.
I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this petition to
encourage that individual to sign it.
_____________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address)
(Date)".
(5)
If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the initiative petitions
are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
Section 44. Section
20A-7-514
is amended to read:
20A-7-514
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic initiative process -- Form of initiative
petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
(2)
(a)
The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
"This INITIATIVE PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City
Recorder/Town Clerk:
The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully demand that the following
proposed law be submitted to: the legislative body for its approval or rejection at its next
meeting; and the legal voters of the county/city/town, if the legislative body rejects the
proposed law or takes no action on it."
(b)
An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
understand the information presented on this screen."
(3)
(a)
The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the title of
proposed law, described in Subsection
20A-7-502(2)(d)(i)
, followed by the entire text
of the proposed law.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the entire text of the proposed law."
(4)
Subsequent screens shall be presented on the device in the following order, with the
individual viewing the device being required, before advancing to the next screen, to
click a link at the bottom of the screen with the following statement, "By clicking here, I
attest that I have read and understand the information presented on this screen.":
(a)
(i)
if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement, "This initiative
seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax percentage
difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."; or
(ii)
if the initiative does not propose a tax increase, the following statement, "This
initiative does not propose a tax increase.";
(b)
the summary statement from the initial fiscal impact and legal statement issued by
the budget officer in accordance with Subsection
20A-7-502.5(2)(b)
and the cost
estimate for printing and distributing information related to the initiative petition in
accordance with Subsection
20A-7-502.5(3)
;
(c)
a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the initiative petition
may be paid for gathering signatures; and
(d)
the following statement, followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
"I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
I am personally signing this petition;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
accurate.
It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign an initiative petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same initiative petition, or to sign an initiative petition when the individual knows
that the individual is not a registered voter.
WARNING
Even if your voter registration record is classified as private, your name, voter
identification number, and date of signature in relation to signing this initiative petition will be
made public.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
Do you wish to continue and sign this initiative petition?"
(5)
(a)
If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
(4)(d)
, the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your
time. Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
(b)
If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
(4)(d)
, the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
signature-gatherer and the individual signing the petition through the signature
process described in Section
20A-21-201
.
Section 45. Section
20A-7-516
is amended to read:
20A-7-516
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic initiative process -- Collecting
signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
(2)
A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., the earlier of:
(a)
316 calendar days after the day on which the initiative application is filed; or
(b)
(i)
for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular general
election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
; or
(ii)
for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal general
election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section
20A-7-502
.
(3)
The local clerk shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during
the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a)
the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
Your Petition Signature"; and
(b)
the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following initiative:
[insert title of initiative]
To access a copy of the initiative petition, the text of the law proposed by the initiative,
the initial fiscal impact and legal statement, and information on the deadline for removing your
signature from the initiative petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource
locator that takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that
includes the information referred to in the email]."
(4)
Except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, the county clerk shall, within two business days
after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs an initiative petition is
certified under Section
20A-21-201
, post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
(a)
If the local clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
Subsection
20A-7-515(4)
, the local clerk shall:
(i)
ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
not included in the posting described in Subsection
(4)
; and
(ii)
remove the voter's signature from the initiative petition and the initiative petition
signature totals.
(b)
The local clerk shall comply with Subsection
(5)(a)
before the later of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(4)
; or
(ii)
two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
requesting signature removal under Subsection
20A-7-515(4)
.
Section 46. Section
20A-7-603
is amended to read:
20A-7-603
Effective
05/25/26
. Manual referendum process -- Form of
referendum petition and signature sheet.
(1)
This section applies only to the manual referendum process.
(2)
(a)
Each proposed referendum petition shall be printed in substantially the following form:
"REFERENDUM PETITION To the Honorable ____, County Clerk/City
Recorder/Town Clerk:
We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, respectfully order that (description of local law or
portion of local law being challenged), passed by the ____ be referred to the voters for their
approval or rejection at the regular/municipal general election to be held on
__________(month\day\year);
Each signer says:
I have personally signed this referendum petition or, if I am an individual with a
qualifying disability, I have signed this referendum petition by directing the signature gatherer
to enter the initials "AV" as my signature;
The date next to my signature correctly reflects the date that I actually signed the
petition;
I have personally read the entire statement included with this packet;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
My residence and post office address are written correctly after my name.
"
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(b)
The sponsors of a referendum or an agent of the sponsors shall attach a copy of the
law that is the subject of the referendum to each referendum petition.
(3)
Each referendum signature sheet shall:
(a)
be printed on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
be ruled with a horizontal line
three-fourths inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the
space above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(c)
include the title of the referendum printed below the horizontal line, in at least
14-point type;
(d)
include a table immediately below the title of the referendum, and beginning .5 inch
from the left side of the paper, as follows:
(i)
the first column shall be .5 inch wide and include three rows;
(ii)
the first row of the first column shall be .85 inch tall and contain the words "For
Office Use Only" in 10-point type;
(iii)
the second row of the first column shall be .35 inch tall;
(iv)
the third row of the first column shall be .5 inch tall;
(v)
the second column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(vi)
the first row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Registered Voter's Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)" in 10-point
type;
(vii)
the second row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(viii)
the third row of the second column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Street Address, City, Zip Code" in 10-point type;
(ix)
the fourth row of the second column shall be .5 inch tall;
(x)
the third column shall be 2.75 inches wide;
(xi)
the first row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Signature of Registered Voter" in 10-point type;
(xii)
the second row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xiii)
the third row of the third column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Email Address (optional, to receive additional information)" in 10-point type;
(xiv)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xv)
the fourth column shall be one inch wide;
(xvi)
the first row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Date Signed" in 10-point type;
(xvii)
the second row of the fourth column shall be .5 inch tall;
(xviii)
the third row of the fourth column shall be .35 inch tall and contain the words
"Birth Date or Age (optional)" in 10-point type;
(xix)
the fourth row of the third column shall be .5 inch tall; and
(xx)
the fifth row of the entire table shall be the width of the entire table, .4 inch tall,
and contain the following words, "By signing this referendum petition, you are
stating that you have read and understand the law that this referendum petition
seeks to overturn." in 12-point type;
(e)
the table described in Subsection
(3)(d)
shall be repeated, leaving sufficient room at
the bottom of the sheet or the information described in Subsection
(3)(f)
; and
(f)
at the bottom of the sheet, include the word "Warning," in 12-point, bold type, followed by
the following statement in not less than eight-point type:
"It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
Birth date or age information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity
with voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
verified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures are verified
or if the information you provide does not match your voter registration records."
(4)
The final page of each referendum packet shall contain the following printed or typed
statement:
"Verification of signature collector
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear in this packet were signed by individuals who professed to be
the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed the individual's
name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have
signed this referendum petition on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and
in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature;
I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this referendum
packet by the initials "AV":
I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the referendum
petition on the individual's behalf;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual lacked the mental
capacity to give direction or consent;
I do not believe, or have reason to believe, that the individual did not
understand the purpose or nature of my signing the referendum petition on the individual's
behalf;
I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to,
or consenting for me to, sign the referendum petition on the individual's behalf; and
I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature
sheet;
I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact concerning the law this petition
seeks to overturn; and
I believe that each individual's name, post office address, and residence is written
correctly, that each signer has read the law that the referendum seeks to overturn, and that each
signer is registered to vote in Utah.
________________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address)
(Date)
The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name.
I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this referendum
packet to encourage that individual to sign it.
_____________________________________________________________________
(Name)
(Residence Address)
(Date)".
(5)
If the forms described in this section are substantially followed, the referendum
petitions are sufficient, notwithstanding clerical and merely technical errors.
Section 47. Section
20A-7-614
is amended to read:
20A-7-614
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic referendum process -- Form of
referendum petition -- Circulation requirements -- Signature collection.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
(2)
(a)
The first screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement:
"This REFERENDUM PETITION is addressed to the Honorable ____, County
Clerk/City Recorder/Town Clerk:
The citizens of Utah who sign this petition respectfully order that (description of local
law or portion of local law being challenged), passed by the ____ be referred to the voters for
their approval or rejection at the regular/municipal general election to be held on
__________(month\day\year)."
(b)
An individual may not advance to the second screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the first screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read and
understand the information presented on this screen."
(3)
(a)
The second screen presented on the approved device shall include the entire text
of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the third screen until the individual clicks a link at
the bottom of the second screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the entire text of the law that is the subject of the referendum
petition."
(4)
(a)
The third screen presented on the approved device shall include a statement
indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the referendum petition may be
paid for gathering signatures.
(b)
An individual may not advance to the fourth screen until the individual clicks a link
at the bottom of the third screen stating, "By clicking here, I attest that I have read
and understand the information presented on this screen."
(5)
The fourth screen presented on the approved device shall include the following statement,
followed by links where the individual may click "yes" or "no":
"I have personally read the entirety of each statement presented on this device;
I am personally signing this referendum petition;
I am registered to vote in Utah; and
All information I enter on this device, including my residence and post office address, is
accurate.
It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual to sign a referendum petition with a name
other than the individual's own name, or to knowingly sign the individual's name more than
once for the same referendum petition, or to sign a referendum petition when the individual
knows that the individual is not a registered voter.
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.
Do you wish to continue and sign this referendum petition?"
(6)
(a)
If the individual clicks "no" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)
,
the next screen shall include the following statement, "Thank you for your time.
Please return this device to the signature-gatherer."
(b)
If the individual clicks "yes" in response to the question described in Subsection
(5)
,
the website, or the application that accesses the website, shall take the
signature-gatherer and the individual signing the referendum petition through the
signature process described in Section
20A-21-201
.
Section 48. Section
20A-7-616
is amended to read:
20A-7-616
Effective
05/25/26
. Electronic referendum process -- Collecting
signatures -- Removal of signatures.
(1)
This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
(2)
A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m. 45 calendar days after the
day on which the first three sponsors receive notice, under Section
20A-7-602.7
or
20A-7-602.8
, that the referendum is legally referable to voters.
(3)
The local clerk shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during
the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a)
the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding
Your Petition Signature"; and
(b)
the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following referendum:
[insert title of referendum]
To access a copy of the referendum petition, the law that is the subject of the referendum
petition, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the referendum
petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the
individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the
information referred to in the email]."
(4)
Except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, the county clerk shall, within two business days
after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs a referendum petition is
certified under Section
20A-21-201
, post the
name,
voter identification number
,
and
the
date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a
conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor, for at least 45 calendar days.
(5)
(a)
If the local clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under
Subsection
20A-7-615(4)
, the local clerk shall:
(i)
ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are
not included in the posting described in Subsection
(4)
; and
(ii)
remove the voter's signature from the referendum petition and the signature totals.
(b)
The local clerk shall comply with Subsection
(5)(a)
before the later of:
(i)
the deadline described in Subsection
(4)
; or
(ii)
two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement
requesting signature removal under Subsection
20A-7-615(4)
.
Section 49. Section
20A-7-702
is amended to read:
20A-7-702
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Voter information pamphlet --
Form -- Contents.
The voter information pamphlet shall contain the following items in this order:
(1)
a cover title page;
(2)
an introduction to the pamphlet by the lieutenant governor;
(3)
a table of contents;
(4)
a list of all candidates for constitutional offices;
(5)
a list of candidates for each legislative district;
(6)
a 100-word statement of qualifications for each candidate for the office of governor,
lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, or state treasurer, if submitted by the
candidate to the lieutenant governor's office before 5 p.m. on the first business day in
August before the date of the election;
(7)
information pertaining to all measures to be submitted to the voters, beginning a new
page for each measure and containing, in the following order for each measure:
(a)
a copy of the number and ballot title of the measure;
(b)
the final vote cast by the Legislature on the measure if it is a measure submitted by
the Legislature or by referendum;
(c)
(i)
for a measure other than a measure described in Section
20A-7-103
, the
impartial analysis of the measure prepared by the Office of Legislative Research
and General Counsel; or
(ii)
for a measure described in Section
20A-7-103
, the analysis of the measure
prepared by the
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
;
(d)
the arguments in favor of the measure, the rebuttal to the arguments in favor of the
measure, the arguments against the measure, and the rebuttal to the arguments against
the measure, with the name and title of the authors at the end of each argument or
rebuttal;
(e)
for each constitutional amendment, a complete copy of the text of the constitutional
amendment, with all new language underlined, and all deleted language placed within
brackets;
(f)
for each initiative qualified for the ballot:
(i)
a copy of the initiative as certified by the lieutenant governor and a copy of the
initial fiscal impact statement prepared according to Section
20A-7-202.5
; and
(ii)
if the initiative proposes a tax increase, the following statement in bold type:
"This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax
percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent
increase in the current tax rate."; and
(g)
for each referendum qualified for the ballot, a complete copy of the text of the law
being submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection, with all new language
underlined and all deleted language placed within brackets, as applicable;
(8)
a description provided by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission of the
selection and retention process for judges, including, in the following order:
(a)
a description of the judicial selection process;
(b)
a description of the judicial performance evaluation process;
(c)
a description of the judicial retention election process;
(d)
a list of the criteria of the judicial performance evaluation and the certification
standards;
(e)
the names of the judges standing for retention election; and
(f)
for each judge:
(i)
a list of the counties in which the judge is subject to retention election;
(ii)
a short biography of professional qualifications and a recent photograph;
(iii)
a narrative concerning the judge's performance;
(iv)
for each certification standard under Section
78A-12-205
, a statement identifying
whether, under Section
78A-12-205
, the judge met the standard and, if not, the
manner in which the judge failed to meet the standard;
(v)
a statement that the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission:
(A)
has determined that the judge meets or exceeds minimum performance
standards;
(B)
has determined that the judge does not meet or exceed minimum performance
standards; or
(C)
has not made a determination regarding whether the judge meets or exceeds
minimum performance standards;
(vi)
any statement, described in Subsection
78A-12-206(3)(b)
, provided by a judge
whom the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission determines does not meet
or exceed minimum performance standards;
(vii)
in a bar graph, the average of responses to each survey category, displayed with
an identification of the minimum acceptable score as set by Section
78A-12-205
and the average score of all judges of the same court level; and
(viii)
a website address that contains the Judicial Performance Evaluation
Commission's report on the judge's performance evaluation;
(9)
for each judge, a statement provided by the Utah Supreme Court identifying the
cumulative number of informal reprimands, when consented to by the judge in
accordance with Title 78A, Chapter 11, Judicial Conduct Commission, formal
reprimands, and all orders of censure and suspension issued by the Utah Supreme Court
under Utah Constitution, Article VIII, Section 13, during the judge's current term and the
immediately preceding term, and a detailed summary of the supporting reasons for each
violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct that the judge has received;
(10)
an explanation of ballot marking procedures prepared by the lieutenant governor,
indicating the ballot marking procedure used by each county and explaining how to
mark the ballot for each procedure;
(11)
voter registration information, including information on how to obtain a ballot;
(12)
a list of all county clerks' offices and phone numbers;
(13)
the address of the Statewide Electronic Voter Information Website, with a statement
indicating that the election officer will post on the website any changes to the location of
a polling place and the location of any additional polling place;
(14)
a phone number that a voter may call to obtain information regarding the location of a
polling place; and
(15)
on the back cover page, a printed copy of the following statement signed by the lieutenant
governor:
"I, _______________ (print name), Lieutenant Governor of Utah, certify that the
measures contained in this pamphlet will be submitted to the voters of Utah at the election to
be held throughout the state on ____ (date of election), and that this pamphlet is complete and
correct according to law.
SEAL
Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at Salt Lake City, Utah this ____ day
of ____ (month), ____ (year)
(signed) ____________________________________
Lieutenant Governor".
Section 50. Section
20A-7-703.1
is amended to read:
20A-7-703.1
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Analysis of measure
submitted to voters by Legislature -- Determination of fiscal effects.
(1)
The presiding officers shall:
(a)
prepare an analysis of each measure, described in Section
20A-7-103
, that is
submitted to the voters by the Legislature; and
(b)
submit the analysis to the lieutenant governor no later than 90 calendar days before
the date of the election in which the measure will appear on the ballot.
(1)
As provided in this section, the legislative general counsel shall prepare an analysis of
each measure described in Section
20A-7-103
that the Legislature submits to the voters.
(2)
The
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
shall ensure that the analysis:
(a)
is not more than 1,000 words long;
(b)
is prepared in clear and concise language that will easily be understood by the
average voter;
(c)
to the extent possible, avoids the use of technical terms;
(d)
shows the effect of the measure on existing law;
(e)
describes the measure;
(f)
identifies the measure's fiscal effects over the time period or time periods determined
by the
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
to be most useful in
understanding the estimated fiscal impact of the measure; and
(g)
identifies the amount of any increase or decrease in revenue or cost to state or local
government.
(3)
The
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
shall analyze the measure as the
measure is proposed to be adopted, without considering any implementing legislation,
unless the implementing legislation has been enacted and will become effective upon the
adoption of the measure by the voters.
(4)
(a)
In determining the fiscal effects of a measure, the
presiding officers
legislative
general counsel
shall confer with the legislative fiscal analyst.
(b)
The
presiding officers
legislative general counsel
shall consider any measure that
requires implementing legislation in order to take effect to have no financial effect,
unless implementing legislation has been enacted that will become effective upon
adoption of the measure by the voters.
(5)
If the
presiding officers request
legislative general counsel requests
the assistance of
any state department, agency, or official in preparing the analysis described in this
section, that department, agency, or official shall assist the
presiding officers
legislative
general counsel
.
(6)
The legislative general counsel shall submit the analysis to the lieutenant governor no
later than 90 calendar days before the date of the election in which the measure will
appear on the ballot.
(7)
Consistent with Section
36-12-12
, the legislative general counsel performs the duties in
this section as counsel for the presiding officers.
Section 51. Section
20A-8-103
is amended to read:
20A-8-103
Effective
05/25/26
. Petition procedures -- Criminal penalty --
Removal of signature.
(1)
As used in this section, the proposed name or emblem of a registered political party is
"distinguishable" if a reasonable person of average intelligence will be able to perceive a
difference between the proposed name or emblem and any name or emblem currently
being used by another registered political party.
(2)
To become a registered political party, an organization of registered voters that is not a
continuing political party shall:
(a)
circulate a petition seeking registered political party status beginning no earlier than
the date of the statewide canvass held after the last regular general election and
ending before 5 p.m. no later than November 30 of the year before the year in which
the next regular general election will be held;
(b)
file a petition with the lieutenant governor that is signed, with a holographic
signature, by at least 2,000 registered voters before 5 p.m. no later than November 30
of the year in which a regular general election will be held; and
(c)
file, with the petition described in Subsection
(2)(b)
, a document certifying:
(i)
the identity of one or more registered political parties whose members may vote
for the organization's candidates;
(ii)
whether unaffiliated voters may vote for the organization's candidates; and
(iii)
whether, for the next election, the organization intends to nominate the
organization's candidates in accordance with the provisions of Section
20A-9-406
.
(3)
The petition shall:
(a)
be on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
be ruled with a horizontal line
3/4 inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the space
above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(c)
contain the name of the political party and the words "Political Party Registration
Petition" printed directly below the horizontal line;
(d)
contain the
word "Warning" printed
following statement
directly under the words
described in Subsection
(3)(c)
;
, in at least the same size type as the majority of the
other statements on the page:
(e)
contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed in not less
than eight-point, single leaded type:
"WARNING
"
It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a political party registration
petition signature sheet with any name other than the individual's own name or more than once
for the same party or if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend
to become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant
governor.
";
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
(f)
(e)
contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection
(3)(e)
(3)(d)
:
"POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION PETITION To the Honorable ____,
Lieutenant Governor:
We, the undersigned citizens of Utah, seek registered political party status for ____
(name);
Each signer says:
I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
I am registered to vote in Utah or will register to vote in Utah before the petition is
submitted to the lieutenant governor;
I am or desire to become a member of the political party; and
My street address is written correctly after my name.";
(g)
(f)
be vertically divided into columns as follows:
(i)
the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide, be
headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a light vertical line
down the middle;
(ii)
the next column shall be
2-1/2
2.5
inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's
Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)";
(iii)
the next column shall be
2-1/2
2.5
inches wide, headed "Holographic Signature
of Registered Voter";
(iv)
the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age (Optional)";
(v)
the final column shall be
4-3/8
4.375
inches wide, headed "Street Address, City,
Zip Code"; and
(vi)
at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with voter
registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may not be
certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition signatures
are certified or if the information you provide does not match your voter
registration records.";
(h)
(g)
have a final page bound to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that
contains the following printed statement:
"Verification
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
individuals who professed to be the individuals whose names appear on the signature sheets,
and each individual signed the individual's name on the signature sheets in my presence;
and
I believe that each individual has printed and signed the individual's name and written
the individual's street address correctly, and that each individual is registered to vote in Utah or
will register to vote in Utah before the petition is submitted to the lieutenant governor.
______________________________________________________________________
(Signature)
(Residence Address)
(Date)"; and
(i)
(h)
be bound to a cover sheet that:
(i)
identifies the political party's name, which may not exceed four words, and the
emblem of the party;
(ii)
states the process that the organization will follow to organize and adopt a
constitution and bylaws; and
(iii)
is signed by a filing officer, who agrees to receive communications on behalf of
the organization.
(4)
The filing officer described in Subsection
(3)(i)(iii)
(3)(h)(iii)
shall ensure that the
individual in whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
(a)
is at least 18 years old; and
(b)
verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or more
signature sheets that are bound together.
(5)
An individual may not sign the verification if the individual signed a signature sheet
bound to the verification.
(6)
The lieutenant governor shall:
(a)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether a signer is
a registered voter;
(b)
review the proposed name and emblem to determine if they are "distinguishable"
from the names and emblems of other registered political parties; and
(c)
certify the lieutenant governor's findings to the filing officer described in Subsection
(3)(i)(iii)
(3)(h)(iii)
within 30 calendar days after the day on which the organization
files the petition described in Subsection
(2)(b)
.
(7)
(a)
If the lieutenant governor determines that the petition meets the requirements of
this section, and that the proposed name and emblem are distinguishable, the
lieutenant governor shall authorize the filing officer described in Subsection
(3)(i)(iii)
(3)(h)(iii)
to organize the prospective political party.
(b)
If the lieutenant governor finds that the name, emblem, or both are not
distinguishable from the names and emblems of other registered political parties, the
lieutenant governor shall notify the filing officer that the filing officer has seven
calendar days to electronically submit a new name or emblem to the lieutenant
governor.
(8)
A registered political party may not change its name or emblem during the regular
general election cycle.
(9)
(a)
It is unlawful for an individual to:
(i)
knowingly sign a political party registration petition:
(A)
with any name other than the individual's own name;
(B)
more than once for the same political party; or
(C)
if the individual is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
become registered to vote in this state before the petition is submitted to the
lieutenant governor; or
(ii)
sign the verification of a political party registration petition signature sheet if the
individual:
(A)
has not witnessed the signing by those individuals whose names appear on the
political party registration petition signature sheet; or
(B)
knows that an individual whose signature appears on the political party
registration petition signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and
does not intend to become registered to vote in this state.
(b)
An individual who violates this Subsection
(9)
is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(10)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under this section may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the petition is filed with the lieutenant governor, submitting to the lieutenant
governor a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(10)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 52. Section
20A-9-203
is amended to read:
20A-9-203
Effective
05/25/26
. Declarations of candidacy -- Municipal general
elections -- Nomination petition -- Removal of signature.
(1)
An individual may become a candidate for any municipal office if:
(a)
the individual is a registered voter; and
(b)
(i)
the individual has resided within the municipality in which the individual seeks
to hold elective office for the 12 consecutive months immediately before the date
of the election; or
(ii)
the territory in which the individual resides was annexed into the municipality,
the individual has resided within the annexed territory or the municipality the 12
consecutive months immediately before the date of the election.
(2)
(a)
For purposes of determining whether an individual meets the residency
requirement of Subsection
(1)(b)(i)
in a municipality that was incorporated less than
12 months before the election, the municipality is considered to have been
incorporated 12 months before the date of the election.
(b)
In addition to the requirements of Subsection
(1)
, each candidate for a municipal
council position shall, if elected from a district, be a resident of the council district
from which the candidate is elected.
(c)
In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IV, Section 6, a mentally incompetent
individual, an individual convicted of a felony, or an individual convicted of treason
or a crime against the elective franchise may not hold office in this state until the
right to hold elective office is restored under Section
20A-2-101.3
or
20A-2-101.5
.
(3)
(a)
An individual seeking to become a candidate for a municipal office shall,
regardless of the nomination method by which the individual is seeking to become a
candidate:
(i)
except as provided in Subsection
(3)(b)
,
Section
10-2a-214
, or Chapter 4, Part 6,
Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project,
and subject to Subsection
20A-9-404(3)(e)
, file a declaration of candidacy, in person with the city recorder
or town clerk, during the filing period described in Subsection
(3)(d)
and the
office hours described in Subsection
10-3-301(3)
; and
(ii)
pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
(b)
Subject to Subsection
(5)(b)
, an individual may designate an agent to file a
declaration of candidacy with the city recorder or town clerk if:
(i)
the individual is located outside of the state during the entire filing period;
(ii)
the designated agent appears in person before the city recorder or town clerk;
(iii)
the individual communicates with the city recorder or town clerk using an
electronic device that allows the individual and city recorder or town clerk to see
and hear each other; and
(iv)
the individual provides the city recorder or town clerk with an email address to
which the city recorder or town clerk may send the individual the copies described
in Subsection
(4)
.
(c)
Any resident of a municipality may nominate a candidate for a municipal office by:
(i)
except as provided in Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods
Pilot Project,
filing a nomination petition with the city recorder or town clerk
during the filing period described in Subsection
(3)(d)
and the office hours
described in Subsection
10-3-301(3)
that includes signatures in support of the
nomination petition of the lesser of at least:
(A)
25 registered voters who reside in the municipality; or
(B)
20% of the registered voters who reside in the municipality; and
(ii)
paying the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance.
(d)
The filing period to file a declaration of candidacy for an elective office that is to be
filled at the next municipal general election:
(i)
begins at 8 a.m. on the later of:
(A)
June 1 of the year in which the next municipal general election is held; or
(B)
if June 1 is not a business day, the first business day after June 1; and
(ii)
ends at 5 p.m. on the fourth business day after the day on which the filing period
begins.
(4)
(a)
Before the filing officer may accept any declaration of candidacy or nomination
petition, the filing officer shall:
(i)
read to the prospective candidate or individual filing the petition the constitutional
and statutory qualification requirements for the office that the candidate is seeking;
(ii)
require the candidate or individual filing the petition to state whether the
candidate meets the requirements described in Subsection
(4)(a)(i)
; and
(iii)
inform the candidate or the individual filing the petition that an individual who
holds a municipal elected office may not, at the same time, hold a county elected
office.
(b)
If the prospective candidate does not meet the qualification requirements for the
office, the filing officer may not accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination
petition.
(c)
If it appears that the prospective candidate meets the requirements of candidacy, the
filing officer shall:
(i)
inform the candidate that, subject to Section
20A-6-109
, the candidate's name will
appear on the ballot as it is written on the declaration of candidacy;
(ii)
provide the candidate with a copy of the current campaign financial disclosure
laws for the office the candidate is seeking and inform the candidate that failure to
comply will result in disqualification as a candidate and removal of the candidate's
name from the ballot;
(iii)
provide the candidate with a copy of Section
20A-7-801
regarding the Statewide
Electronic Voter Information Website Program and inform the candidate of the
submission deadline under Subsection
20A-7-801(4)(a)
;
(iv)
inform the candidate that the candidate must provide the filing officer with an
email address that the candidate actively monitors:
(A)
to receive a communication from a filing officer or an election officer; and
(B)
if the candidate wishes to display a candidate profile on the Statewide
Electronic Voter Information Website, to submit to the website the
biographical and other information described in Subsection
20A-7-801(4)(a)(ii)
;
(v)
inform the candidate that the email address described in Subsection
(4)(c)(iv)
is
not a record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and
Management Act;
(vi)
obtain from the candidate the email address described in Subsection
(4)(c)(iv)
;
(vii)
provide the candidate with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices
described under Section
20A-9-206
and inform the candidate that:
(A)
signing the pledge is voluntary; and
(B)
signed pledges shall be filed with the filing officer; and
(viii)
accept the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition.
(d)
If the candidate elects to sign the pledge of fair campaign practices, the filing officer
shall:
(i)
accept the candidate's pledge; and
(ii)
if the candidate has filed for a partisan office, provide a certified copy of the
candidate's pledge to the chair of the county or state political party of which the
candidate is a member.
(5)
(a)
The declaration of candidacy shall be in substantially the following form:
"I, (print name) ____, being first sworn and under penalty of perjury, say that I reside at
____ Street, City of ____, County of ____, state of Utah, Zip Code ____, Telephone Number
(if any) ____; that I am a registered voter; and that I am a candidate for the office of ____
(stating the term). I will meet the legal qualifications required of candidates for this office. If
filing via a designated agent, I attest that I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire
candidate filing period. I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law
and I understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this
office and removal of my name from the ballot. I request that my name be printed upon the
applicable official ballots. (Signed) _______________
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me by ____ on this
__________(month\day\year).
(Signed) _______________ (Clerk or other officer qualified to administer oath)."
(b)
An agent designated under Subsection
(3)(b)
to file a declaration of candidacy may
not sign the form described in Subsection
(5)(a)
.
(c)
(i)
A nomination petition shall be in substantially the following form:
"NOMINATION PETITION
The undersigned residents of (name of municipality), being registered voters, nominate
(name of nominee) for the office of (name of office) for the (length of term of office).
"
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(ii)
The remainder of the petition shall contain lines and columns for the signatures of
individuals signing the petition and each individual's address and phone number.
(6)
If the declaration of candidacy or nomination petition fails to state whether the
nomination is for the two-year or four-year term, the clerk shall consider the nomination
to be for the four-year term.
(7)
(a)
The clerk shall verify with the county clerk that all candidates are registered
voters.
(b)
With the assistance of the county clerk, and using the procedures described in
Section
20A-1-1002
, the municipal clerk shall determine whether the required
number of signatures of registered voters appears on a nomination petition.
(8)
Immediately after expiration of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy, the clerk
shall:
(a)
publicize a list of the names of the candidates as they will appear on the ballot by
publishing the list for the municipality, as a class A notice under Section
63G-30-102
,
for seven calendar days; and
(b)
notify the lieutenant governor of the names of the candidates as they will appear on
the ballot.
(9)
Except as provided in Subsection
(10)(c)
, an individual may not amend a declaration of
candidacy or nomination petition filed under this section after the candidate filing period
ends.
(10)
(a)
A declaration of candidacy or nomination petition that an individual files under
this section is valid unless a person files a written objection with the clerk no later
than 5 p.m. on the first business day that is at least 10 calendar days after the last day
for filing.
(b)
If a person files an objection, the clerk shall:
(i)
mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate
immediately; and
(ii)
decide any objection within 48 hours after the objection is filed.
(c)
If the clerk sustains the objection, the candidate may, no later than 5 p.m. on the first
business day that is at least three calendar days after the day on which the clerk
sustains the objection, correct the problem for which the objection is sustained by
amending the candidate's declaration of candidacy or nomination petition, or by filing
a new declaration of candidacy.
(d)
(i)
The clerk's decision upon objections to form is final.
(ii)
The clerk's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if
prompt application is made to the district court.
(iii)
The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the
exercise of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.
(11)
A candidate who qualifies for the ballot under this section may withdraw as a
candidate by filing a written affidavit with the municipal clerk.
(12)
(a)
A voter who signs a nomination petition under this section may have the voter's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
the day on which the petition is filed with the city recorder or municipal clerk,
submitting to the municipal clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(12)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
With the assistance of the county clerk and using the procedures described in
Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
, the municipal clerk shall determine whether to remove an
individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid statement
requesting removal of the signature.
Section 53. Section
20A-9-404
is amended to read:
20A-9-404
Effective
05/25/26
. Municipal primary elections.
(1)
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this section or Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal
Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, candidates
Candidates
for municipal office
in all municipalities shall be nominated at a municipal primary election.
(b)
Municipal primary elections shall be held:
(i)
consistent with Section
20A-1-201.5
, on the second Tuesday following the first
Monday in the August before the regular municipal election; and
(ii)
whenever possible, at the same polling places as the regular municipal election.
(c)
Subsections
(3)
through
(5)
do not apply to an election to elect local school board
members under Section
53G-3-302
.
(d)
Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, does not apply
to an election to elect local school board members under Section
53G-3-302
.
(2)
Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 4, Part 6, Municipal Alternate Voting
Methods Pilot Project, if
If
the number of candidates for a particular municipal office
does not exceed twice the number of individuals needed to fill that office, a primary
election for that office may not be held and the candidates are considered nominated.
(3)
(a)
For purposes of this Subsection
(3)
, "convention" means an organized assembly of
voters or delegates.
(b)
(i)
By ordinance adopted before the May 1 that falls before a regular municipal
election, any third, fourth, or fifth class city or town may exempt itself from a
primary election by providing that the nomination of candidates for municipal
office to be voted upon at a municipal election be nominated by a municipal party
convention or committee.
(ii)
The municipal party convention or committee described in Subsection
(3)(b)(i)
shall be held on or before May 30 of an odd-numbered year.
(iii)
Any primary election exemption ordinance adopted under this Subsection
(3)
remains in effect until repealed by ordinance.
(c)
(i)
A convention or committee may not nominate more than one candidate for each
of the municipal offices to be voted upon at the municipal election.
(ii)
A convention or committee may not nominate an individual who has accepted the
nomination of a different convention or committee.
(iii)
A municipal party may not have more than one group of candidates placed upon
the ballot and may not group the same candidates on different tickets by the same
party under a different name or emblem.
(d)
(i)
On or before May 31 of an odd-numbered year, a convention or committee
shall prepare and submit to the filing officer a certificate of nomination for each
individual nominated.
(ii)
The certificate of nomination shall:
(A)
contain the name of the office for which each individual is nominated, the
name, post office address, and, if in a city, the street number of residence and
place of business, if any, of each individual nominated;
(B)
designate in not more than five words the party that the convention or
committee represents;
(C)
contain a copy of the resolution passed at the convention that authorized the
committee to make the nomination;
(D)
contain a statement certifying that the name of the candidate nominated by the
political party will not appear on the ballot as a candidate for any other
political party;
(E)
be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention or
committee; and
(F)
contain a statement identifying the residence and post office address of the
presiding officer and secretary and certifying that the presiding officer and
secretary were officers of the convention or committee and that the certificates
are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.
(iii)
A candidate nominated by a municipal party convention or committee shall file a
declaration with the filing officer in accordance with Subsection
20A-9-203(3)
that includes:
(A)
the name of the municipal party or convention that nominated the candidate;
and
(B)
the office for which the convention or committee nominated the candidate.
(e)
A committee appointed at a convention, if authorized by an enabling resolution, may
also make nominations or fill vacancies in nominations made at a convention if the
committee makes the nomination before the deadline for a write-in candidate to file a
declaration of candidacy under Section
20A-9-601
.
(f)
The election ballot shall substantially comply with the form prescribed in Chapter 6,
Part 4, Ballot Form Requirements for Municipal Elections, but the party name shall
be included with the candidate's name.
(4)
(a)
Any third, fourth, or fifth class city or a town may adopt an ordinance before the
May 1 that falls before the regular municipal election that:
(i)
exempts the city or town from the other methods of nominating candidates to
municipal office provided in this section; and
(ii)
provides for a municipal partisan convention method of nominating candidates as
provided in this Subsection
(4)
.
(b)
(i)
Any party that was a registered political party at the last regular general
election or regular municipal election is a municipal political party under this
section.
(ii)
Any political party may qualify as a municipal political party by presenting a
petition to the city recorder that:
(A)
is signed, with a holographic signature, by registered voters within the
municipality equal to at least 20% of the number of votes cast for all
candidates for mayor in the last municipal election at which a mayor was
elected;
(B)
is filed with the city recorder or town clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the last
business day before the day on which the municipal party holds a convention to
nominate a candidate under this Subsection
(4)
;
(C)
is substantially similar to the form of the signature sheets described in Section
20A-7-303
;
and
(D)
contains the name of the municipal political party using not more than five
words
.
; and
(E)
includes the following statement on the first page of the petition in at least the
same size type as the majority of the other statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you
signed may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an
at-risk voter with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private
record."
(iii)
With the assistance of the county clerk, the city recorder or town clerk shall use
the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether each signer
is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition.
(c)
(i)
If the number of candidates for a particular office does not exceed twice the
number of offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, no primary
election for that office shall be held and the candidates are considered to be
nominated.
(ii)
If the number of candidates for a particular office exceeds twice the number of
offices to be filled at the regular municipal election, those candidates for
municipal office shall be nominated at a municipal primary election.
(d)
The clerk shall ensure that the partisan municipal primary ballot is similar to the
ballot forms required by Section
20A-6-401
and, as applicable, Section
20A-6-401.1
.
(e)
After marking a municipal primary ballot, the voter shall deposit the ballot in the
blank ballot box.
(f)
Immediately after the canvass, the election judges shall, without examination, destroy
the tickets deposited in the blank ballot box.
(5)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under Subsection
(4)(b)(ii)
may have the voter's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
the day on which the petition is filed with the city recorder or town clerk, submitting
to the city recorder or town clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be
removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(5)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
With the assistance of the county clerk and using the procedures described in
Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
, the city recorder or town clerk shall determine whether to
remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid
statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 54. Section
20A-9-405
is amended to read:
20A-9-405
Effective
05/25/26
. Nomination petitions for regular primary
elections.
(1)
This section applies to the form and circulation of nomination petitions for regular
primary elections described in Subsection
20A-9-403(3)(a)
.
(2)
A candidate for elective office, and the agents of the candidate, may not circulate
nomination petitions until the candidate has submitted a declaration of candidacy in
accordance with Subsection
20A-9-202(1)
.
(3)
For the manual candidate qualification process, the nomination petitions shall be in
substantially the following form:
(a)
the petition shall be printed on paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(b)
the petition shall be ruled with a horizontal line
3/4 inch
.75 inches
from the top,
with the space above that line blank for purposes of binding;
(c)
the petition shall be headed by a caption stating the purpose of the petition and the
name of the proposed candidate;
(d)
the petition shall feature the
word "Warning" followed by the
following statement
in no less than eight-point, single leaded type:
"
"WARNING
It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination petition
with any name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same
candidate, or if the person is not registered to vote in this state.
";
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
(e)
the petition shall feature 10 lines spaced
one-half inch
.5 inches
apart and
consecutively numbered one through 10;
(f)
the signature portion of the petition shall be divided into columns headed by the
following titles:
(i)
Registered Voter's Printed Name;
(ii)
Signature of Registered Voter;
(iii)
Party Affiliation of Registered Voter;
(iv)
Birth Date or Age (Optional);
(v)
Street Address, City, Zip Code; and
(vi)
Date of Signature; and
(g)
a photograph of the candidate may appear on the nomination petition.
(4)
For the electronic candidate qualification process, the lieutenant governor shall design
an electronic form, using progressive screens, that includes:
(a)
the following
warning
statement
:
"
Warning:
WARNING
It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination petition with any
name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same candidate, or if the
person is not registered to vote in this state.
"; and
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record."; and
(b)
the following information for each individual who signs the petition:
(i)
name;
(ii)
party affiliation;
(iii)
date of birth or age, (optional);
(iv)
street address, city, zip code;
(v)
date of signature;
(vi)
other information required under Section
20A-21-201
; and
(vii)
other information required by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
For the manual candidate qualification process, if one or more nomination petitions are
bound together, a page shall be bound to the nomination petition(s) that features the following
printed verification statement to be signed and dated by the petition circulator:
"Verification
State of Utah, County of ____
I, ____, of ____, hereby state that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were, to the best of
my knowledge, signed by the persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on
the signature sheets, and each of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my
presence;
I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah."
(6)
The lieutenant governor shall prepare and make public model nomination petition forms
and associated instructions.
(7)
A nomination petition circulator:
(a)
must be at least 18 years old; and
(b)
may affiliate with any political party.
(8)
It is unlawful for any person to:
(a)
knowingly sign the nomination petition described in this section or Section
20A-9-408
:
(i)
with any name other than the person's own name;
(ii)
more than once for the same candidate; or
(iii)
if the person is not registered to vote in this state;
(b)
sign the verification of a signature for a nomination petition if the person:
(i)
has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
nomination petition; or
(ii)
knows that a person whose signature appears on the nomination petition is not
registered to vote in this state;
(c)
pay compensation to any person to sign a nomination petition; or
(d)
pay compensation to any person to circulate a nomination petition, if the
compensation is based directly on the number of signatures submitted to a filing
officer rather than on the number of signatures verified or on some other basis.
(9)
Any person violating Subsection
(8)
is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(10)
(a)
A voter who signs a nomination petition may have the voter's signature removed
from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on which the
candidate files the petition with the appropriate filing officer, submitting to the filing
officer a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(10)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The filing officer shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a nomination petition
after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 55. Section
20A-9-408
is amended to read:
20A-9-408
Effective
05/25/26
. Signature-gathering process to seek the
nomination of a qualified political party -- Removal of signature.
(1)
This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party who
is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office through
the signature-gathering process described in this section.
(2)
Notwithstanding Subsection
20A-9-201(7)(a)
, the form of the declaration of candidacy
for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking the
nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
described in Section
20A-9-408.5
.
(3)
Notwithstanding Subsection
20A-9-202(1)(a)
, and except as provided in Subsection
20A-9-202(4)
, a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking
the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at
the next general election shall:
(a)
except to the extent otherwise provided in Subsection
(13)(a)
, during the applicable
declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section
20A-9-201.5
, and before
gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a form approved
by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy that
includes:
(i)
the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
political party under this section;
(ii)
the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
nomination;
(iii)
the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
(iv)
the address and telephone number of the member; and
(v)
other information required by the lieutenant governor;
(b)
except as provided in Subsection
20A-9-202(1)(c)
, file a declaration of candidacy, in
person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
period described in Section
20A-9-201.5
; and
(c)
pay the filing fee.
(4)
Notwithstanding Subsection
20A-9-202(2)(a)
, a member of a qualified political party
who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at
the next general election shall:
(a)
during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section
20A-9-201.5
, and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing
officer on a form approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather
signatures for candidacy that includes:
(i)
the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
political party under this section;
(ii)
the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
nomination;
(iii)
the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
(iv)
the address and telephone number of the member; and
(v)
other information required by the lieutenant governor;
(b)
except as provided in Subsection
20A-9-202(1)(c)
, file a declaration of candidacy, in
person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
period described in Section
20A-9-201.5
; and
(c)
pay the filing fee.
(5)
Notwithstanding Subsection
20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii)
, a lieutenant governor candidate who
files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the applicable
declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section
20A-9-201.5
, file a
declaration of candidacy and submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names
the lieutenant governor candidate as a joint-ticket running mate.
(6)
The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the certification described in Subsection
20A-9-701(1)
also includes the name of each candidate nominated by a qualified
political party under this section.
(7)
Notwithstanding Subsection
20A-9-701(2)
, the ballot shall, for each candidate who is
nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified
political party that nominated the candidate.
(8)
A member of a qualified political party may seek the nomination of the qualified
political party for an elective office by:
(a)
complying with the requirements described in this section; and
(b)
collecting signatures, on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
with Subsection
20A-9-405(3)
, during the period beginning on the day on which the
member files a notice of intent to gather signatures and ending at the applicable
deadline described in Subsection
(12)
, in the following amounts:
(i)
for a statewide race, 28,000 signatures of registered voters in the state who are
permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
candidates in a primary election;
(ii)
except as provided in Subsection
(13)(b)
, for a congressional district race, 7,000
signatures of registered voters who are residents of the congressional district and
are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political
party's candidates in a primary election;
(iii)
for a state Senate district race, 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are
residents of the state Senate district and are permitted by the qualified political
party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
(iv)
for a state House district race, 1,000 signatures of registered voters who are
residents of the state House district and are permitted by the qualified political
party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
(v)
for a State Board of Education race, the lesser of:
(A)
2,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the State Board of
Education district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election; or
(B)
3% of the registered voters of the qualified political party who are residents of
the applicable State Board of Education district; and
(vi)
for a county office race, signatures of 3% of the registered voters who are
residents of the area permitted to vote for the county office and are permitted by
the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in
a primary election.
(9)
(a)
This Subsection
(9)
applies only to the manual candidate qualification process.
(b)
In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, using
the manual candidate qualification process, the member shall:
(i)
collect the signatures on a form approved by the lieutenant governor
that complies
with Subsection
20A-9-405(3)
, using the same circulation and verification
requirements described in Sections
20A-7-105
and
20A-7-204
; and
(ii)
in accordance with Section
20A-9-408.3
, submit the signatures to the election
officer before the applicable deadline described in Subsection
(12)
.
(c)
Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections
(8)
and
(9)(b)
, and in
accordance with Section
20A-9-408.3
, the election officer shall, no later than the
earlier of 14 calendar days after the day on which the election officer receives the
signatures, or one day before the day on which the qualified political party holds the
convention to select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets
relate:
(i)
check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
packet to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old;
(ii)
submit the name of each individual described in Subsection
(9)(c)(i)
who is not at
least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney;
(iii)
with the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, determine whether each
signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition, using the same
method, described in Section
20A-1-1002
, used to verify a signature on a petition;
and
(iv)
certify whether each name is that of a registered voter who is qualified to sign the
signature packet.
(d)
(i)
A registered voter who physically signs a form under Subsections
(8)
and
(9)(b)
may have the voter's signature removed from the form by, no later than 5 p.m.
three business days after the day on which the member submits the signature form
to the election officer, submitting to the election officer a statement requesting
that the voter's signature be removed.
(ii)
A statement described in Subsection
(9)(d)(i)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(iii)
With the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, the election officer shall
use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to determine whether
to remove an individual's signature after receiving a timely, valid statement
requesting removal of the signature.
(e)
(i)
An election officer shall, in accordance with this Subsection
(9)(e)
and rules
made under Section
20A-3a-106
, conduct regular audits of signature comparisons
made between signatures gathered under this section and voter signatures
maintained by the election officer.
(ii)
An individual who conducts an audit of signature comparisons under this section
may not audit the individual's own work.
(iii)
The election officer shall:
(A)
audit 1% of all signature comparisons described in Subsection
(9)(e)(i)
to
determine the accuracy of the comparisons made;
(B)
record the individuals who conducted the audit;
(C)
record the audit results;
(D)
provide additional training or staff reassignments, as needed, based on the
results of an audit described in Subsection
(9)(e)(i)
; and
(E)
record any remedial action taken.
(iv)
The audit results described in Subsection
(9)(e)(iii)(C)
are a public record.
(f)
An election officer who certifies signatures under Subsection
(9)(c)
or
20A-9-403(3)(d)
shall, after certifying enough signatures to establish that a candidate
has reached the applicable signature threshold described in Subsection
(8)
or
20A-9-403(3)(a)
, as applicable, continue to certify signatures submitted for the
candidate in excess of the number of signatures required, until the election officer
either:
(i)
certifies signatures equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold; or
(ii)
has reviewed all signatures submitted for the candidate before reaching an
amount equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold.
(10)
(a)
This Subsection
(10)
applies only to the electronic candidate qualification
process.
(b)
In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, the
member shall, before the deadline described in Subsection
(12)
, collect signatures
electronically:
(i)
in accordance with Section
20A-21-201
; and
(ii)
using progressive screens, in a format approved by the lieutenant governor, that
complies with Subsection
20A-9-405(4)
.
(c)
Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections
(8)
and
(9)(b)
, the
election officer shall, no later than the earlier of 14 calendar days after the day on
which the election officer receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which
the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective
office to which the signature packets relate:
(i)
check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old; and
(ii)
submit the name of each individual described in Subsection
(10)(c)(i)
who is not
at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney.
(11)
(a)
An individual may not gather signatures under this section until after the
individual files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
section.
(b)
An individual who files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy,
described in Subsection
(3)(a)
or
(4)(a)
, is, beginning on the day on which the
individual files the notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy:
(i)
required to comply with the reporting requirements that a candidate for office is
required to comply with; and
(ii)
subject to the same enforcement provisions, and civil and criminal penalties, that
apply to a candidate for office in relation to the reporting requirements described
in Subsection
(11)(b)(i)
.
(c)
Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections
(8)
and
(9)(b)
, or
Subsections
(8)
and
(10)(b)
, the election officer shall, no later than the day before the
day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee
for the elective office to which the signature packets relate, notify the qualified
political party and the lieutenant governor of the name of each member of the
qualified political party who qualifies as a nominee of the qualified political party,
under this section, for the elective office to which the convention relates.
(d)
Upon receipt of a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
section, the lieutenant governor shall post the notice of intent to gather signatures for
candidacy on the lieutenant governor's website in the same location that the
lieutenant governor posts a declaration of candidacy.
(12)
The deadline before which a member of a qualified political party must collect and
submit signatures to the election officer under this section is 5 p.m. on the last business
day that is at least 14 calendar days before the day on which the qualified political
party's convention for the office begins.
(13)
For the 2026 election year only, an individual who desires to gather signatures to seek
the nomination of a qualified political party for the office of United States representative
shall:
(a)
in accordance with Subsection
(3)(a)
, file a notice of intent to gather signatures
during the period beginning at 8 a.m. on the first business day of January and ending
at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026; and
(b)
during the period beginning on the day on which the individual files the notice of
intent to gather signatures and ending at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026, on a form
approved by the lieutenant governor that complies with Subsection
20A-9-405(3)
,
collect 7,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the state and are
permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
candidates in a primary election.
Section 56. Section
20A-9-502
is amended to read:
20A-9-502
Effective
05/25/26
. Certificate of nomination -- Contents --
Circulation -- Verification -- Criminal penalty -- Removal of petition signature.
(1)
The candidate shall:
(a)
prepare a certificate of nomination in substantially the following form:
"State of Utah, County of ______________________________________________
I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming an unaffiliated candidate for the
political group designated as ____ for the office of ____. I do solemnly swear that I can
qualify to hold that office both legally and constitutionally if selected, and that I reside at ____
Street, in the city of ____, county of ____, state of ______, zip code ____, phone ____, and
that I am providing, or have provided, the required number of holographic signatures of
registered voters required by law; that as a candidate at the next election I will not knowingly
violate any election or campaign law; that, if filing via a designated agent for an office other
than president of the United States, I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire candidate
filing period; I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I
understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office
and removal of my name from the ballot.
__________________________________________
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______(month\day\year).
__________________________________________
Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oaths)";
(b)
for each signature packet, bind signature sheets to a copy of the certificate of
nomination and the circulator verification, that:
(i)
are printed on sheets of paper
8-1/2
8.5
inches long and 11 inches wide;
(ii)
are ruled with a horizontal line
3/4 inch
.75 inches
from the top, with the space
above that line blank for the purpose of binding;
(iii)
contain the name of the proposed candidate and the words "Unaffiliated
Candidate Certificate of Nomination Petition" printed directly below the
horizontal line;
(iv)
contain the
word "Warning" printed
following statement,
directly under the
words described in Subsection
(1)(b)(iii)
;
,
(v)
contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed
in not less
than eight-point, single leaded type:
"WARNING
"
It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a certificate of nomination
signature sheet with any name other than the person's own name or more than once for the
same candidate or if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the signatures.
";
WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed may be
publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter with a voter
registration record that has been classified as a private record.";
(vi)
(v)
contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection
(1)(b)(v)
(1)(b)(iv)
:
"Each signer says:
I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
I am registered to vote in Utah or intend to become registered to vote in Utah before the
county clerk certifies my signature; and
My street address is written correctly after my name.";
(vii)
(vi)
contain horizontally ruled lines,
3/8 inch
.375 inches
apart under the
statement described in Subsection
(1)(b)(vi)
(1)(b)(v)
; and
(viii)
(vii)
be vertically divided into columns as follows:
(A)
the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be
5/8 inch
.625
inches
wide, be headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a
light vertical line down the middle;
(B)
the next column shall be
2-1/2
2.5
inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's
Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)";
(C)
the next column shall be
2-1/2
2.5
inches wide, headed "Holographic
Signature of Registered Voter";
(D)
the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age
(Optional)";
(E)
the final column shall be
4-3/8
4.375
inches wide, headed "Street Address,
City, Zip Code"; and
(F)
at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with
voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may
not be certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition
signatures are certified or if the information you provide does not match your
voter registration records."; and
(c)
bind a final page to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that contains,
except as provided by Subsection
(3)
, the following printed statement:
"Verification
State of Utah, County of ____
I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
I am at least 18 years old;
All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on the signature sheets, and each
of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my presence;
I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or will register to
vote in Utah before the county clerk certifies the signatures on the signature sheet.
______________________________________________________________________
(Signature)
(Residence Address)
(Date)".
(2)
An agent designated to file a certificate of nomination under Subsection
20A-9-503(2)(b)
or
(4)(b)
may not sign the form described in Subsection
(1)(a)
.
(3)
(a)
The candidate shall circulate the nomination petition and ensure that the person in
whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
(i)
is at least 18 years old; and
(ii)
verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or more
signature sheets that are bound together.
(b)
A person may not sign the circulator verification if the person signed a signature
sheet bound to the verification.
(4)
(a)
It is unlawful for any person to:
(i)
knowingly sign a certificate of nomination signature sheet:
(A)
with any name other than the person's own name;
(B)
more than once for the same candidate; or
(C)
if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the
signatures; or
(ii)
sign the verification of a certificate of nomination signature sheet if the person:
(A)
has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
certificate of nomination signature sheet; or
(B)
knows that a person whose signature appears on the certificate of nomination
signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
become registered to vote in this state.
(b)
Any person violating this Subsection
(4)
is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(5)
(a)
To qualify for placement on the general election ballot, the candidate shall, no
earlier than the start of the applicable declaration of candidacy period described in
Section
20A-9-201.5
and no later than 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in which the
election will be held:
(i)
comply with Subsection
20A-9-503(1)
; and
(ii)
submit each signature packet to the county clerk where the majority of the
signatures in the packet were collected, with signatures totaling:
(A)
at least 1,000 registered voters residing within the state when the nomination
is for an office to be filled by the voters of the entire state; or
(B)
at least 300 registered voters residing within a political division or at least 5%
of the registered voters residing within a political division, whichever is less,
when the nomination is for an office to be filled by the voters of any political
division smaller than the state.
(b)
A candidate has not complied with Subsection
(5)(a)(ii)
, unless the county clerks
verify that each required signature is a valid signature of a registered voter who is
eligible to sign the signature packet and has not signed a signature packet to nominate
another candidate for the same office.
(c)
In reviewing the signature packets, the county clerk shall count and certify only those
persons who signed with a holographic signature, who:
(i)
are registered voters within the political division that the candidate seeks to
represent; and
(ii)
did not sign any other certificate of nomination for that office.
(d)
The county clerk shall count and certify the number of registered voters who validly
signed a signature packet, no later than 30 calendar days after the day on which the
candidate submits the signature packet.
(e)
The candidate may supplement the signatures or amend the certificate of nomination
or declaration of candidacy at any time on or before 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in
which the election will be held.
(f)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to
determine whether a signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the signature
packet.
(6)
(a)
A voter who signs a signature packet under this section may have the voter's
signature removed from the signature packet by, no later than 5 p.m. three business
days after the day on which the candidate submits the signature packet to the county
clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature
be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(6)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a signature packet after
receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 57. Section
20A-15-103
is amended to read:
20A-15-103
Effective
05/25/26
. Delegates -- Candidacy -- Qualifications --
Nominating procedures -- Removal of petition signature.
(1)
Candidates for the office of delegate to the ratification convention shall be citizens,
residents of Utah, and at least 21 years old.
(2)
Persons wishing to be delegates to the ratification convention shall:
(a)
circulate a nominating petition meeting the requirements of this section; and
(b)
obtain the signature of at least 100 registered voters.
(3)
(a)
A single nominating petition may nominate any number of candidates up to 21,
the total number of delegates to be elected.
(b)
Nominating petitions may not contain anything identifying a candidate's party or
political affiliation.
(c)
Each nominating petition shall contain a written statement signed by each nominee,
indicating either that the candidate will:
(i)
vote for ratification of the proposed amendment; or
(ii)
vote against ratification of the proposed amendment.
(d)
A nominating petition containing the names of more than one nominee may not
contain the name of any nominee whose stated position in the nominating petition is
inconsistent with that of any other nominee listed in the petition.
(e)
The first page of a nominating petition described in this section shall include the
following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(4)
(a)
A candidate shall file the candidate's nominating petition with the lieutenant
governor no later than 5 p.m. on the last business day that is at least 40 calendar days
before the proclaimed date of the election.
(b)
Within 10 calendar days after the last day for filing the petitions, the lieutenant
governor shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether a signer
is a registered voter;
(ii)
declare nominated the 21 nominees in favor of ratification and the 21 nominees
against ratification whose nominating petitions have been signed by the largest
number of registered voters;
(iii)
decide any ties by lot drawn by the lieutenant governor; and
(iv)
certify the nominated candidates of each group to the county clerk of each county
within the state.
(5)
(a)
A voter who signs a nomination petition under this section may have the voter's
signature removed from the petition by, no later than 5 p.m. three business days after
the last day for filing the petitions, submitting to the lieutenant governor a statement
requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(5)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The lieutenant governor shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 58. Section
53G-3-301.1
is amended to read:
53G-3-301.1
Effective
05/25/26
. Creation of a new school district -- Citizens'
petition -- Procedures to follow -- Removal or reinstatement of signature.
(1)
Citizens may file a petition to create a new school district in accordance with this
section and Section
53G-3-301
.
(2)
(a)
The county clerk shall ensure that a petition described in Subsection
(1)
is signed
by registered voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new
school district in an amount equal to at least 10% of all votes cast within the
geographic boundaries of the proposed new school district for all candidates for
president of the United States at the last regular general election at which a president
of the United States was elected.
(b)
The sponsors of a petition described in Subsection
(1)
shall file the petition with the
clerk of each county in which any part of the proposed new school district is located.
(c)
The petition sponsors shall ensure that the petition described in Subsection
(1)
:
(i)
indicates the typed or printed name and current residence address of each voter
who signs the petition;
(ii)
describes the proposed new school district boundaries; and
(iii)
designates up to five signers of the petition as sponsors, designating one as the
contact sponsor, with the mailing address and telephone number of each.
(d)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(3)
(a)
(i)
A signer of a petition described in Subsection
(1)
may remove or, once
removed, reinstate the signer's signature by filing a written statement requesting
removal or reinstatement with the county clerk no later than three business days
after the day on which the petition is filed with the county clerk.
(ii)
A statement described in Subsection
(3)(a)(i)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003
(2)
.
(iii)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003
(3)
to determine whether to remove or reinstate an individual's signature from a
petition after receiving a timely, valid statement.
(b)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to
determine whether the petition has been signed by the required number of registered
voters residing within the geographical boundaries of the proposed new school
district.
(4)
Within 14 days after the day on which a petition described in Subsection
(1)
is filed, the
clerk of each county with which the request or petition is filed shall:
(a)
determine whether the petition complies with Subsections
(2)
and
(3)
, as applicable,
and Section
53G-3-301
; and
(b)
(i)
if the county clerk determines that the request or petition complies with the
applicable requirements:
(A)
certify the petition and deliver the certified petition to the county legislative
body; and
(B)
mail or deliver written notification of the certification to the contact sponsor;
or
(ii)
if the county clerk determines that the petition fails to comply with any of the
applicable requirements, reject the petition and notify the contact sponsor in
writing of the rejection and reasons for the rejection.
(5)
(a)
If the county clerk fails to certify or reject a petition within the time specified in
Subsection
(4)
, the petition is considered to be certified.
(b)
If the county clerk rejects a petition, the individual who submitted the petition may
amend the petition to correct the deficiencies for which the county clerk rejected the
petition and refile the petition.
(6)
Within 10 days after the day on which a county legislative body receives a certified
petition as described in Subsection
(4)
or
(5)
, the county legislative body shall request a
feasibility study.
(7)
(a)
The county legislative body shall:
(i)
provide for a 30-day public comment period to begin on the day the county
legislative body receives the study under Subsection
(6)
; and
(ii)
hold at least two public hearings on the study and recommendations.
(b)
Within five business days after the day on which the public comment period ends,
the legislative body of each county with which a petition is filed shall vote on the
creation of the proposed new school district.
(c)
A county legislative body approves a petition proposing a new school district if a
majority of the members of the legislative body vote in favor of the petition.
(8)
(a)
Within five business days after the day on which a county legislative body
approves a petition proposing a new school district under Subsection
(7)
, the county
legislative body shall provide notice of the approval and a copy of the petition to
which the approval relates to the county clerk of each county described in Subsection
(2)(b)
.
(b)
If each county described in Subsection
(2)(b)
approves a petition proposing a new
school district, the county clerks of the counties shall submit the proposal for the
creation of a new school district to all legal voters in the proposed new school district
for approval or rejection at the next regular general election that is at least 65 days
after the day on which all of the counties described in Subsection
(2)(b)
have
complied with Subsection
(8)(a)
.
(c)
The new school district proposed in the petition and the reorganized new school
district are created if a majority of the voters in the proposed new school district vote
in favor of creating the new school district.
Section 59. Section
53G-3-401
is amended to read:
53G-3-401
Effective
05/25/26
. Consolidation of school districts -- Resolution by
local school board members -- Petition by electors -- Certification of petition signatures --
Removal of signature -- Election.
(1)
Two or more school districts may unite and form a single school district in one of the
following ways:
(a)
a majority of the members of each of the local school boards of the affected districts
shall approve and present to the county legislative body of the affected counties a
resolution to consolidate the districts. Once this is done, consolidation shall be
established under this chapter; or
(b)
a majority of the members of the local school board of each affected district, or 15%
of the registered voters in each of the affected districts, shall sign and present a
petition to the county legislative body of each affected county. The question shall be
voted upon at an election called for that purpose, which shall be the next general or
municipal election. Consolidation shall occur if a majority of those voting on the
question in each district favor consolidation.
(2)
The first page of a petition described in this section shall include the following
statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other statements on the
page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(3)
If a registered voter petition is presented to the county legislative body under
Subsection
(1)(b)
:
(a)
within three business days after the day on which the county legislative body
receives the petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the
county clerk; and
(b)
within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
county legislative body, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(1)(b)
for a registered voter
petition;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in one of the
affected districts; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(3)
(4)
(a)
A voter who signs a registered voter petition under Subsection
(1)(b)
may
have the voter's signature removed from the petition by, no later than three business
days after the day on which the county legislative body provides the petition to the
county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's
signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(3)(a)
(4)(a
)
shall comply with the
requirements described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(4)
(5)
The elections required under Subsection
(1)(b)
shall be conducted and the returns
canvassed as provided by election laws.
Section 60. Section
53G-3-501
is amended to read:
53G-3-501
Effective
05/25/26
. Transfer of a portion of a school district --
Required boundary adjustments -- Local school board petition -- Elector petition --
Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature -- Transfer election.
(1)
(a)
Part of a school district may be transferred to another district in one of the
following ways:
(a)
(i)
presentation to the county legislative body of each of the affected counties of
a resolution requesting the transfer, approved by at least four-fifths of the
members of the local school board of each affected school district;
(b)
(ii)
presentation to the county legislative body of each affected county of a
petition requesting that the voters vote on the transfer, signed by a majority of the
members of the local school board of each affected school district;
(c)
(iii)
presentation to the county legislative body of each affected county of a
petition requesting that the voters vote on the transfer, signed by 15% of the
registered voters in each of the affected school districts within that county; or
(d)
(iv)
for a boundary adjustment required under Subsection
(2)
or
(3)
, submission
to the county legislative body of each of the affected counties of a resolution
requesting the transfer from the local school board of the school district that is
required to initiate the boundary adjustment.
(b)
The first page of a petition described in Subsection
(1)(a)(iii)
shall include the
following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
(a)
As used in this Subsection
(2)
:
(i)
"Expansion area" means the area of land approved for annexation and located
outside the boundaries of a specified school district.
(ii)
"Municipality" means a city or town.
(iii)
"Originating school district" means the school district whose boundaries an
expansion area is located within prior to the boundary adjustment required under
Subsection
(2)(b)
.
(iv)
"Specified school district" means a school district:
(A)
that serves residents within a single municipality; and
(B)
for which the municipality whose residents the school district serves enacts an
ordinance in accordance with
Title 10, Chapter 2, Part 4, Annexation
Title 10,
Chapter 2, Part 8, Annexation
, approving the annexation of an area of land
located outside the boundaries of the school district.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter and except as provided in
Subsection
(2)(c)(ii)
, the local school board of a specified school district shall initiate
boundary adjustment proceedings under Subsection
(1)(d)
(1)(a)(iv)
:
(i)
to request the expansion area to be transferred to the specified school district from
the originating school district; and
(ii)
by submitting the resolution requesting the transfer, as provided in Subsection
(1)(d)
(1)(a)(iv)
, within 60 days after the day on which the municipality enacts the
ordinance approving annexation of the expansion area.
(c)
(i)
Before initiating the boundary adjustment required under Subsection
(2)(b)
, the
local school board presidents of the specified school district and the originating
school district shall, within the timeframe described in Subsection
(2)(b)(ii)
, meet
to determine whether allowing the expansion area to remain within the boundaries
of the originating school district is in the best interests of the municipality's
residents.
(ii)
The requirements of Subsection
(2)(b)
do not apply to a specified school district
if, upon meeting under Subsection
(2)(c)(i)
, the presidents of the local school
boards mutually agree that allowing the expansion area to remain within the
boundaries of the originating school district is in the best interests of the
municipality's residents.
(3)
(a)
This Subsection
(3)
applies to a school district that:
(i)
serves residents within a single municipality; and
(ii)
in calendar year 2018, completed construction on a secondary school within an
area of land located outside the boundaries of the school district.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the local school board of a
school district described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall initiate boundary adjustment
proceedings under Subsection
(1)(d)
(1)(a)(iv)
:
(i)
to request the land described in Subsection
(3)(a)(ii)
to be transferred to the school
district from the school district whose boundaries the land is located within; and
(ii)
by submitting the resolution requesting the transfer, as provided in Subsection
(1)(d)
(1)(a)(iv)
, on or before June 1, 2024.
(4)
If a registered voter petition is presented to the county legislative body under Subsection
(1)(c)
(1)(a)(iii)
:
(a)
within three business days after the day on which the county legislative body
receives the petition, the county legislative body shall provide the petition to the
county clerk; and
(b)
within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition from the
county legislative body, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(1)(c)
(1)(a)(iii)
for a registered
voter petition;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in one of the
affected districts; and
(iii)
deliver the certified petition to the county legislative body.
(5)
(a)
A voter who signs a registered voter petition under Subsection
(1)(c)
(1)(a)(iii)
may have the voter's signature removed from the petition by, no later than three
business days after the day on which the county legislative body provides the petition
to the county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the
voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(5)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
(6)
(a)
The voters of each affected district shall vote on the transfer requested under
Subsection
(1)(b) or (c)
(1)(a)(ii
) or
(iii)
at an election called for that purpose, which
may be the next general election.
(b)
The election shall be conducted and the returns canvassed as provided by election
law.
(c)
A transfer is effected only if a majority of votes cast by the voters in both the
proposed transferor district and in the proposed transferee district are in favor of the
transfer.
Section 61. Section
53H-3-1304
is enacted to read:
53H-3-1304
Effective
04/06/26
. Research university -- Duty to research.
(1)
As used in this section, "research university" means the University of Utah or Utah State
University.
(2)
The conduct of research by a research university is, for purposes of Section
20A-2-605
,
an official duty imposed by law on the research university.
Section 62. Section
63G-2-202
is amended to read:
63G-2-202
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Access to private, controlled,
and protected documents.
(1)
Except as provided in Subsection
(11)(a)
, a governmental entity:
(a)
shall, upon request, disclose a private record to:
(i)
the subject of the record;
(ii)
the parent or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor who is the subject of the
record;
(iii)
the legal guardian of a legally incapacitated individual who is the subject of the
record;
(iv)
any other individual who:
(A)
has a power of attorney from the subject of the record;
(B)
submits a notarized release from the subject of the record or the individual's
legal representative dated no more than 90 days before the date the request is
made; or
(C)
if the record is a medical record described in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(b)
, is a
health care provider, as defined in Section
26B-8-501
, if releasing the record or
information in the record is consistent with normal professional practice and
medical ethics; or
(v)
any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
(A)
court order as provided in Subsection
(7)
; or
(B)
a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative
Subpoena Powers; and
(b)
may disclose a private record described in Subsections
63G-2-302(1)(j)
through
(n)
,
without complying with Section
63G-2-206
, to another governmental entity for a
purpose related to
administering
:
(i)
the
voter registration
list
; or
(ii)
the administration of
an election.
(2)
(a)
Upon request, a governmental entity shall disclose a controlled record to:
(i)
a physician, physician assistant, psychologist, certified social worker, insurance
provider or producer, or a government public health agency upon submission of:
(A)
a release from the subject of the record that is dated no more than 90 days
prior to the date the request is made; and
(B)
a signed acknowledgment of the terms of disclosure of controlled information
as provided by Subsection
(2)(b)
; and
(ii)
any person to whom the record must be disclosed pursuant to:
(A)
a court order as provided in Subsection
(7)
; or
(B)
a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative
Subpoena Powers.
(b)
A person who receives a record from a governmental entity in accordance with
Subsection
(2)(a)(i)
may not disclose controlled information from that record to any
person, including the subject of the record.
(3)
If there is more than one subject of a private or controlled record, the portion of the
record that pertains to another subject shall be segregated from the portion that the
requester is entitled to inspect.
(4)
Upon request, and except as provided in Subsection
(11)(b)
, a governmental entity shall
disclose a protected record to:
(a)
the person that submitted the record;
(b)
any other individual who:
(i)
has a power of attorney from all persons, governmental entities, or political
subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected
classification; or
(ii)
submits a notarized release from all persons, governmental entities, or political
subdivisions whose interests were sought to be protected by the protected
classification or from their legal representatives dated no more than 90 days prior
to the date the request is made;
(c)
any person to whom the record must be provided pursuant to:
(i)
a court order as provided in Subsection
(7)
; or
(ii)
a legislative subpoena as provided in Title 36, Chapter 14, Legislative Subpoena
Powers; or
(d)
the owner of a mobile home park, subject to the conditions of Subsection
41-1a-116(5)
.
(5)
Except as provided in Subsection
(1)(b)
, a governmental entity may disclose a private,
controlled, or protected record to another governmental entity, political subdivision,
state, the United States, or a foreign government only as provided by Section
63G-2-206
.
(6)
Before releasing a private, controlled, or protected record, the governmental entity shall
obtain evidence of the requester's identity.
(7)
A governmental entity shall disclose a record pursuant to the terms of a court order
signed by a judge from a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that:
(a)
the record deals with a matter in controversy over which the court has jurisdiction;
(b)
the court has considered the merits of the request for access to the record;
(c)
the court has considered and, where appropriate, limited the requester's use and
further disclosure of the record in order to protect:
(i)
privacy interests in the case of private or controlled records;
(ii)
business confidentiality interests in the case of records protected under
Subsection
63G-2-305(1)
, (2), (40)(a)(ii), or (40)(a)(vi); and
(iii)
privacy interests or the public interest in the case of other protected records;
(d)
to the extent the record is properly classified private, controlled, or protected, the
interests favoring access, considering limitations thereon, are greater than or equal to
the interests favoring restriction of access; and
(e)
where access is restricted by a rule, statute, or regulation referred to in Subsection
63G-2-201(3)(b)
, the court has authority independent of this chapter to order
disclosure.
(8)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(8)(d)
, a governmental entity may disclose or
authorize disclosure of private or controlled records for research purposes if the
governmental entity:
(i)
determines that the research purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished without
use or disclosure of the information to the researcher in individually identifiable
form;
(ii)
determines that:
(A)
the proposed research is bona fide; and
(B)
the value of the research is greater than or equal to the infringement upon
personal privacy;
(iii)
(A)
requires the researcher to assure the integrity, confidentiality, and security
of the records; and
(B)
requires the removal or destruction of the individual identifiers associated
with the records as soon as the purpose of the research project has been
accomplished;
(iv)
prohibits the researcher from:
(A)
disclosing the record in individually identifiable form, except as provided in
Subsection
(8)(b)
; or
(B)
using the record for purposes other than the research approved by the
governmental entity; and
(v)
secures from the researcher a written statement of the researcher's understanding
of and agreement to the conditions of this Subsection
(8)
and the researcher's
understanding that violation of the terms of this Subsection
(8)
may subject the
researcher to criminal prosecution under Section
63G-2-801
.
(b)
A researcher may disclose a record in individually identifiable form if the record is
disclosed for the purpose of auditing or evaluating the research program and no
subsequent use or disclosure of the record in individually identifiable form will be
made by the auditor or evaluator except as provided by this section.
(c)
A governmental entity may require indemnification as a condition of permitting
research under this Subsection
(8)
.
(d)
A governmental entity may not disclose or authorize disclosure of a private record
for research purposes as described in this Subsection
(8)
if the private record is a
record described in Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(x)
.
(9)
(a)
Under Subsections
63G-2-201(5)(b)
and
63G-2-401(6)
, a governmental entity
may disclose to persons other than those specified in this section records that are:
(i)
private under Section
63G-2-302
; or
(ii)
protected under Section
63G-2-305
, subject to Section
63G-2-309
if a claim for
business confidentiality has been made under Section
63G-2-309
.
(b)
Under Subsection
63G-2-403(11)(b)
, the State Records Committee may require the
disclosure to persons other than those specified in this section of records that are:
(i)
private under Section
63G-2-302
;
(ii)
controlled under Section
63G-2-304
; or
(iii)
protected under Section
63G-2-305
, subject to Section
63G-2-309
if a claim for
business confidentiality has been made under Section
63G-2-309
.
(c)
Under Subsection
63G-2-404(7)
, the court may require the disclosure of records that
are private under Section
63G-2-302
, controlled under Section
63G-2-304
, or
protected under Section
63G-2-305
to persons other than those specified in this
section.
(10)
(a)
A private record described in Subsection
63G-2-302(2)(f)
may only be disclosed
as provided in Subsection
(1)(a)(v)
.
(b)
A protected record described in Subsection
63G-2-305(43)
may only be disclosed as
provided in Subsection
(4)(c)
or Section
26B-6-212
.
(11)
(a)
A private, protected, or controlled record described in Section
26B-1-506
shall
be disclosed as required under:
(i)
Subsections
26B-1-506(1)(b)and
(2); and
(ii)
Subsections
26B-1-507(1)
and
(6)
.
(b)
A record disclosed under Subsection
(11)(a)
shall retain its character as private,
protected, or controlled.
Section 63. Section
63G-2-210
is amended to read:
63G-2-210
Effective
upon governor's approval
. Access to and use of voter or
election information by a government officer.
(1)
As used in this section, "government officer" means:
(a)
an elected official; or
(b)
an officer, employee, volunteer, or agent of a governmental entity.
(2)
A government officer may not:
(a)
disclose, or attempt to discover, any information from a ballot cast by an identifiable
voter;
(b)
except as provided in Subsection
(3)
, disclose in relation to an identifiable voter:
(i)
the method by which the voter voted or returned a ballot;
(ii)
when or where the voter voted;
(iii)
how or when the voter's ballot was received;
(iv)
whether a ballot was mailed to the voter;
(v)
whether the voter placed postage on a return envelope; or
(vi)
any information from the return envelope of a voter.
(3)
Subsection
(2)
does not prohibit the disclosure, in mass, of the information
included in
a voting history record, in accordance with Section
20A-5-410
disclosed in accordance
with Title 20A, Chapter 2, Part 6, Provision and Protection of Voter Data
.
(4)
Except as provided in Subsection
(5)
, a government officer who, due to the government
officer's position as a government officer, has access to election records, may not access,
use, copy, or release the information except to the extent that the access, use, copying, or
release:
(a)
is reasonably related to a duty of the government officer;
(b)
is in accordance with the requirements of law; and
(c)
is not done for a primarily personal purpose, including:
(i)
a political purpose;
(ii)
furthering the government officer's personal agenda; or
(iii)
a purpose relating to the government officer's private business, hobbies, or
personal interests.
(5)
Subsection
(4)
does not prevent a government officer from accessing, using, copying, or
releasing government information in the same manner available to a member of the
general public, including by filing a record request under Section
20A-2-603
,
20A-2-604
,
or
63G-2-204
.
Section 64. Section
63G-2-301
is amended to read:
63G-2-301
Effective
04/06/26
. Public records.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Business address" means a single address of a governmental agency designated for
the public to contact an employee or officer of the governmental agency.
(b)
"Business email address" means a single email address of a governmental agency
designated for the public to contact an employee or officer of the governmental
agency.
(c)
"Business telephone number" means a single telephone number of a governmental
agency designated for the public to contact an employee or officer of the
governmental agency.
(d)
"Correctional facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section
77-16b-102
.
(2)
The following records are public except to the extent they contain information expressly
permitted to be treated confidentially under the provisions of Subsections
63G-2-201(3)(b)
and
(6)(a)
:
(a)
laws;
(b)
the name, gender, gross compensation, job title, job description, business address,
business email address, business telephone number, number of hours worked per pay
period, dates of employment, and relevant education, previous employment, and
similar job qualifications of a current or former employee or officer of the
governmental entity, excluding:
(i)
undercover law enforcement personnel; and
(ii)
investigative personnel if disclosure could reasonably be expected to impair the
effectiveness of investigations or endanger any individual's safety;
(c)
final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions, and orders that are
made by a governmental entity in an administrative, adjudicative, or judicial
proceeding except that if the proceedings were properly closed to the public, the
opinion and order may be withheld to the extent that they contain information that is
private, controlled, or protected;
(d)
final interpretations of statutes or rules by a governmental entity unless classified as
protected as provided in Subsection
63G-2-305(17)
or
(18)
;
(e)
information contained in or compiled from a transcript, minutes, or report of the open
portions of a meeting of a governmental entity as provided by
Title 52, Chapter 4,
Open and Public Meetings Act
, including the records of all votes of each member of
the governmental entity;
(f)
judicial records unless a court orders the records to be restricted under the rules of
civil or criminal procedure or unless the records are private under this chapter;
(g)
unless otherwise classified as private under Section
63G-2-303
, records or parts of
records filed with or maintained by county recorders, clerks, treasurers, surveyors,
zoning commissions, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the School and
Institutional Trust Lands Administration, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, the
Division of Water Rights, or other governmental entities that give public notice of:
(i)
titles or encumbrances to real property;
(ii)
restrictions on the use of real property;
(iii)
the capacity of persons to take or convey title to real property; or
(iv)
tax status for real and personal property;
(h)
records of the Department of Commerce that evidence incorporations, mergers, name
changes, and uniform commercial code filings;
(i)
data on individuals that would otherwise be private under this chapter if the
individual who is the subject of the record has given the governmental entity written
permission to make the records available to the public;
(j)
documentation of the compensation that a governmental entity pays to a contractor or
private provider;
(k)
summary data;
(l)
voter registration records, including an individual's voting history, except for a voter
registration record or those parts of a voter registration record that are classified as
private under Subsections
63G-2-302(1)(j)
through (n) or withheld under Subsection
20A-2-104(7)
;
(l)
subject to Title 20A, Chapter 2, Part 6, Provision and Protection of Voter Data,
standard voter data, as defined in Section
20A-2-601
, in the voter registration record
of a public registered voter, as defined in Section
20A-2-601
;
(m)
for an elected official, as defined in Section
11-47-102
, a telephone number, if
available, and email address, if available, where that elected official may be reached
as required in
Title 11, Chapter 47, Access to Elected Officials
;
(n)
for a school community council member, a telephone number, if available, and email
address, if available, where that elected official may be reached directly as required
in Section
53G-7-1203
;
(o)
annual audited financial statements of the Utah Educational Savings Plan described
in Section
53H-10-210
; and
(p)
an initiative packet, as defined in Section
20A-7-101
, and a referendum packet, as
defined in Section
20A-7-101
, after the packet is submitted to a county clerk.
(3)
The following records are normally public, but to the extent that a record is expressly
exempt from disclosure, access may be restricted under Subsection
63G-2-201(3)(b)
,
Section
63G-2-302
,
63G-2-304
, or
63G-2-305
:
(a)
administrative staff manuals, instructions to staff, and statements of policy;
(b)
records documenting a contractor's or private provider's compliance with the terms
of a contract with a governmental entity;
(c)
records documenting the services provided by a contractor or a private provider to
the extent the records would be public if prepared by the governmental entity;
(d)
contracts entered into by a governmental entity;
(e)
any account, voucher, or contract that deals with the receipt or expenditure of funds
by a governmental entity;
(f)
records relating to government assistance or incentives publicly disclosed, contracted
for, or given by a governmental entity, encouraging a person to expand or relocate a
business in Utah, except as provided in Subsection
63G-2-305(35)
;
(g)
chronological logs and initial contact reports;
(h)
correspondence by and with a governmental entity in which the governmental entity
determines or states an opinion upon the rights of the state, a political subdivision,
the public, or any person;
(i)
empirical data contained in drafts if:
(i)
the empirical data is not reasonably available to the requester elsewhere in similar
form; and
(ii)
the governmental entity is given a reasonable opportunity to correct any errors or
make nonsubstantive changes before release;
(j)
drafts that are circulated to anyone other than:
(i)
a governmental entity;
(ii)
a political subdivision;
(iii)
a federal agency if the governmental entity and the federal agency are jointly
responsible for implementation of a program or project that has been legislatively
approved;
(iv)
a government-managed corporation; or
(v)
a contractor or private provider;
(k)
drafts that have never been finalized but were relied upon by the governmental entity
in carrying out action or policy;
(l)
original data in a computer program if the governmental entity chooses not to
disclose the program;
(m)
arrest warrants after issuance, except that, for good cause, a court may order
restricted access to arrest warrants prior to service;
(n)
search warrants after execution and filing of the return, except that a court, for good
cause, may order restricted access to search warrants prior to trial;
(o)
records that would disclose information relating to formal charges or disciplinary
actions against a past or present governmental entity employee if:
(i)
the disciplinary action has been completed and all time periods for administrative
appeal have expired; and
(ii)
the charges on which the disciplinary action was based were sustained;
(p)
records maintained by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, the School and
Institutional Trust Lands Administration, or the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining that
evidence mineral production on government lands;
(q)
final audit reports;
(r)
occupational and professional licenses;
(s)
business licenses;
(t)
a notice of violation, a notice of agency action under Section
63G-4-201
, or similar
records used to initiate proceedings for discipline or sanctions against persons
regulated by a governmental entity, but not including records that initiate employee
discipline; and
(u)
(i)
records that disclose a standard, regulation, policy, guideline, or rule regarding
the operation of a correctional facility or the care and control of inmates
committed to the custody of a correctional facility; and
(ii)
records that disclose the results of an audit or other inspection assessing a
correctional facility's compliance with a standard, regulation, policy, guideline, or
rule described in Subsection
(3)(u)(i)
.
(4)
The list of public records in this section is not exhaustive and should not be used to limit
access to records.
The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill.
Section 65. Section
63G-2-302
is amended to read:
63G-2-302
Effective
04/06/26
. Private records.
(1)
The following records are private:
(a)
records concerning an individual's eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits,
social services, welfare benefits, or the determination of benefit levels;
(b)
records containing data on individuals describing medical history, diagnosis,
condition, treatment, evaluation, or similar medical data;
(c)
records of publicly funded libraries that when examined alone or with other records
identify a patron;
(d)
records received by or generated by or for:
(i)
the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission, except for:
(A)
the commission's summary data report that is required under legislative rule;
and
(B)
any other document that is classified as public under legislative rule; or
(ii)
a Senate or House Ethics Committee in relation to the review of ethics
complaints, unless the record is classified as public under legislative rule;
(e)
records received by, or generated by or for, the Independent Executive Branch Ethics
Commission, except as otherwise expressly provided in Title 63A, Chapter 14,
Review of Executive Branch Ethics Complaints;
(f)
records received or generated for a Senate confirmation committee concerning
character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual:
(i)
if, prior to the meeting, the chair of the committee determines release of the
records:
(A)
reasonably could be expected to interfere with the investigation undertaken by
the committee; or
(B)
would create a danger of depriving a person of a right to a fair proceeding or
impartial hearing; and
(ii)
after the meeting, if the meeting was closed to the public;
(g)
employment records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for
employment with, a governmental entity that would disclose that individual's home
address, home telephone number, social security number, insurance coverage, marital
status, or payroll deductions;
(h)
records or parts of records under Section
63G-2-303
that a current or former
employee identifies as private according to the requirements of that section;
(i)
that part of a record indicating a person's social security number or federal employer
identification number if provided under Section
31A-23a-104
,
31A-25-202
,
31A-26-202
,
58-1-301
,
58-55-302
,
61-1-4
, or
61-2f-203
;
(j)
that part of a voter registration record identifying a voter's:
(i)
driver license or identification card number;
(ii)
social security number, or last four digits of the social security number;
(iii)
email address;
(iv)
date
day, month, or year
of birth; or
(v)
phone number;
(k)
a voter registration record that is classified as a private record by the lieutenant
governor or a county clerk under Subsection
20A-2-101.1(5)(a)
,
20A-2-104(4)(h
),
or
20A-2-204(4)(b
);
(l)
a voter registration record
that is withheld under Subsection
20A-2-104(7)
of an
at-risk voter, as defined in Section
20A-2-601
;
(m)
the following forms and supporting verification:
(i)
a withholding request form
used, before April 6, 2026, to request that a voter's
voter registration be withheld as a private record, and any verification submitted
in support of the form;
(ii)
an at-risk voter designation request form
described in
Subsections
20A-2-104(7)
and
(8)
Section
20A-2-606
and any verification submitted in support of the form;
(iii)
a notice described in Section
20A-2-602
; and
(iv)
a form relating to a request described in Section
20A-2-603
,
20A-2-604
,
20A-2-605
, or
20A-2-607
;
(n)
a record or information regarding whether a voter returned a ballot with postage
attached;
(o)
a record that:
(i)
contains information about an individual;
(ii)
is voluntarily provided by the individual; and
(iii)
goes into an electronic database that:
(A)
is designated by and administered under the authority of the
Chief
Information Officer
chief information officer
; and
(B)
acts as a repository of information about the individual that can be
electronically retrieved and used to facilitate the individual's online interaction
with a state agency;
(p)
information provided to the
Commissioner of Insurance
commissioner of insurance
under:
(i)
Subsection
31A-23a-115(3)(a)
;
(ii)
Subsection
31A-23a-302(4)
; or
(iii)
Subsection
31A-26-210(4)
;
(q)
information obtained through a criminal background check under Title 11, Chapter
40, Criminal Background Checks by Political Subdivisions Operating Water Systems;
(r)
information provided by an offender that is:
(i)
required by the registration requirements of Title 53, Chapter 29, Sex, Kidnap, and
Child Abuse Offender Registry; and
(ii)
not required to be made available to the public under Subsection
53-29-404(3)(a)
;
(s)
a statement and any supporting documentation filed with the attorney general in
accordance with Section
34-45-107
, if the federal law or action supporting the filing
involves homeland security;
(t)
electronic toll collection customer account information received or collected under
Section
72-6-118
and customer information described in Section
17B-2a-815
received or collected by a public transit district, including contact and payment
information and customer travel data;
(u)
an email address provided by a military or overseas voter under Section
20A-16-501
;
(v)
a completed military-overseas ballot that is electronically transmitted under Title
20A, Chapter 16, Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act;
(w)
records received by or generated by or for the Political Subdivisions Ethics Review
Commission established in Section
63A-15-201
, except for:
(i)
the commission's summary data report that is required in Section
63A-15-202
; and
(ii)
any other document that is classified as public in accordance with Title 63A,
Chapter 15, Political Subdivisions Ethics Review Commission;
(x)
a record described in Section
53G-9-604
that verifies that a parent was notified of an
incident or threat;
(y)
a criminal background check or credit history report conducted in accordance with
Section
63A-3-201
;
(z)
a record described in Subsection
53-5a-104(7)
;
(aa)
on a record maintained by a county for the purpose of administering property taxes,
an individual's:
(i)
email address;
(ii)
phone number; or
(iii)
personal financial information related to a person's payment method;
(bb)
a record submitted by a taxpayer to establish the taxpayer's eligibility for an
exemption, deferral, abatement, or relief under:
(i)
Title 59, Chapter 2, Part 11, Exemptions; or
(ii)
Title 59, Chapter 2a, Tax Relief Through Property Tax;
(cc)
a record provided by the State Tax Commission in response to a request under
Subsection
59-1-403(4)(y)(iii)
;
(dd)
a record of the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel regarding an individual
child welfare case, as described in Subsection
36-33-103(3)
;
(ee)
a record relating to drug or alcohol testing of a state employee under Section
63A-17-1004
;
(ff)
a record relating to a request by a state elected official or state employee who has
been threatened to the Division of Technology Services to remove personal
identifying information from the open web under Section
63A-16-109
;
(gg)
a record including confidential information as that term is defined in Section
67-27-106
; and
(hh)
a record or notice received or generated under Title 53, Chapter 30, Security
Improvements Act, relating to:
(i)
an application for certification described in Section
53-30-201
; or
(ii)
a security improvement, including a building permit application or building
permit for a security improvement described in Section
53-30-301
.
(2)
The following records are private if properly classified by a governmental entity:
(a)
records concerning a current or former employee of, or applicant for employment
with a governmental entity, including performance evaluations and personal status
information such as race, religion, or disabilities, but not including records that are
public under Subsection
63G-2-301(2)(b)
or
63G-2-301(3)(o
) or private under
Subsection
(1)(b)
;
(b)
records describing an individual's finances, except that the following are public:
(i)
records described in Subsection
63G-2-301(2)
;
(ii)
information provided to the governmental entity for the purpose of complying
with a financial assurance requirement; or
(iii)
records that must be disclosed in accordance with another statute;
(c)
records of independent state agencies if the disclosure of those records would
conflict with the fiduciary obligations of the agency;
(d)
other records containing data on individuals the disclosure of which constitutes a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(e)
records provided by the United States or by a government entity outside the state that
are given with the requirement that the records be managed as private records, if the
providing entity states in writing that the record would not be subject to public
disclosure if retained by it;
(f)
any portion of a record in the custody of the Division of Aging and Adult Services,
created in Section
26B-6-102
, that may disclose, or lead to the discovery of, the
identity of a person who made a report of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a
vulnerable adult; and
(g)
audio and video recordings created by a body-worn camera, as defined in Section
77-7a-103
, that record sound or images inside a home or residence except for
recordings that:
(i)
depict the commission of an alleged crime;
(ii)
record any encounter between a law enforcement officer and a person that results
in death or bodily injury, or includes an instance when an officer fires a weapon;
(iii)
record any encounter that is the subject of a complaint or a legal proceeding
against a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency;
(iv)
contain an officer-involved critical incident as defined in Subsection
76-2-408(1)(f)
; or
(v)
have been requested for reclassification as a public record by a subject or
authorized agent of a subject featured in the recording.
(3)
(a)
As used in this Subsection
(3)
, "medical records" means medical reports, records,
statements, history, diagnosis, condition, treatment, and evaluation.
(b)
Medical records in the possession of the University of Utah Hospital, its clinics,
doctors, or affiliated entities are not private records or controlled records under
Section
63G-2-304
when the records are sought:
(i)
in connection with any legal or administrative proceeding in which the patient's
physical, mental, or emotional condition is an element of any claim or defense; or
(ii)
after a patient's death, in any legal or administrative proceeding in which any
party relies upon the condition as an element of the claim or defense.
(c)
Medical records are subject to production in a legal or administrative proceeding
according to state or federal statutes or rules of procedure and evidence as if the
medical records were in the possession of a nongovernmental medical care provider.
Section 66. Section
63G-2-303
is amended to read:
63G-2-303
Effective
04/06/26
. Private information concerning certain
government employees.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"At-risk government employee" means a current or former:
(i)
peace officer as specified in Section
53-13-102
;
(ii)
state or federal judge of an appellate, district, justice, or juvenile court, or court
commissioner;
(iii)
judge authorized by Title 39A, Chapter 5, Utah Code of Military Justice;
(iv)
judge authorized by Armed Forces, Title 10, United States Code;
(v)
federal prosecutor;
(vi)
prosecutor appointed pursuant to Armed Forces, Title 10, United States Code;
(vii)
law enforcement official as defined in Section
53-5a-311
;
(viii)
prosecutor authorized by Title 39A, Chapter 5, Utah Code of Military Justice; or
(ix)
state or local government employee who, because of the unique nature of the
employee's regular work assignments or because of one or more recent credible
threats directed to or against the employee, would be at immediate and substantial
risk of physical harm if the employee's personal information is disclosed.
(b)
"Family member" means the spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent of an
at-risk government employee who is living with the employee.
(c)
"Personal information" means the employee's or the employee's family member's
home address, home telephone number, personal mobile telephone number, personal
pager number, personal email address, social security number, insurance coverage,
marital status, or payroll deductions.
(2)
(a)
Pursuant to Subsection
63G-2-302(1)(h)
, an at-risk government employee may
file a written application that:
(i)
gives notice of the employee's status as an at-risk government employee to each
agency of a government entity holding a record or a part of a record that would
disclose the employee's personal information; and
(ii)
requests that the government agency classify those records or parts of records as
private.
(b)
An at-risk government employee desiring to file an application under this section
may request assistance from the government agency to identify the individual records
containing personal information.
(c)
Each government agency shall develop a form that:
(i)
requires the at-risk government employee to designate each specific record or part
of a record containing the employee's personal information that the applicant
desires to be classified as private;
(ii)
affirmatively requests that the government entity holding those records classify
them as private;
(iii)
informs the employee that by submitting a completed form the employee may
not receive official announcements affecting the employee's property, including
notices about proposed municipal annexations, incorporations, or zoning
modifications; and
(iv)
contains a place for the signature required under Subsection
(2)(d)
.
(d)
A form submitted by an employee under Subsection
(2)(c)
shall be signed by the
highest ranking elected or appointed official in the employee's chain of command
certifying that the employee submitting the form is an at-risk government employee.
(3)
A county recorder, county treasurer, county auditor, or a county tax assessor may fully
satisfy the requirements of this section by:
(a)
providing a method for the assessment roll and index and the tax roll and index that
will block public access to the home address, home telephone number, situs address,
and Social Security number; and
(b)
providing the at-risk government employee requesting the classification with a
disclaimer informing the employee that the employee may not receive official
announcements affecting the employee's property, including notices about proposed
annexations, incorporations, or zoning modifications.
(4)
A government agency holding records of an at-risk government employee classified as
private under this section may release the record or part of the record if:
(a)
the employee or former employee gives written consent;
(b)
a court orders release of the records;
or
(c)
the government agency receives a certified death certificate for the employee or
former employee
; or
.
(d)
as it relates to the employee's voter registration record:
(i)
the person to whom the record or part of the record is released is a qualified
person under Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(n); and
(ii)
the government agency's release of the record or part of the record complies with
the requirements of Subsection 20A-2-104(4)(o).
(5)
(a)
If the government agency holding the private record receives a subpoena for the
records, the government agency shall attempt to notify the at-risk government
employee or former employee by mailing a copy of the subpoena to the employee's
last-known mailing address together with a request that the employee either:
(i)
authorize release of the record; or
(ii)
within 10 days of the date that the copy and request are mailed, deliver to the
government agency holding the private record a copy of a motion to quash filed
with the court who issued the subpoena.
(b)
The government agency shall comply with the subpoena if the government agency
has:
(i)
received permission from the at-risk government employee or former employee to
comply with the subpoena;
(ii)
not received a copy of a motion to quash within 10 days of the date that the copy
of the subpoena was mailed; or
(iii)
received a court order requiring release of the records.
(6)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection
(6)(b)
, a form submitted under this section
remains in effect until the earlier of:
(i)
four years after the date the employee signs the form, whether or not the
employee's employment terminates before the end of the four-year period; and
(ii)
one year after the government agency receives official notice of the death of the
employee.
(b)
A form submitted under this section may be rescinded at any time by:
(i)
the at-risk government employee who submitted the form; or
(ii)
if the at-risk government employee is deceased, a member of the employee's
immediate family.
Section 67. Section
73-10d-4
is amended to read:
73-10d-4
Effective
05/25/26
. Notice of intention to enter privatization project --
Petition for election -- Certification of petition signatures -- Removal of signature --
Election procedures -- Powers of political subdivision -- Public bidding laws not to apply.
(1)
(a)
The governing authority of any political subdivision considering entering into a
privatization project agreement shall issue a notice of intention setting forth a brief
summary of the agreement provisions and the time within which and place at which
petitions may be filed requesting the calling of an election in the political subdivision
to determine whether the agreement should be approved.
(b)
The notice of intention shall specify the form of the petitions.
(c)
If, within 30 days after the publication of the notice of intention, petitions are filed
with the clerk, recorder, or similar officer of the political subdivision, signed by at
least 5% of the registered voters of the political subdivision (as certified by the
county clerks of the respective counties within which the political subdivision is
located pursuant to Subsections
(7)
and
(8)
)
requesting an election be held to
authorize the agreement, then the governing authority shall proceed to call and hold
an election.
(d)
If an adequate petition is not filed within 30 days, the governing authority may adopt
a resolution so finding and may proceed to enter into the agreement.
(e)
The first page of a petition described in this Subsection
(1)
shall include the
following statement in at least the same size type as the majority of the other
statements on the page:
"WARNING TO SIGNERS WITH PRIVATE VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORDS
If you sign this petition, your voter identification number and the date you signed
may be publicly disclosed. This disclosure may occur even if you are an at-risk voter
with a voter registration record that has been classified as a private record."
(2)
If, under Subsection
(1)
, the governing authority of a political subdivision is required to
call an election to authorize an agreement, the governing authority shall adopt a
resolution directing that an election be held in the political subdivision for the purpose of
determining whether the political subdivision may enter into the agreement. The
resolution calling the election shall be adopted, notice of the election shall be given,
voting precincts shall be established, the election shall be held, voters' qualifications
shall be determined, and the results shall be canvassed in the manner and subject to the
conditions provided for in
Title 11, Chapter 14, Local Government Bonding Act
.
(3)
A political subdivision may, upon approval of an agreement as provided by Subsections
(1)
and
(2)
and subject to the powers and rules of the supervising agency:
(a)
supervise and regulate the construction, maintenance, ownership, and operation of all
privatization projects within its jurisdiction or in which it has a contractual interest;
(b)
contract, by entry into agreements with private owner/operators for the provision
within its jurisdiction of the services of privatization projects;
(c)
levy and collect taxes, as otherwise provided by law, and impose and collect
assessments, fees, or charges for services provided by privatization projects, as
appropriate, and, subject to any limitation imposed by the constitution, pledge,
assign, or otherwise convey as security for the payment of its obligations under any
agreements any revenues and receipts derived from any assessments, fees, or charges
for services provided by privatization projects;
(d)
require the private owner/operator to obtain any and all licenses as appropriate under
federal, state, and local law and impose other requirements which are necessary or
desirable to discharge the responsibility of the political subdivision to supervise and
regulate the construction, maintenance, ownership, and operation of any privatization
project;
(e)
control the right to contract, maintain, own, and operate any privatization project and
the services provided in connection with that project within its jurisdiction;
(f)
purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire all or any part of a privatization project;
(g)
with respect to the services of any privatization project, control the right to establish
or regulate the rates paid by the users of the services within the jurisdiction of the
political subdivision;
(h)
agree that the sole and exclusive right to provide the services within its jurisdiction
related to privatization projects be assumed by any private owner/operator;
(i)
contract for the lease or purchase of land, facilities, equipment, and vehicles for the
operation of privatization projects;
(j)
lease, sell, or otherwise convey, as permitted by state and local law, but without any
requirement of competitive public bidding, land, facilities, equipment, and vehicles,
previously used in connection with privatization projects, to private owner/operators;
and
(k)
establish policies for the operation of any privatization project within its jurisdiction
or with respect to which it has a contractual interest, including hours of operation, the
character and kinds of services, and other rules necessary for the safety of operating
personnel.
(4)
Any political subdivision may enter into agreements with respect to privatization
projects. Agreements may contain provisions relating to, without limitation, any matter
provided for in this section or consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
(5)
Any agreement entered into between a political subdivision and a private
owner/operator for the provision of the services of a privatization project is considered
an exercise of that political subdivision's business or proprietary power binding upon its
succeeding governing authorities. Any agreement made by a political subdivision with a
private owner/operator for payment for services provided or to be provided may not be
construed to be an indebtedness or a lending of credit of the political subdivision within
the meaning of any constitutional or statutory restriction.
(6)
The provisions of the various laws of the state and the rules or ordinances of a political
subdivision which would otherwise require public bidding in respect to any matter
provided for in this chapter shall have no application to that matter.
(7)
If a petition is presented to the clerk of a political subdivision under Subsection
(1)
:
(a)
as applicable, within three business days after the day on which the clerk receives the
petition, the clerk shall provide the petition to the county clerk for the county in
which the political subdivision is located; and
(b)
within 14 days after the day on which a county clerk receives a petition under this
section, the county clerk shall:
(i)
use the procedures described in Section
20A-1-1002
to determine whether the
petition satisfies the requirements of Subsection
(1)
for a registered voter petition;
(ii)
certify on the petition whether each name is that of a registered voter in the
affected political subdivision; and
(iii)
as applicable, deliver the certified petition to the governing authority of the
affected political subdivision.
(8)
(a)
A voter who signs a petition under Subsection
(1)
may have the voter's signature
removed from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on
which the petition is provided to the county clerk, submitting to the county clerk a
statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
(b)
A statement described in Subsection
(8)(a)
shall comply with the requirements
described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(2)
.
(c)
The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
20A-1-1003(3)
to
determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving
a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
Section 68.
Effective Date.
(1)
Except as provided in Subsections (2)-(4), this bill takes effect May 25, 2026.
(2)
(a)
The actions affecting sections described in Subsection (2)(b) take effect:
(i)
except as provided in Subsection (2)(a)(ii), May 6, 2026; or
(ii)
if approved by two-thirds of all members elected to each house:
(A)
upon approval by the governor;
(B)
without the governor's signature, the day following the constitutional time
limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8; or
(C)
in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.
(b)
Subsection (2)(a) applies to the actions affecting the following sections:
(i)
Section 20A-1-102(Effective upon governor's approval);
(ii)
Section 20A-2-504(Effective upon governor's approval);
(iii)
Section 20A-2-601(Effective upon governor's approval);
(iv)
Section 20A-2-602(Effective upon governor's approval);
(v)
Section 20A-2-607(Effective upon governor's approval);
(vi)
Section 20A-7-103(Effective upon governor's approval)(Superseded
01/01/27Contingently );
(vii)
Section 20A-7-702(Effective upon governor's approval);
(viii)
Section 20A-7-703.1(Effective upon governor's approval);
(ix)
Section 63G-2-202(Effective upon governor's approval); and
(x)
Section 63G-2-210(Effective upon governor's approval).
(3)
(a)
The actions affecting sections described in Subsection (3)(b) take effect:
(i)
except as provided in Subsection (3)(a)(ii), May 6, 2026; or
(ii)
if approved by two-thirds of all members elected to each house, the later of April
6, 2026; or:
(A)
upon approval by the governor;
(B)
without the governor's approval, the day following the constitutional time
limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8; or
(C)
with the governor's veto and a vote of the Legislature to override the veto, the
date of veto override.
(b)
Subsection (3)(a) applies to the actions affecting the following sections:
(i)
Section 20A-2-101.1(Effective 04/06/26);
(ii)
Section 20A-2-104(Effective 04/06/26);
(iii)
Section 20A-2-108(Effective 04/06/26);
(iv)
Section 20A-2-204(Effective 04/06/26);
(v)
Section 20A-2-206(Effective 04/06/26);
(vi)
Section 20A-2-304(Effective 04/06/26);
(vii)
Section 20A-2-505(Effective 04/06/26);
(viii)
Section 20A-2-603(Effective 04/06/26);
(ix)
Section 20A-2-604(Effective 04/06/26);
(x)
Section 20A-2-605(Effective 04/06/26);
(xi)
Section 20A-2-606(Effective 04/06/26);
(xii)
Section 20A-5-410(Effective 04/06/26);
(xiii)
Section 20A-3a-401(Effective 04/06/26);
(xiv)
Section 20A-6-105(Effective 04/06/26);
(xv)
Section 53H-3-1304(Effective 04/06/26);
(xvi)
Section 63G-2-301(Effective 04/06/26);
(xvii)
Section 63G-2-302(Effective 04/06/26); and
(xviii)
Section 63G-2-303(Effective 04/06/26).
(4)
The actions affecting Section 20A-7-103 (Effective 01/01/27Contingently ) take effect
on January 1, 2027.
Section 69.
Coordinating S.B. 153 with H.B. 209.
If S.B. 153, Election Amendments, and H.B. 209, Voting Amendments, both pass and
become law, the Legislature intends that:
(1) Subsections 20A-2-204(3)(c) and (4), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 209, be amended to read:
"
(c) on or before the first business day that is at least five calendar days after the day on
which the division receives a voter registration form, electronically transmit the form to the
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
lieutenant governor
, including the following for the
individual named on the form:
(i) the name, date of birth, driver license or state identification card number, last four digits
of the social security number, Utah residential address, place of birth, and signature;
(ii) a mailing address, if different from the individual's Utah residential address;
(iii) an email address and phone number, if available;
(iv) the desired political affiliation, if indicated;
(v) an indication of whether the individual requested that the individual's voter registration
record be classified as a private record under Subsection 20A-2-108(2)(b); and
(vi)
(v)
a withholding
an at-risk designation
request form described in
Subsections
20A-2-104(7) and (8)
Section 20A-2-606
and any verification submitted with the form
.
; and
(vi) an indication regarding whether the individual provided proof of United States
citizenship.
(4) Upon receipt of an individual's voter registration form from the Driver License Division
under Subsection (3), the lieutenant governor
or county clerk
shall:
(a) enter the information into the statewide voter registration database;
and
(b) make a record of the indication described in Subsection (3)(c)(vi); and
(b)
(c)
if the individual
requests on the individual's voter registration form that the
individual's voter registration record be classified as a private record or the individual submits
a withholding request form described in Subsections 20A-2-104(7) and (8)
submits an at-risk
designation request form described in Section 20A-2-606
and any required verification,
classify the individual's voter registration record as a private record.
";
(2) Subsections 63G-2-302(1)(j) through (m), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 209, be amended to
read:
"(j) that part of a voter registration record
:
(i)
identifying a voter's:
(i)
(A)
driver license or identification card number;
(ii)
(B)
social security number, or last four digits of the social security number;
(iii)
(C)
email address;
(iv)
(D)
date
day, month, or year
of birth; or
(v)
(E)
phone number;
(ii) submitted by the voter as proof of United States citizenship;
(iii) indicating whether the voter has provided proof of United States citizenship; or
(iv) indicating whether the voter is restricted to voting a federal ballot;
(k) a voter registration record that is classified as a private record by the lieutenant governor
or a county clerk under Subsection 20A-2-101.1(5)(a)
, 20A-2-104(4)(h), or 20A-2-204(4)(b)
or 20A-2-204(4)(c)
;
(l)
(i)
a voter registration record
that is withheld under Subsection 20A-2-104(7);
of an
at-risk voter, as defined in Section 20A-2-601; or
(ii) before January 1, 2027, a voter registration record of a voter who is limited to voting a
federal ballot only;
(m)
the following forms and supporting verification:
(i)
a withholding request form
used, before April 6, 2026, to request that a voter's voter
registration be withheld as a private record, and any verification submitted in support of the
form;
(ii) an at-risk voter designation request form
described in
Subsections 20A-2-104(7) and (8)
Section 20A-2-606
and any verification submitted in support of the form;
(iii) a notice described in Section 20A-2-602; and
(iv) a form relating to a request described in Section 20A-2-603, 20A-2-604, 20A-2-605, or
20A-2-607;";
(3) Subsection 20A-2-104(2)(d) in H.B. 209 not be enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(2)(d)
and, instead, be enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(1)(c) in S.B. 153;
(4) Subsection 20A-2-104(7) in H.B. 209 not be enacted as 20A-2-104(7) and, instead, be
enacted as Subsection 20A-2-104(4) in S.B. 153; and
(5) Subsections (1) through (4) of this coordination clause take effect on:
(a) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), May 6, 2026; or
(b) April 6, 2026, if S.B. 153 and H.B. 209 are both approved by two-thirds of all members
elected to each house.
Section 70.
Coordinating S.B. 153 with H.B. 361.
If S.B. 153, Election Amendments, and H.B. 361, Election Provisions Amendments,
both pass and become law, the Legislature intends that, on May 6, 2026, Subsections
20A-2-504(4) through (7), in S.B. 153 and H.B. 361, be amended to read:
"
(3)
(4)
The county clerk shall remove a voter's name from the official register within five
business days after the day on which the county clerk
:
(a) receives, from the lieutenant governor, the information described in Subsection (3) or
26B-8-114(11) in relation to the voter; or
(b)
receives confirmation
from the Office of Vital Records
that the voter is deceased
.
from:
(i) the Office of Vital Records and Statistics or the lieutenant governor;
(ii) the United States Social Security Administration data; or
(iii) another reliable source or document that clearly identifies that the voter is deceased.
(5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), the county clerk may not remove the name
of a voter from the official register during the 90 calendar days before a regular primary
election or the 90 calendar days before a regular general election.
(b) The county clerk may remove the name of a voter from the official register during the
90 calendar days before a regular primary election or the 90 calendar days before a regular
general election if:
(i) the voter requests, in writing, that the voter's name be removed; or
(ii) the voter dies.
(4)
(6)
No later than 90 calendar days before each primary election day and general
election day
,
:
(a)
the county clerk shall update the official register by reviewing the official register and
taking the actions permitted or required by law under this section, Section 20A-2-503, and
Section 20A-2-505
.
; and
(b) the lieutenant governor shall compare the records that the lieutenant governor receives
under Subsections (3) and 26B-8-114(11) to the official register to ensure that each county
clerk complies with Subsection (4).
(7) Ninety calendar days before each primary and general election the lieutenant governor
shall compare the information the lieutenant governor has received from the Office of Vital
Records and Statistics, the United States Social Security Administration data, and other
reliable sources with the official register of voters to ensure that all deceased voters have been
removed from the official register.".
3-12-26 10:54 AM