HB 25

02-17 17:30  3rd Sub. (Cherry) H.B. 25
  Lisa Shepherd proposes the following substitute bill:
1Candidate Petition Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Lisa Shepherd
  Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill amends provisions related to candidate nomination petitions.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ requires a candidate seeking the nomination for an elective office by gathering signatures
9   to submit the signatures to the county clerk of the county in which a majority of the
10   signatures are collected;
11▸ requires the lieutenant governor to establish rules to reimburse counties for verifying
12   signatures for federal, constitutional, and multicounty offices;
13▸ makes a reimbursement described above subject to legislative appropriations for that
14   purpose; and
15▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
16   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17None
18   Other Special Clauses:
  3rd Sub. H.B. 25
19This bill provides a special effective date.
20   Utah Code Sections Affected:
21   AMENDS:
2220A-1-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 16
2320A-3a-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 381, 448
2420A-6-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 39
2520A-6-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 39, 448
2620A-6-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 136
2720A-9-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 39, 448
2820A-9-405, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 38
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2920A-9-406, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special Session, Chapter 2
3020A-9-408, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special Session, Chapter 2
3120A-9-502, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Second Special Session, Chapter 2
3220A-9-701, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 296
33
34   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35Section 1. Section 20A-1-501 is amended to read:
3620A-1-501 . Candidate vacancies -- Procedure for filling.
37   (1) As used in this section, "central committee" means:
38(a) the state central committee of a political party, for a candidate for:
39(i) United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor,
40attorney general, state treasurer, or state auditor; or
41(ii) state legislator if the legislative district encompasses all or a portion of more than
42one county; or
43(b) the county central committee of a political party, for a party candidate seeking an
44office, other than an office described in Subsection (1)(a), elected at an election held
45in an even-numbered year.
46   (2) Except as provided in Subsection (6), the central committee may certify the name of
47another candidate to the appropriate election officer if:
48(a) for a registered political party that will have a candidate on a ballot in a primary
49election:
50(i) after the close of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing
51through the day before the day on which the lieutenant governor provides the list
52described in Subsection [20A-9-403(4)(a)] 20A-9-403(8)(a), only one or two
53candidates from that party have filed a declaration of candidacy for that office and
54one or both dies, resigns as a candidate, or is disqualified as a candidate; and
55(ii) the central committee provides written certification of the replacement candidate
56to the appropriate election officer before the day on which the lieutenant governor
57provides the list described in Subsection [20A-9-403(4)(a)] 20A-9-403(8)(a);
58(b) for a registered political party that does not have a candidate on the ballot in a
59primary, but will have a candidate on the ballot for a regular general election:
60(i) after the close of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing
61through the day before the day on which the lieutenant governor makes the
62certification described in Section 20A-5-409, the party's candidate dies, resigns as
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63a candidate, or is disqualified as a candidate; and
64(ii) the central committee provides written certification of the replacement candidate
65to the appropriate election officer before the day on which the lieutenant governor
66makes the certification described in Section 20A-5-409; or
67(c) for a registered political party with a candidate certified as winning a primary
68election:
69(i) after the close of the period for filing a declaration of candidacy and continuing
70through the day before the day on which the lieutenant governor makes the
71certification described in Section 20A-5-409, the party's candidate dies, resigns as
72a candidate, or is disqualified as a candidate; and
73(ii) the central committee provides written certification of the replacement candidate
74to the appropriate election officer before the day on which the lieutenant governor
75makes the certification described in Section 20A-5-409.
76   (3) If no more than two candidates from a political party have filed a declaration of
77candidacy for an office elected at a regular general election and one resigns to become
78the party candidate for another position, the central committee of that political party may
79certify the name of another candidate to the appropriate election officer.
80   (4) Each replacement candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy as required by Chapter
819, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy.
82   (5)(a) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (2)(a) after the
83deadline described in Subsection (2)(a)(ii) may not appear on the primary election
84ballot.
85(b) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (2)(b) after the deadline
86described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii) may not appear on the general election ballot.
87(c) The name of a candidate who is certified under Subsection (2)(c) after the deadline
88described in Subsection (2)(c)(ii) may not appear on the general election ballot.
89   (6) A political party may not replace a candidate who is disqualified for failure to timely
90file a campaign disclosure financial report under Chapter 11, Campaign and Financial
91Reporting Requirements, or Section 17-70-403.
92   (7) This section does not apply to a candidate vacancy for a nonpartisan office.
93Section 2. Section 20A-3a-106 is amended to read:
9420A-3a-106 . Rulemaking authority relating to conducting an election.
95      The director of elections, within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, may make rules,
96   in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, establishing
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97   requirements for:
98   (1) a return envelope, to ensure uniformity and security of the envelopes;
99   (2) complying with the signature comparison audit requirements described in Section
10020A-3a-402.5;
101   (3) conducting and documenting the identity verification process described in Subsection
10220A-3a-401(7)(b); or
103   (4) establishing specific requirements and procedures for an election officer to:
104(a) perform the signature comparison audits described in Subsection [20A-9-408(9)(e)]
10520A-9-408(9)(f); or
106(b) fulfill the chain of custody requirements described in Section 20A-9-408.3.
107Section 3. Section 20A-6-301 is amended to read:
10820A-6-301 . Manual ballots -- Regular general election.
109   (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
110(a) all manual ballots furnished for use at the regular general election contain:
111(i) no captions or other endorsements except as provided in this section;
112(ii) no symbols, markings, or other descriptions of a political party or group, except
113for a registered political party that has chosen to nominate its candidates in
114accordance with Section 20A-9-403; and
115(iii) no indication that a candidate for elective office has been nominated by, or has
116been endorsed by, or is in any way affiliated with a political party or group, unless
117the candidate has been nominated by a registered political party in accordance
118with Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection [20A-9-403(5)] 20A-9-403(9);
119(b) at the top of the ballot, the following endorsements are printed in 18 point bold type:
120(i) "Official Ballot for ____ County, Utah";
121(ii) the date of the election; and
122(iii) the words "certified by the Clerk of __________ County" or, as applicable, the
123name of a combined office that includes the duties of a county clerk;
124(c) unaffiliated candidates, candidates not affiliated with a registered political party, and
125all other candidates for elective office who were not nominated by a registered
126political party in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection [
12720A-9-403(5)] 20A-9-403(9), are listed with the other candidates for the same office
128in accordance with Sections 20A-6-109 and 20A-6-110, without a party name or title;
129(d) each ticket containing the lists of candidates, including the party name and device,
130are separated by heavy parallel lines;
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131(e) the offices to be filled are plainly printed immediately above the names of the
132candidates for those offices;
133(f) the names of candidates are printed in capital letters, not less than one-eighth nor
134more than one-fourth of an inch high in heavy-faced type not smaller than 10 point,
135between lines or rules three-eighths of an inch apart; and
136(g) on a ticket for a race in which a voter is authorized to cast a write-in vote and in
137which a write-in candidate is qualified under Section 20A-9-601:
138(i) the ballot includes a space for a write-in candidate immediately following the last
139candidate listed on that ticket; or
140(ii) for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant
141governor, the ballot includes two spaces for write-in candidates immediately
142following the last candidates on that ticket, one placed above the other, to enable
143the entry of two valid write-in candidates.
144   (2) An election officer shall ensure that:
145(a) each individual nominated by any registered political party under Subsection
14620A-9-202(4) or Subsection [20A-9-403(5)] 20A-9-403(9), and no other individual, is
147placed on the ballot:
148(i) under the registered political party's name, if any; or
149(ii) under the title of the registered political party as designated by them in their
150certificates of nomination or petition, or, if none is designated, then under some
151suitable title;
152(b) the names of all unaffiliated candidates that qualify as required in Chapter 9, Part 5,
153Candidates not Affiliated with a Party, are placed on the ballot;
154(c) the names of the candidates for president and vice president are used on the ballot
155instead of the names of the presidential electors; and
156(d) the ballots contain no other names.
157   (3) When the ballot contains a nonpartisan section, the election officer shall ensure that:
158(a) the designation of the office to be filled in the election and the number of candidates
159to be elected are printed in type not smaller than eight point;
160(b) the words designating the office are printed flush with the left-hand margin;
161(c) the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of candidates for
162which the voter may vote)" extend to the extreme right of the column;
163(d) the nonpartisan candidates are grouped according to the office for which they are
164candidates;
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165(e) the names in each group are placed in accordance with Sections 20A-6-109 and
16620A-6-110, with the surnames last; and
167(f) each group is preceded by the designation of the office for which the candidates seek
168election, and the words, "Vote for one" or "Vote for up to _____ (the number of
169candidates for which the voter may vote)," according to the number to be elected.
170   (4) Each election officer shall ensure that:
171(a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are listed on the ballot in accordance
172with Section 20A-6-107;
173(b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are listed on the ballot in accordance with
174Section 20A-6-107;
175(c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are listed on the ballot under the
176title assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206; and
177(d) the judicial retention section of the ballot includes a statement at the beginning
178directing voters to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission's website in
179accordance with Subsection 20A-12-201(4).
180Section 4. Section 20A-6-302 is amended to read:
18120A-6-302 . Manual ballots -- Placement of candidates' names.
182   (1) An election officer shall ensure, for manual ballots in regular general elections, that:
183(a) each candidate is listed by party, if nominated by a registered political party under
184Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection [20A-9-403(5)] 20A-9-403(9);
185(b) candidates' surnames are listed in alphabetical order on the ballots when two or more
186candidates' names are required to be listed on a ticket under the title of an office; and
187(c) the names of candidates are placed on the ballot in:
188(i) the manner described in Section 20A-6-109; and
189(ii) the order described in Section 20A-6-110.
190   (2)(a) When there is only one candidate for county attorney at the regular general
191election in counties that have three or fewer registered voters of the county who are
192licensed active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the county clerk
193shall cause that candidate's name and party affiliation, if any, to be placed on a
194separate section of the ballot with the following question: "Shall (name of candidate)
195be elected to the office of county attorney? Yes ____ No ____.".
196(b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
197elected to the office of county attorney.
198(c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
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199elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the
200end of the term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
201(d) When the name of only one candidate for county attorney is printed on the ballot
202under authority of this Subsection (2), the county clerk may not count any write-in
203votes received for the office of county attorney.
204(e) If no qualified individual files for the office of county attorney or if the candidate is
205not elected by the voters, the county legislative body shall appoint the county
206attorney as provided in Section 20A-1-509.2.
207(f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (2)(f), be placed on
208the ballot under Subsection (2)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (2)(a)
209to the two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate
210is seeking election, Subsection (2)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be
211considered to be an unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate
212for another office, unless a petition is filed with the county clerk before 5 p.m. no
213later than the day before that year's primary election that:
214(i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (2)(a) to be followed; and
215(ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number
216at least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the
217last election at which a governor was elected.
218   (3)(a) When there is only one candidate for district attorney at the regular general
219election in a prosecution district that has three or fewer registered voters of the
220district who are licensed active members in good standing of the Utah State Bar, the
221county clerk shall cause that candidate's name and party affiliation, if any, to be
222placed on a separate section of the ballot with the following question: "Shall (name of
223candidate) be elected to the office of district attorney? Yes ____ No ____.".
224(b) If the number of "Yes" votes exceeds the number of "No" votes, the candidate is
225elected to the office of district attorney.
226(c) If the number of "No" votes exceeds the number of "Yes" votes, the candidate is not
227elected and may not take office, nor may the candidate continue in the office past the
228end of the term resulting from any prior election or appointment.
229(d) When the name of only one candidate for district attorney is printed on the ballot
230under authority of this Subsection (3), the county clerk may not count any write-in
231votes received for the office of district attorney.
232(e) If no qualified individual files for the office of district attorney, or if the only
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233candidate is not elected by the voters under this subsection, the county legislative
234body shall appoint a new district attorney for a four-year term as provided in Section
23520A-1-509.2.
236(f) If the candidate whose name would, except for this Subsection (3)(f), be placed on
237the ballot under Subsection (3)(a) has been elected on a ballot under Subsection (3)(a)
238to the two consecutive terms immediately preceding the term for which the candidate
239is seeking election, Subsection (3)(a) does not apply and that candidate shall be
240considered to be an unopposed candidate the same as any other unopposed candidate
241for another office, unless a petition is filed with the county clerk before 5 p.m. no
242later than the day before that year's primary election that:
243(i) requests the procedure set forth in Subsection (3)(a) to be followed; and
244(ii) contains the signatures of registered voters in the county representing in number
245at least 25% of all votes cast in the county for all candidates for governor at the
246last election at which a governor was elected.
247Section 5. Section 20A-6-304 is amended to read:
24820A-6-304 . Regular general election -- Mechanical ballots.
249   (1) Each election officer shall ensure that:
250(a) the format and content of a mechanical ballot is arranged in approximately the same
251order as manual ballots;
252(b) the titles of offices and the names of candidates are displayed in vertical columns or
253in a series of separate displays;
254(c) the mechanical ballot is of sufficient length to include, after the list of candidates:
255(i) the names of candidates for judicial offices and any other nonpartisan offices; and
256(ii) any ballot propositions submitted to the voters for their approval or rejection;
257(d) the office titles are displayed above or at the side of the names of candidates so as to
258indicate clearly the candidates for each office and the number to be elected;
259(e) the party designation of each candidate who has been nominated by a registered
260political party under Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or Subsection [20A-9-403(5)]
26120A-9-403(9) is displayed adjacent to the candidate's name; and
262(f) if possible, all candidates for one office are grouped in one column or upon one
263display screen.
264   (2) Each election officer shall ensure that:
265(a) proposed amendments to the Utah Constitution are displayed in accordance with
266Section 20A-6-107;
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267(b) ballot propositions submitted to the voters are displayed in accordance with Section
26820A-6-107;
269(c) bond propositions that have qualified for the ballot are displayed under the title
270assigned to each bond proposition under Section 11-14-206; and
271(d) the judicial retention section of the ballot includes a statement at the beginning
272directing voters to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission's website in
273accordance with Subsection 20A-12-201(4).
274Section 6. Section 20A-9-403 is amended to read:
27520A-9-403 . Regular primary elections.
276   (1)(a) Candidates for elective office that are to be filled at the next regular general
277election shall be nominated in a regular primary election by direct vote of the people
278in the manner prescribed in this section. The regular primary election is held on the
279date specified in Section 20A-1-201.5. Nothing in this section shall affect a
280candidate's ability to qualify for a regular general election's ballot as an unaffiliated
281candidate under Section 20A-9-501 or to participate in a regular general election as a
282write-in candidate under Section 20A-9-601.
283(b) Each registered political party that chooses to have the names of the registered
284political party's candidates for elective office featured with party affiliation on the
285ballot at a regular general election shall comply with the requirements of this section
286and shall nominate the registered political party's candidates for elective office in the
287manner described in this section.
288(c) A filing officer may not permit an official ballot at a regular general election to be
289produced or used if the ballot denotes affiliation between a registered political party
290or any other political group and a candidate for elective office who is not nominated
291in the manner prescribed in this section or in Subsection 20A-9-202(4).
292(d) Unless noted otherwise, the dates in this section refer to those that occur in each
293even-numbered year in which a regular general election will be held.
294   (2)(a) Each registered political party, in a statement filed with the lieutenant governor,
295shall:
296(i) either declare the registered political party's intent to participate in the next regular
297primary election or declare that the registered political party chooses not to have
298the names of the registered political party's candidates for elective office featured
299on the ballot at the next regular general election; and
300(ii) if the registered political party participates in the upcoming regular primary
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301election, identify one or more registered political parties whose members may
302vote for the registered political party's candidates and whether individuals
303identified as unaffiliated with a political party may vote for the registered political
304party's candidates.
305(b)(i) A registered political party that is a continuing political party shall file the
306statement described in Subsection (2)(a) with the lieutenant governor no later than
3075 p.m. on November 30 of each odd-numbered year.
308(ii) An organization that is seeking to become a registered political party under
309Section 20A-8-103 shall file the statement described in Subsection (2)(a) at the
310time that the registered political party files the petition described in Section
31120A-8-103.
312   (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection [(3)(e)] (5), an individual who submits a
313declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-202 shall appear as a candidate for
314elective office on the regular primary ballot of the registered political party listed on
315the declaration of candidacy only if the individual is certified by the appropriate
316filing officer as having submitted a nomination petition that was:
317(i) circulated and completed in accordance with Section 20A-9-405; and
318(ii) signed by at least 2% of the registered political party's members who reside in the
319political division of the office that the individual seeks.
320(b)(i) A candidate for elective office shall, in accordance with Section 20A-9-408.3,
321submit [signatures for a nomination petition to the appropriate filing officer for
322verification and certification] each signature packet for a nomination petition to the
323county clerk where the majority of the signatures in the packet were collected, no
324later than 5 p.m. on March 31.
325(ii) A candidate may supplement the candidate's submissions at any time on or before
326the filing deadline.
327(c)(i) The lieutenant governor shall determine for each elective office the total
328number of signatures that must be submitted under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) or
32920A-9-408(8) by counting the aggregate number of individuals residing in each
330elective office's political division who have designated a particular registered
331political party on the individuals' voter registration forms on or before November
33215 of each odd-numbered year.
333(ii) The lieutenant governor shall publish the determination for each elective office
334no later than November 30 of each odd-numbered year.
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335      (d) The county clerk shall:
336(i) consider an active and inactive voter eligible to sign a nomination petition;
337(ii) consider an individual who signs a nomination petition a member of a registered
338political party for purposes of Subsection (3)(a)(ii) if the individual has designated
339the registered political party as the individual's party membership on the
340individual's voter registration form;
341(iii) except as otherwise provided in Section 20A-21-201, and in accordance with
342Section 20A-9-408.3, use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to
343verify submitted nomination petition signatures in a transparent and orderly
344manner, or use statistical sampling procedures to verify submitted nomination
345petition signatures in accordance with rules made under Subsection (6), no later
346than 14 calendar days after the day on which a candidate submits the signatures to
347the county clerk; and
348(iv) for each qualifying candidate for elective office who submits a nomination
349petition to the county clerk, issue the certification described in Subsection (3)(a)
350no later than the deadline described in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(b).
351      [(d) The filing officer shall:]
352[(i) except as otherwise provided in Section 20A-21-201, and in accordance with
353Section 20A-9-408.3, verify signatures on nomination petitions in a transparent
354and orderly manner, no later than 14 calendar days after the day on which a
355candidate submits the signatures to the filing officer;]
356[(ii) for all qualifying candidates for elective office who submit nomination petitions
357to the filing officer, issue certifications referenced in Subsection (3)(a) no later
358than the deadline described in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(b);]
359[(iii) consider active and inactive voters eligible to sign nomination petitions;]
360[(iv) consider an individual who signs a nomination petition a member of a registered
361political party for purposes of Subsection (3)(a)(ii) if the individual has designated
362that registered political party as the individual's party membership on the
363individual's voter registration form; and]
364[(v) except as otherwise provided in Section 20A-21-201 and with the assistance of
365the county clerk as applicable, use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002
366to verify submitted nomination petition signatures, or use statistical sampling
367procedures to verify submitted nomination petition signatures in accordance with
368rules made under Subsection (3)(f).]
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369   (4) In reviewing each signature packet, the county clerk shall count and certify only an
370individual who signed with a holographic signature, who:
371(a) is a registered voter and a resident of the political division for the office that the
372candidate seeks to represent; and
373(b) did not sign any other nomination petition for that office.
374   (5)[(e)] Notwithstanding any other provision in [this Subsection (3)] Subsection (3), (4),
375(6), or (7), a candidate for lieutenant governor may appear on the regular primary
376ballot of a registered political party without submitting nomination petitions if the
377candidate files a declaration of candidacy and complies with Subsection 20A-9-202(3).
378   [(f)] (6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
379director of elections, within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, may make rules that:
380[(i)] (a) provide for the use of statistical sampling procedures that:
381[(A)] (i) [filing officers] county clerks are required to use to verify signatures under
382Subsection (3)(d); and
383[(B)] (ii) reflect a bona fide effort to determine the validity of a candidate's entire
384submission, using widely recognized statistical sampling techniques; and
385[(ii)] (b) provide for the transparent, orderly, and timely submission, verification, and
386certification of nomination petition signatures.
387   [(g)] (7) The county clerk shall:
388[(i)] (a) review the declarations of candidacy filed by candidates for local boards of
389education to determine if more than two candidates have filed for the same seat;
390[(ii)] (b) place the names of all candidates who have filed a declaration of candidacy for a
391local board of education seat on the nonpartisan section of the ballot if more than two
392candidates have filed for the same seat; and
393[(iii)] (c) place the local board of education candidates' names on the ballot in accordance
394with Sections 20A-6-109 and 20A-6-110.
395   [(4)] (8)(a) Before the deadline described in Subsection 20A-9-409(4)(c), the lieutenant
396governor shall provide to the county clerks:
397(i) a list of the names of all candidates for federal, constitutional, multi-county, single
398county, and county offices who have received certifications under Subsection [(3)]
399(3)(a), along with instructions on how those names shall appear on the primary
400election ballot in accordance with Sections 20A-6-109 and 20A-6-110; and
401(ii) a list of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by a
402registered political party under Subsection [(5)(c)] (9)(c) and instruct the county
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403clerks to exclude the unopposed candidates from the primary election ballot.
404(b) A candidate for lieutenant governor and a candidate for governor campaigning as
405joint-ticket running mates shall appear jointly on the primary election ballot.
406   (c) After the county clerk receives the certified list from the lieutenant governor under
407Subsection [(4)(a)] (8)(a), the county clerk shall post or publish a primary election notice in
408substantially the following form:
409"Notice is given that a primary election will be held Tuesday, June ____,
410________(year), to nominate party candidates for the parties and candidates for nonpartisan
411local school board positions listed on the primary ballot. The polling place for voting precinct
412____ is ____. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and continue open until 8 p.m. of the same day.
413Attest: county clerk."
414   [(5)] (9)(a) A candidate who, at the regular primary election, receives the highest number
415of votes cast for the office sought by the candidate is:
416(i) nominated for that office by the candidate's registered political party; or
417(ii) for a nonpartisan local school board position, nominated for that office.
418(b) If two or more candidates are to be elected to the office at the regular general
419election, those party candidates equal in number to positions to be filled who receive
420the highest number of votes at the regular primary election are the nominees of the
421candidates' party for those positions.
422(c)(i) As used in this Subsection [(5)(c)] (9)(c), a candidate is "unopposed" if:
423(A) no individual other than the candidate receives a certification under
424Subsection [(3)] (3)(a) for the regular primary election ballot of the candidate's
425registered political party for a particular elective office; or
426(B) for an office where more than one individual is to be elected or nominated, the
427number of candidates who receive certification under Subsection [(3)] (3)(a) for
428the regular primary election of the candidate's registered political party does
429not exceed the total number of candidates to be elected or nominated for that
430office.
431(ii) A candidate who is unopposed for an elective office in the regular primary
432election of a registered political party is nominated by the party for that office
433without appearing on the primary election ballot.
434   [(6)] (10) The expense of providing all ballots, blanks, or other supplies to be used at any
435primary election provided for by this section, and all expenses necessarily incurred in
436the preparation for or the conduct of that primary election shall be paid out of the
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437treasury of the county or state, in the same manner as for the regular general elections.
438   [(7)] (11) An individual may not file a declaration of candidacy for a registered political
439party of which the individual is not a member, except to the extent that the registered
440political party permits otherwise under the registered political party's bylaws.
441Section 7. Section 20A-9-405 is amended to read:
44220A-9-405 . Nomination petitions for regular primary elections.
443   (1) [This] Except as provided in Section 20A-9-406, this section applies to the form and
444circulation of nomination petitions for regular primary elections described in Subsection
44520A-9-403(3)(a) and Section 20A-9-408.
446   (2) A candidate for elective office, [and the agents] or an agent of the candidate, may not
447circulate nomination petitions until the candidate has submitted a declaration of
448candidacy in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-202(1).
449   (3) For the manual candidate qualification process, the nomination petitions shall be in
450substantially the following form:
451(a) the petition shall be printed on paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
452(b) the petition shall be ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space
453above that line blank for purposes of binding;
454(c) the petition shall be headed by a caption stating the purpose of the petition and the
455name of the proposed candidate;
456(d) the petition shall feature the word "Warning" followed by the following statement in
457no less than eight-point, single leaded type: "It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone
458to knowingly sign a nomination petition with any name other than the person's own
459name, or more than once for the same candidate, or if the person is not registered to
460vote in this state.";
461(e) the petition shall feature 10 lines spaced one-half inch apart and consecutively
462numbered one through 10;
463(f) the signature portion of the petition shall be divided into columns headed by the
464following titles:
465(i) Registered Voter's Printed Name;
466(ii) Signature of Registered Voter;
467(iii) Party Affiliation of Registered Voter;
468(iv) Birth Date or Age (Optional);
469(v) Street Address, City, Zip Code; and
470(vi) Date of Signature; and
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471(g) a photograph of the candidate may appear on the nomination petition.
472   (4) For the electronic candidate qualification process, the lieutenant governor shall design
473an electronic form, using progressive screens, that includes:
474   (a) the following warning:
475"Warning: It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a nomination
476petition with any name other than the person's own name, or more than once for the same
477candidate, or if the person is not registered to vote in this state."; and
478(b) the following information for each individual who signs the petition:
479(i) name;
480(ii) party affiliation;
481(iii) date of birth or age, (optional);
482(iv) street address, city, zip code;
483(v) date of signature;
484(vi) other information required under Section 20A-21-201; and
485(vii) other information required by the lieutenant governor.
486   (5) For the manual candidate qualification process, if one or more nomination petitions are
487bound together, a page shall be bound to the nomination petition(s) that features the following
488printed verification statement to be signed and dated by the petition circulator:
489"Verification
490State of Utah, County of ____
491I, ____, of ____, hereby state that:
492I am at least 18 years old;
493All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were, to the best of
494my knowledge, signed by the persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on
495the signature sheets, and each of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my
496presence;
497I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
498street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah."
499   (6) The lieutenant governor shall prepare and make public model nomination petition forms
500and associated instructions.
501   (7) A nomination petition circulator:
502(a) must be at least 18 years old; and
503(b) may affiliate with any political party.
504   (8) It is unlawful for any person to:
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505(a) knowingly sign the nomination petition described in this section or Section
50620A-9-408:
507(i) with any name other than the person's own name;
508(ii) more than once for the same candidate; or
509(iii) if the person is not registered to vote in this state;
510(b) sign the verification of a signature for a nomination petition if the person:
511(i) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
512nomination petition; or
513(ii) knows that a person whose signature appears on the nomination petition is not
514registered to vote in this state;
515(c) pay compensation to any person to sign a nomination petition; or
516(d) pay compensation to any person to circulate a nomination petition, if the
517compensation is based directly on the number of signatures submitted to a [filing
518officer] county clerk rather than on the number of signatures verified or on some other
519basis.
520   (9) Any person violating Subsection (8) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
521   (10)(a) A voter who signs a nomination petition may have the voter's signature removed
522from the petition by, no later than three business days after the day on which the
523candidate files the petition with the [appropriate filing officer] county clerk,
524submitting to the [filing officer] county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's
525signature be removed.
526(b) A statement described in Subsection (10)(a) shall comply with the requirements
527described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
528(c) The [filing officer] county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection
52920A-1-1003(3) to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a
530nomination petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of
531the signature.
532   (11)(a) The director of elections, within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, shall, in
533accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, make
534rules establishing a process under which a county may, upon request, receive
535reimbursement from the office to defray the costs incurred by the county in verifying
536signatures under Section 20A-9-403 or Section 20A-9-408 for a federal office,
537constitutional office, or multicounty office.
538(b) Rules made under Subsection (11)(a) shall provide for reimbursement to a county at
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539a rate of 50 cents per verified signature.
540(c) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall issue a reimbursement under this
541Subsection (11) to the extent that funds are appropriated by the Legislature for that
542purpose.
543Section 8. Section 20A-9-406 is amended to read:
54420A-9-406 . Qualified political party -- Requirements and exemptions.
545      The following provisions apply to a qualified political party:
546   (1) the qualified political party shall, no later than 5 p.m. on the first Monday of October of
547each odd-numbered year, certify to the lieutenant governor the identity of one or more
548registered political parties whose members may vote for the qualified political party's
549candidates and whether unaffiliated voters may vote for the qualified political party's
550candidates;
551   (2) the following provisions do not apply to a nomination for the qualified political party:
552(a) Subsections 20A-9-403(1) through (3)(b) and Subsections [(3)(d)(ii)]
55320A-9-403(3)(d)(ii) through [(4)(a)] (8)(a);
554(b) Subsection [20A-9-403(5)(c); and] 20A-9-403(9)(c); and
555(c) [Section 20A-9-405] Subsections 20A-9-405(2) and (10);
556   (3) an individual may only seek the nomination of the qualified political party by using a
557method described in Section 20A-9-407, Section 20A-9-408, or both;
558   (4) the qualified political party shall comply with the provisions of Sections 20A-9-407,
55920A-9-408, and 20A-9-409;
560   (5) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-301(1)(a), (1)(e), or (2)(a), each election officer shall
561ensure that a ballot described in Section 20A-6-301 includes each individual nominated
562by a qualified political party:
563(a) under the qualified political party's name, if any; or
564(b) under the title of the qualified registered political party as designated by the qualified
565political party in the certification described in Subsection (1), or, if none is
566designated, then under some suitable title;
567   (6) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-302(1)(a), each election officer shall ensure, for
568ballots in regular general elections, that each candidate who is nominated by the
569qualified political party is listed by party;
570   (7) notwithstanding Subsection 20A-6-304(1)(e), each election officer shall ensure that the
571party designation of each candidate who is nominated by the qualified political party is
572displayed adjacent to the candidate's name on a mechanical ballot;
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573   (8) "candidates for elective office," defined in Subsection 20A-9-101(1)(a), also includes an
574individual who files a declaration of candidacy under Section 20A-9-407 or 20A-9-408
575to run in a regular general election for a federal office, constitutional office, multicounty
576office, or county office;
577   (9) an individual who is nominated by, or seeking the nomination of, the qualified political
578party is not required to comply with Subsection 20A-9-201(1)(c);
579   (10) notwithstanding [Subsection 20A-9-403(3)] Subsections 20A-9-403(3) through (7), the
580qualified political party is entitled to have each of the qualified political party's
581candidates for elective office appear on the primary ballot of the qualified political party
582with an indication that each candidate is a candidate for the qualified political party;
583   (11) notwithstanding Subsection [20A-9-403(4)(a)] 20A-9-403(8)(a), the lieutenant
584governor shall include on the list provided by the lieutenant governor to the county
585clerks:
586(a) the names of all candidates of the qualified political party for federal, constitutional,
587multicounty, and county offices; and
588(b) the names of unopposed candidates for elective office who have been nominated by
589the qualified political party and instruct the county clerks to exclude such candidates
590from the primary-election ballot;
591   (12) notwithstanding Subsection [20A-9-403(5)(c)] 20A-9-403(9)(c), a candidate who is
592unopposed for an elective office in the regular primary election of the qualified political
593party is nominated by the party for that office without appearing on the primary ballot;
594and
595   (13) notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 20A-9-403(1) and (2) and Section
59620A-9-405, the qualified political party is entitled to have the names of [its] the qualified
597political party's candidates for elective office featured with party affiliation on the ballot
598at a regular general election.
599Section 9. Section 20A-9-408 is amended to read:
60020A-9-408 . Signature-gathering process to seek the nomination of a qualified
601   political party -- Removal of signature.
602   (1) This section describes the requirements for a member of a qualified political party who
603is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office through
604the signature-gathering process described in this section.
605   (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(a), the form of the declaration of candidacy
606for a member of a qualified political party who is nominated by, or who is seeking the
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607nomination of, the qualified political party under this section shall be substantially as
608described in Section 20A-9-408.5.
609   (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(a), and except as provided in Subsection
61020A-9-202(4), a member of a qualified political party who, under this section, is seeking
611the nomination of the qualified political party for an elective office that is to be filled at
612the next general election shall:
613(a) except to the extent otherwise provided in Subsection (13)(a), during the applicable
614declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, and before
615gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing officer on a form approved
616by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy that
617includes:
618(i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a [registered]
619qualified political party under this section;
620(ii) the name of the [registered] qualified political party for which the member is
621seeking nomination;
622(iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
623(iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
624(v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
625(b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
626person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
627period described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
628(c) pay the filing fee.
629   (4) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(2)(a), a member of a qualified political party
630who, under this section, is seeking the nomination of the qualified political party for the
631office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at
632the next general election shall:
633(a) during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section
63420A-9-201.5, and before gathering signatures under this section, file with the filing
635officer on a form approved by the lieutenant governor a notice of intent to gather
636signatures for candidacy that includes:
637(i) the name of the member who will attempt to become a candidate for a registered
638political party under this section;
639(ii) the name of the registered political party for which the member is seeking
640nomination;
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641(iii) the office for which the member is seeking to become a candidate;
642(iv) the address and telephone number of the member; and
643(v) other information required by the lieutenant governor;
644(b) except as provided in Subsection 20A-9-202(1)(c), file a declaration of candidacy, in
645person, with the filing officer during the applicable declaration of candidacy filing
646period described in Section 20A-9-201.5; and
647(c) pay the filing fee.
648   (5) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-202(3)(a)(iii), a lieutenant governor candidate who
649files as the joint-ticket running mate of an individual who is nominated by a qualified
650political party, under this section, for the office of governor shall, during the applicable
651declaration of candidacy filing period described in Section 20A-9-201.5, file a
652declaration of candidacy and submit a letter from the candidate for governor that names
653the lieutenant governor candidate as a joint-ticket running mate.
654   (6) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the certification described in Subsection
65520A-9-701(1) also includes the name of each candidate nominated by a qualified
656political party under this section.
657   (7) Notwithstanding Subsection 20A-9-701(2), the ballot shall, for each candidate who is
658nominated by a qualified political party under this section, designate the qualified
659political party that nominated the candidate.
660   (8) A member of a qualified political party may seek the nomination of the qualified
661political party for an elective office by:
662(a) complying with the requirements described in this section; and
663(b) collecting signatures, on a form approved by the lieutenant governor that complies
664with Subsection 20A-9-405(3), during the period beginning on the day on which the
665member files a notice of intent to gather signatures and ending at the applicable
666deadline described in Subsection (12), in the following amounts:
667(i) for a statewide race, 28,000 signatures of registered voters in the state who are
668permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
669candidates in a primary election;
670(ii) except as provided in Subsection (13)(b), for a congressional district race, 7,000
671signatures of registered voters who are residents of the congressional district and
672are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political
673party's candidates in a primary election;
674(iii) for a state Senate district race, 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are
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675residents of the state Senate district and are permitted by the qualified political
676party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
677(iv) for a state House district race, 1,000 signatures of registered voters who are
678residents of the state House district and are permitted by the qualified political
679party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election;
680(v) for a State Board of Education race, the lesser of:
681(A) 2,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the State Board of
682Education district and are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for
683the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election; or
684(B) 3% of the registered voters of the qualified political party who are residents of
685the applicable State Board of Education district; and
686(vi) for a county office race, signatures of 3% of the registered voters who are
687residents of the area permitted to vote for the county office and are permitted by
688the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in
689a primary election.
690   (9)(a) This Subsection (9) applies only to the manual candidate qualification process.
691(b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
692qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, using
693the manual candidate qualification process, the member shall:
694(i) collect the signatures on a form approved by the lieutenant governor, using the
695same circulation and verification requirements described in Sections 20A-7-105
696and 20A-7-204; and
697(ii) in accordance with Section 20A-9-408.3, submit [the signatures to the election
698officer] each signature packet to the county clerk where the majority of the
699signatures in the packet were collected, before the applicable deadline described in
700Subsection (12).
701(c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), and in
702accordance with Section 20A-9-408.3, the [election officer] county clerk shall, no
703later than the earlier of 14 calendar days after the day on which the [election officer]
704county clerk receives the signatures, or one day before the day on which the qualified
705political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective office to
706which the signature packets relate:
707(i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
708packet to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old;
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709(ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (9)(c)(i) who is not at
710least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney;
711(iii) [with the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, ]determine whether each
712signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition, using the same
713method, described in Section 20A-1-1002, used to verify a signature on a petition;
714and
715(iv) certify whether each name is that of a registered voter who is qualified to sign the
716signature packet.
717      (d) In reviewing each signature packet, the county clerk shall count and certify only an
718individual who signed with a holographic signature, who:
719(i) is a registered voter and a resident of the political division for the office that the
720candidate seeks to represent; and
721(ii) did not sign any other petition for that office.
722      [(d)] (e)(i) A registered voter who physically signs a form under Subsections (8) and
723(9)(b) may have the voter's signature removed from the form by, no later than 5
724p.m. three business days after the day on which the member submits the signature
725form to the [election officer] county clerk, submitting to the [election officer]
726county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed.
727(ii) A statement described in Subsection [(9)(d)(i)] (9)(e)(i) shall comply with the
728requirements described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
729(iii) [With the assistance of the county clerk as applicable, the election officer] The
730county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
731determine whether to remove an individual's signature after receiving a timely,
732valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
733      [(e)] (f)(i) [An election officer ] A county clerk shall, in accordance with this
734Subsection [(9)(e)] (9)(f) and rules made under Section 20A-3a-106, conduct
735regular audits of signature comparisons made between signatures gathered under
736this section and voter signatures maintained by the [election officer] county clerk.
737(ii) An individual who conducts an audit of signature comparisons under this section
738may not audit the individual's own work.
739(iii) The [election officer] county clerk shall:
740(A) audit 1% of all signature comparisons described in Subsection [(9)(e)(i)]
741(9)(f)(i) to determine the accuracy of the comparisons made;
742(B) record the individuals who conducted the audit;
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743(C) record the audit results;
744(D) provide additional training or staff reassignments, as needed, based on the
745results of an audit described in Subsection [(9)(e)(i)] (9)(f)(i); and
746(E) record any remedial action taken.
747(iv) The audit results described in Subsection [(9)(e)(iii)(C)] (9)(f)(iii)(C) are a public
748record.
749[(f)] (g) [An election officer who certifies signatures under Subsection (9)(c) or
75020A-9-403(3)(d)] A county clerk who verifies signatures under Subsection (9)(c),
751Subsection 20A-9-403(3)(d), or Subsection 20A-9-502(5)(b) shall, after certifying
752enough signatures to establish that a candidate has reached the applicable signature
753threshold described in [Subsection (8) or 20A-9-403(3)(a)] Subsection (8), Subsection
75420A-9-403(3)(a), or Subsection 20A-9-502(5)(a), as applicable, continue to certify
755signatures submitted for the candidate in excess of the number of signatures required,
756until the [election officer] county clerk either:
757(i) certifies signatures equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold; or
758(ii) has reviewed all signatures submitted for the candidate before reaching an
759amount equal to 110% of the applicable signature threshold.
760   (10)(a) This Subsection (10) applies only to the electronic candidate qualification
761process.
762(b) In order for a member of the qualified political party to qualify as a candidate for the
763qualified political party's nomination for an elective office under this section, the
764member shall, before the deadline described in Subsection (12), collect signatures
765electronically:
766(i) in accordance with Section 20A-21-201; and
767(ii) using progressive screens, in a format approved by the lieutenant governor, that
768complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(4).
769(c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and [(9)(b)] (10)(b),
770the [election officer] county clerk shall, no later than the earlier of 14 calendar days
771after the day on which the [election officer] county clerk receives the signatures, or
772one day before the day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to
773select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets relate:
774(i) check the name of each individual who completes the verification for a signature
775to determine whether each individual is at least 18 years old; and
776(ii) submit the name of each individual described in Subsection (10)(c)(i) who is not
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777at least 18 years old to the attorney general and the county attorney.
778   (11)(a) An individual may not gather signatures under this section until after the
779individual files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
780section.
781(b) An individual who files a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy,
782described in Subsection (3)(a) or (4)(a), is, beginning on the day on which the
783individual files the notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy:
784(i) required to comply with the reporting requirements that a candidate for office is
785required to comply with; and
786(ii) subject to the same enforcement provisions, and civil and criminal penalties, that
787apply to a candidate for office in relation to the reporting requirements described
788in Subsection (11)(b)(i).
789(c) Upon timely receipt of the signatures described in Subsections (8) and (9)(b), or
790Subsections (8) and (10)(b), the election officer shall, no later than the day before the
791day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee
792for the elective office to which the signature packets relate, notify the qualified
793political party and the lieutenant governor of the name of each member of the
794qualified political party who qualifies as a nominee of the qualified political party,
795under this section, for the elective office to which the convention relates.
796(d) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to gather signatures for candidacy described in this
797section, the lieutenant governor shall post the notice of intent to gather signatures for
798candidacy on the lieutenant governor's website in the same location that the
799lieutenant governor posts a declaration of candidacy.
800   (12) The deadline before which a member of a qualified political party must collect and
801submit signatures to the election officer under this section is 5 p.m. on the last business
802day that is at least 14 calendar days before the day on which the qualified political
803party's convention for the office begins.
804   (13) For the 2026 election year only, an individual who desires to gather signatures to seek
805the nomination of a qualified political party for the office of United States representative
806shall:
807(a) in accordance with Subsection (3)(a), file a notice of intent to gather signatures
808during the period beginning at 8 a.m. on the first business day of January and ending
809at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026; and
810(b) during the period beginning on the day on which the individual files the notice of
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811intent to gather signatures and ending at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026, on a form
812approved by the lieutenant governor that complies with Subsection 20A-9-405(3),
813collect 7,000 signatures of registered voters who are residents of the state and are
814permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's
815candidates in a primary election.
816Section 10. Section 20A-9-502 is amended to read:
81720A-9-502 . Certificate of nomination -- Contents -- Circulation -- Verification --
818   Criminal penalty -- Removal of petition signature.
819   (1) The candidate shall:
820   (a) prepare a certificate of nomination in substantially the following form:
821"State of Utah, County of ______________________________________________
822I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming an unaffiliated candidate for the
823political group designated as ____ for the office of ____. I do solemnly swear that I can
824qualify to hold that office both legally and constitutionally if selected, and that I reside at ____
825Street, in the city of ____, county of ____, state of ______, zip code ____, phone ____, and
826that I am providing, or have provided, the required number of holographic signatures of
827registered voters required by law; that as a candidate at the next election I will not knowingly
828violate any election or campaign law; that, if filing via a designated agent for an office other
829than president of the United States, I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire candidate
830filing period; I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I
831understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office
832and removal of my name from the ballot.
833
  __________________________________________
834
  Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______(month\day\year).
835
  __________________________________________
836
  Notary Public (or other officer
837
  qualified to administer oaths)";
838(b) for each signature packet, bind signature sheets to a copy of the certificate of
839nomination and the circulator verification, that:
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840(i) are printed on sheets of paper 8-1/2 inches long and 11 inches wide;
841(ii) are ruled with a horizontal line 3/4 inch from the top, with the space above that
842line blank for the purpose of binding;
843(iii) contain the name of the proposed candidate and the words "Unaffiliated
844Candidate Certificate of Nomination Petition" printed directly below the
845horizontal line;
846(iv) contain the word "Warning" printed directly under the words described in
847Subsection (1)(b)(iii);
848   (v) contain, to the right of the word "Warning," the following statement printed in not less than
849eight-point, single leaded type:
850"It is a class A misdemeanor for anyone to knowingly sign a certificate of nomination
851signature sheet with any name other than the person's own name or more than once for the
852same candidate or if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
853become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the signatures.";
854   (vi) contain the following statement directly under the statement described in Subsection
855(1)(b)(v):
856"Each signer says:
857I have personally signed this petition with a holographic signature;
858I am registered to vote in Utah or intend to become registered to vote in Utah before the
859county clerk certifies my signature; and
860My street address is written correctly after my name.";
861(vii) contain horizontally ruled lines, 3/8 inch apart under the statement described in
862Subsection (1)(b)(vi); and
863(viii) be vertically divided into columns as follows:
864(A) the first column shall appear at the extreme left of the sheet, be 5/8 inch wide,
865be headed with "For Office Use Only," and be subdivided with a light vertical
866line down the middle;
867(B) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Registered Voter's
868Printed Name (must be legible to be counted)";
869(C) the next column shall be 2-1/2 inches wide, headed "Holographic Signature of
870Registered Voter";
871(D) the next column shall be one inch wide, headed "Birth Date or Age
872(Optional)";
873(E) the final column shall be 4-3/8 inches wide, headed "Street Address, City, Zip
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874Code"; and
875(F) at the bottom of the sheet, contain the following statement: "Birth date or age
876information is not required, but it may be used to verify your identity with
877voter registration records. If you choose not to provide it, your signature may
878not be certified as a valid signature if you change your address before petition
879signatures are certified or if the information you provide does not match your
880voter registration records."; and
881   (c) bind a final page to one or more signature sheets that are bound together that contains,
882except as provided by Subsection (3), the following printed statement:
883"Verification
884State of Utah, County of ____
885I, _______________, of ____, hereby state that:
886I am at least 18 years old;
887All the names that appear on the signature sheets bound to this page were signed by
888persons who professed to be the persons whose names appear on the signature sheets, and each
889of them signed the person's name on the signature sheets in my presence;
890I believe that each has printed and signed the person's name and written the person's
891street address correctly, and that each signer is registered to vote in Utah or will register to
892vote in Utah before the county clerk certifies the signatures on the signature sheet.
893______________________________________________________________________
894(Signature)     (Residence Address)  (Date)."[.]
895   (2) An agent designated to file a certificate of nomination under Subsection
89620A-9-503(2)(b) or (4)(b) may not sign the form described in Subsection (1)(a).
897   (3)(a) The candidate shall circulate the nomination petition and ensure that the person in
898whose presence each signature sheet is signed:
899(i) is at least 18 years old; and
900(ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification bound to one or more
901signature sheets that are bound together.
902(b) A person may not sign the circulator verification if the person signed a signature
903sheet bound to the verification.
904   (4)(a) It is unlawful for any person to:
905(i) knowingly sign a certificate of nomination signature sheet:
906(A) with any name other than the person's own name;
907(B) more than once for the same candidate; or
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908(C) if the person is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
909become registered to vote in this state before the county clerk certifies the
910signatures; or
911(ii) sign the verification of a certificate of nomination signature sheet if the person:
912(A) has not witnessed the signing by those persons whose names appear on the
913certificate of nomination signature sheet; or
914(B) knows that a person whose signature appears on the certificate of nomination
915signature sheet is not registered to vote in this state and does not intend to
916become registered to vote in this state.
917(b) Any person violating this Subsection (4) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
918   (5)(a) To qualify for placement on the general election ballot, the candidate shall, no
919earlier than the start of the applicable declaration of candidacy period described in
920Section 20A-9-201.5 and no later than 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in which the
921election will be held:
922(i) comply with Subsection 20A-9-503(1); and
923(ii) submit each signature packet to the county clerk where the majority of the
924signatures in the packet were collected, with signatures totaling:
925(A) at least 1,000 registered voters residing within the state when the nomination
926is for an office to be filled by the voters of the entire state; or
927(B) at least 300 registered voters residing within a political division or at least 5%
928of the registered voters residing within a political division, whichever is less,
929when the nomination is for an office to be filled by the voters of any political
930division smaller than the state.
931(b) A candidate has not complied with Subsection (5)(a)(ii), unless the county clerks
932verify that each required signature is a valid signature of a registered voter who is
933eligible to sign the signature packet and has not signed a signature packet to nominate
934another candidate for the same office.
935(c) In reviewing the signature packets, the county clerk shall count and certify only those
936persons who signed with a holographic signature, who:
937(i) are registered voters within the political division for the office that the candidate
938seeks to represent; and
939(ii) did not sign any other certificate of nomination for that office.
940(d) The county clerk shall count and certify the number of registered voters who validly
941signed a signature packet, no later than 30 calendar days after the day on which the
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942candidate submits the signature packet.
943(e) The candidate may supplement the signatures or amend the certificate of nomination
944or declaration of candidacy at any time on or before 5 p.m. on June 15 of the year in
945which the election will be held.
946(f) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Section 20A-1-1002 to
947determine whether a signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the signature
948packet.
949   (6)(a) A voter who signs a signature packet under this section may have the voter's
950signature removed from the signature packet by, no later than 5 p.m. three business
951days after the day on which the candidate submits the signature packet to the county
952clerk, submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature
953be removed.
954(b) A statement described in Subsection (6)(a) shall comply with the requirements
955described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(2).
956(c) The county clerk shall use the procedures described in Subsection 20A-1-1003(3) to
957determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a signature packet after
958receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature.
959   (7)(a) The director of elections, within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, shall, in
960accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, make
961rules establishing a process under which a county may, upon request, receive
962reimbursement from the office to defray the costs incurred by the county in verifying
963signatures under this section for a federal office, constitutional office, or multicounty
964office.
965(b) Rules made under Subsection (7)(a) shall provide for reimbursement to a county at a
966rate of 50 cents per verified signature.
967(c) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall issue a reimbursement under this
968Subsection (7) to the extent that funds are appropriated by the Legislature for that
969purpose.
970Section 11. Section 20A-9-701 is amended to read:
97120A-9-701 . Certification of party candidates to county clerks -- Display on ballot.
972   (1) No later than August 31 of each regular general election year, the lieutenant governor
973shall certify to each county clerk, for offices to be voted upon at the regular general
974election in that county clerk's county:
975(a) the names of each candidate nominated under Subsection 20A-9-202(4) or
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976Subsection [20A-9-403(5)] 20A-9-403(9); and
977(b) the names of the candidates for president and vice president that are certified by the
978registered political party as the party's nominees.
979   (2) The names shall be certified by the lieutenant governor and shall be displayed on the
980ballot as they are provided on the candidate's declaration of candidacy. No other names
981may appear on the ballot as affiliated with, endorsed by, or nominated by any other
982registered political party, political party, or other political group.
983Section 12. Effective Date.
984   This bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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