Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 197 Third Substitute (2021GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Teuscher, J.

Final action

Became Law w/o Governor Signature 3/24/2021

Outcome

Became Law w/o Governor Signature

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• specifies when a voter's designation or change of political party affiliation takes effect.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VOTER AFFILIATION AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
Senate Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends the Election Code relating to a voter's change of political party
affiliation.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ specifies when a voter's designation or change of political party affiliation takes
effect.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
20A-2-107
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 433
20A-2-107.5
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 433
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
20A-2-107
 is amended to read:
20A-2-107.
Designating or changing party affiliation -- Times permitted.
(1) The county clerk shall:
(a) 
except as provided in Subsection (3),
 record the party affiliation designated by the
voter on the voter registration form as the voter's party affiliation; or
(b) if no political party affiliation is designated by the voter on the voter registration
form:
(i) except as provided in Subsection (1)(b)(ii), record the voter's party affiliation as the
party that the voter designated the last time that the voter designated a party on a voter
registration form, unless the voter more recently registered as "unaffiliated"; or
(ii) record the voter's party affiliation as "unaffiliated" if the voter:
(A) did not previously designate a party;
(B) most recently designated the voter's party affiliation as "unaffiliated"; or
(C) did not previously register.
(2) (a) Any registered voter may designate or change the voter's political party
affiliation by complying with the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
(b) A registered voter may designate or change the voter's political party affiliation by
filing a signed form with the county clerk that identifies the registered political party with
which the voter chooses to affiliate[
, during any period except the following:
]
.
[
(i) the period beginning on the day after the voter registration deadline and continuing
through the date of the regular primary election; and
]
[
(ii) the period beginning on the day after the voter registration deadline and continuing
through the date of the presidential primary election.
]
(c) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(d), a signed form designating or changing a
voter's political party affiliation takes effect when the county clerk receives the signed form.
(d) In an even-numbered year, a form described in Subsection (2)(c) received by the
county clerk on or after January 1 takes effect on the day after that year's regular primary
election if the form changes a registered voter's:
(i) affiliation with one political party to affiliate with another political party; or
(ii) unaffiliated status to affiliation with a political party.
(3) In an even-numbered year, if a voter requests that the voter's name be removed
from the official register under Section 
20A-2-305
 and then submits a voter registration form to
the office of a county clerk before that year's regular primary election, the voter's political party
affiliation, whether designated on the voter registration form or submitted in accordance with
Subsection (2), takes effect on the day after that year's regular primary election.
Section 2. Section 
20A-2-107.5
 is amended to read:
20A-2-107.5.
Designating or changing party affiliation -- Regular primary
election and presidential primary election.
[
(1)
] At any regular primary election or presidential primary election:
[
(a)
] 
(1)
 each county clerk shall provide change of party affiliation forms to the poll
workers for each voting precinct within the county; and
[
(b)
] 
(2) subject to Subsection 
20A-2-107
(2)(d),
 any registered voter who is classified
as "unaffiliated" may affiliate with a political party by completing the form and giving it to the
poll worker.
[
(2) An unaffiliated voter who affiliates with a political party as provided in Subsection
(1)(b) may vote in that party's primary election.
]