HB 25: Candidate Petition Amendments - Utah

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the rules for candidate nomination petitions in Utah, specifically changing where candidates must submit their collected signatures and adjusting deadlines for certain offices. It also adds a new requirement for the Lieutenant Governor to establish rules for reimbursing counties for verifying signatures in federal, constitutional, and multicounty races, though this reimbursement is currently subject to future legislative funding.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of signature verification responsibilities to include federal, constitutional, and multicounty offices, requiring a new reimbursement framework for counties handling these specific races.

REQUIREMENT

Candidates seeking nomination for federal, constitutional, or multicounty offices must now submit their signature packets to the county clerk of the county where the majority of signatures were collected, rather than the filing officer.

For multicounty offices, the county clerk must now count valid signatures and certify the total to the Lieutenant Governor, who then certifies the candidate if the aggregate number meets the threshold.

TIMELINE

The deadline for candidates to submit nomination petitions to election officials was extended from 14 days to 21 days before the political party's convention for multicounty offices.

FISCAL

A new provision requires the Lieutenant Governor to establish rules for reimbursing counties for verifying signatures in federal, constitutional, and multicounty races, but this reimbursement is contingent on future legislative appropriations.

TECHNICAL

Various section references and formatting were updated to conform to recent amendments in the Utah Code.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's candidate nomination petition rules to require signatures for multi-county offices to be submitted to county clerks based on where the voter lives, rather than where the candidate submits them. It also extends the deadline for signature submission from 14 to 21 days before a party's convention and clarifies that only voters residing in the specific county submitting the petition should sign it. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of voter residency verification and provide candidates with more time to gather signatures.

Scope change

The bill modifies the jurisdictional rules for submitting signature petitions, specifically requiring submission to the county clerk of the voter's residence for multi-county offices, and applies new timing requirements to qualified political party signature-gathering processes.

REQUIREMENT

For offices elected from multiple counties, candidates must now submit signature petitions to the county clerk of each voter's residence, not just the county where the candidate submits the packet.

County clerks are now required to verify that signers are residents of their specific county before certifying signatures for multi-county offices.

Petition forms now explicitly state that only registered voters residing in the county where the petition is being submitted should sign it.

TIMELINE

The deadline for candidates to submit signature petitions to election officials was extended from 14 days to 21 days before a party's nominating convention.

ELIGIBILITY

County clerks may no longer certify signatures from voters who reside in a different county than the one submitting the petition for multi-county offices.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah election laws to centralize the verification of candidate nomination petitions by requiring signatures to be submitted to the county clerk of each voter's residence. It mandates that county clerks only certify signatures from voters residing in their own county and requires the Lieutenant Governor to aggregate valid signatures for offices spanning multiple counties. Additionally, the bill shortens the deadline for qualified political parties to submit nomination signatures from 14 to 21 days before their conventions.

Scope change

The scope of verification authority shifts from filing officers to county clerks based on voter residence, and the process for multi-county offices now involves a two-step certification by county clerks followed by the Lieutenant Governor.

REQUIREMENT

Requires candidates submitting nomination petitions to send signatures to the county clerk of each registered voter's residence instead of a single filing officer.

Requires the Lieutenant Governor to count and aggregate valid signatures from multiple counties for offices elected from more than one county before certifying a candidate.

ELIGIBILITY

Establishes a residency requirement where county clerks may only certify signatures from voters who reside within that specific county.

TIMELINE

Shortens the deadline for qualified political parties to submit nomination signatures from 14 days to 21 days before the party's convention.

DEFINITION

Updates the definition of a 'qualified political party' to include individuals seeking nomination via signature gathering for federal, constitutional, multicounty, or county offices.

Candidate Petition Amendments

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