Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 27 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Dunnigan, James A.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• authorizes a county legislative body to establish a voting precinct consisting of two or more noncontiguous geographic areas in certain circumstances;
• requires the name of a voting precinct to be distinguishable from any other voting precinct;
• authorizes the county clerk to adjust the boundaries of a voting precinct in order to:
• match the current boundaries of a local political subdivision; or
• match the resulting boundaries of a local subdivision that expands, divides, alters, or changes the local political subdivision's boundaries;
• requires a county clerk who adjusts the boundaries of a voting precinct to:
• file a notice with the Utah Geospatial Resource Center at least 65 days before the date of an election; and
• provide a copy of the notice to the county legislative body; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

4
20A-5-303
20A-5-303.5
0
Voting Precinct Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses voting precincts.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
authorizes a county legislative body to establish a voting precinct consisting of two or 
more noncontiguous geographic areas in certain circumstances;
requires the name of a voting precinct to be distinguishable from any other voting 
precinct;
authorizes the county clerk to adjust the boundaries of a voting precinct in order to:
match the current boundaries of a local political subdivision; or
match the resulting boundaries of a local subdivision that expands, divides, alters, or 
changes the local political subdivision's boundaries;
requires a county clerk who adjusts the boundaries of a voting precinct to:
file a notice with the Utah Geospatial Resource Center at least 65 days before the date 
of an election; and
provide a copy of the notice to the county legislative body; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
20A-5-303
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 162, 345
ENACTS:
20A-5-303.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
20A-5-303
 is amended to read:
20A-5-303
. Establishing, dividing, abolishing, and changing voting precincts -- 
Common polling places -- Combined voting precincts.
(1)
(a)
After receiving recommendations from the county clerk, the county legislative 
body may establish, divide, abolish, 
and change voting precincts
or change the 
boundaries of a voting precinct
.
(2)
(a)
Subject to Subsection 
(2)(b)
, a county legislative body may establish a voting 
precinct that consists of two or more noncontiguous geographic areas if:
(i)
each noncontiguous area is located entirely within the same municipality; or
(ii)
the noncontiguous areas are located within a municipality and immediately 
adjacent to a municipality.
(b)
A voting precinct described in Subsection 
(2)(a)
 must consist of the same elective 
offices.
(b)
(3)
Within 30 days after the establishment, division, abolition, or change of a voting 
precinct under this section, the county legislative body shall file with the Utah 
Geospatial Resource Center, created under Section 
63A-16-505
, a notice describing the 
action taken and specifying the resulting boundaries of each voting precinct affected by 
the action.
(2)
(4)
(a)
The county legislative body shall alter or divide voting precincts so that each 
voting precinct contains not more than 1,250 active voters
 at the time of the 
redistricting described in Subsection (5)
.
(b)
The county legislative body 
shall
may identify a voting precinct that
:
(i)
identify those precincts that may reach the limit of active voters in a precinct 
under Subsection 
(2)(a)
 or that becomes
is
 too large to facilitate the election 
process; and
(ii)
except as provided by Subsection 
(3)
(5)
, divide 
those precincts
the precinct
 on 
or before January 1 of a general election year.
(3)
(5)
A county legislative body shall divide a precinct identified under Subsection 
(2)(b)(i)
(4)(b)(i)
 on or before January 31 of a regular general election year that 
immediately follows the calendar year in which the Legislature divides the state into 
districts in accordance with 
Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
(4)
(6)
Notwithstanding Subsection 
(2)(a)
(4)(a),
 and except as provided by Subsection 
(5)
(7)
, the county legislative body may not:
(a)
establish or abolish 
any
a
 voting precinct after January 1 of a regular general 
election year;
(b)
alter or change the boundaries of 
any
a
 voting precinct after January 1 of a regular 
general election year; or
(c)
establish, divide, abolish, alter, or change a voting precinct between January 1 of a 
year immediately preceding the year in which an enumeration is required by the 
United States Constitution
,
 and the day on which the Legislature divides the state into 
districts in accordance with 
Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
(5)
(7)
A county legislative body may establish, divide, abolish, alter, or change a voting 
precinct on or before January 31 of a regular general election year that immediately 
follows the calendar year in which the Legislature divides the state into districts in 
accordance with 
Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
(6)
(8)
(a)
For the purpose of voting in an election, the county legislative body may 
establish a common polling place for two or more whole voting precincts.
(b)
At least 90 days before the 
date of the 
election, the county legislative body shall 
designate:
(i)
the voting precincts
each voting precinct
 that will vote at the common polling 
place; and
(ii)
the location of the common polling place.
(c)
A county may use one set of election judges for the common polling place under this 
Subsection 
(6)
(8)
.
(9)
Each voting precinct established under this section shall have a name that is 
distinguishable from the name of any other voting precinct in the state.
(7)
(10)
Each county shall have at least two polling places open for voting on the date of 
the election.
(8)
(11)
Each common polling place shall have at least one voting device that is accessible 
for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Public Law 107-252, the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002.
Section 2, Section 
20A-5-303.5
 is enacted to read:
20A-5-303.5
. Voting precinct boundaries -- Adjustment by county clerk.
(1)
Notwithstanding Section 
20A-5-303
, the county clerk may adjust the boundaries of a 
voting precinct in order to:
(a)
match the current boundaries of a local political subdivision; or
(b)
match the resulting boundaries of a local political subdivision that expands, divides, 
alters, or changes the local political subdivision's boundaries.
(2)
(a)
A county clerk who adjusts the boundaries of a voting precinct under Subsection 
(1)
 shall, no later than 65 days before the date of an election, file with the Utah 
Geospatial Resource Center, created in Section 
63A-16-505
, a notice that:
(i)
describes the reason for the voting precinct boundary adjustment; and
(ii)
specifies the resulting boundaries of the voting precinct affected by the 
adjustment.
(b)
The county clerk shall provide a copy of the notice described in Subsection 
(2)(a)
 to 
the county legislative body.
(3)
A county clerk may not adjust the boundaries of a voting precinct except as provided in 
Subsection 
(1)
.
(4)
A county clerk's adjustment of a voting precinct's boundaries under this section is not 
effective until the county clerk files the notice described in Subsection (2)(a).
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-14-25 12:49 PM