2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 4 - Local Initiatives and Referenda - General Provisions › Section 401.5 - Proposition information pamphlet.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-401.5.
Proposition information pamphlet.
(1)
(a)
(i) Within 15 days after the day on which an eligible voter files an application to circulate an initiative petition under Section 20A-7-502 or an application to circulate a referendum petition under Section 20A-7-602:
(A) the sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum may submit a written argument in favor of the proposed initiative or referendum to the election officer of the county or municipality to which the petition relates; and
(B) the county or municipality to which the application relates may submit a written argument in favor of, or against, the proposed initiative or referendum to the county's or municipality's election officer.
(ii) If a county or municipality submits more than one written argument under Subsection (1)(a)(i)(B), the election officer shall select one of the written arguments, giving preference to a written argument submitted by a member of a local legislative body if a majority of the local legislative body supports the written argument.
(b) Within one business day after the day on which an election officer receives an argument under Subsection (1)(a)(i)(A), the election officer shall provide a copy of the argument to the county or municipality described in Subsection (1)(a)(i)(B) or (1)(a)(ii), as applicable.
(c) Within one business day after the date on which an election officer receives an argument under Subsection (1)(a)(i)(B), the election officer shall provide a copy of the argument to the first three sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum described in Subsection (1)(a)(i)(A).
(d) The sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum may submit a revised version of the written argument described in Subsection (1)(a)(i)(A) to the election officer of the county or municipality to which the petition relates within 20 days after the day on which the eligible voter files an application to circulate an initiative petition under Section 20A-7-502 or an application to circulate a referendum petition under Section 20A-7-602.
(e) The author of a written argument described in Subsection (1)(a)(i)(B) submitted by a county or municipality may submit a revised version of the written argument to the county's or municipality's election officer within 20 days after the day on which the eligible voter files an application to circulate an initiative petition under Section 20A-7-502 or an application to circulate a referendum petition under Section 20A-7-602.
(2)
(a) A written argument described in Subsection (1) may not exceed 500 words.
(b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), a person may not modify a written argument described in Subsection (1)(d) or (e) after the written argument is submitted to the election officer.
(c) The election officer and the person that submits the written argument described in Subsection (1)(d) or (e) may jointly agree to modify the written argument to:
(i) correct factual, grammatical, or spelling errors; or
(ii) reduce the number of words to come into compliance with Subsection (2)(a).
(d) An election officer shall refuse to include a written argument in the proposition information pamphlet described in this section if the person who submits the argument:
(i) fails to negotiate, in good faith, to modify the argument in accordance with Subsection (2)(c); or
(ii) does not timely submit the written argument to the election officer.
(e) An election officer shall make a good faith effort to negotiate a modification described in Subsection (2)(c) in an expedited manner.
(3) An election officer who receives a written argument described in Subsection (1) shall prepare a proposition information pamphlet for publication that includes:
(a) a copy of the application for the proposed initiative or referendum;
(b) except as provided in Subsection (2)(d), immediately after the copy described in Subsection (3)(a), the argument prepared by the sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum, if any;
(c) except as provided in Subsection (2)(d), immediately after the argument described in Subsection (3)(b), the argument prepared by the county or municipality, if any; and
(d) a copy of the initial fiscal impact statement and legal impact statement described in Section 20A-7-502.5 or 20A-7-602.5.
(4)
(a) A proposition information pamphlet is a draft for purposes of Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act, until the earlier of when the election officer:
(i) complies with Subsection (4)(b); or
(ii) publishes the proposition information pamphlet under Subsection (5) or (6).
(b) Within 21 days after the day on which the eligible voter files an application to circulate an initiative petition under Section 20A-7-502, or an application to circulate a referendum petition under Section 20A-7-602, the election officer shall provide a copy of the proposition information pamphlet to the sponsors of the initiative or referendum and each individual who submitted an argument included in the proposition information pamphlet.
(5) An election officer for a municipality shall publish the proposition information pamphlet as follows:
(a) within the later of 10 days after the day on which the municipality or a court determines that the proposed initiative or referendum is legally referable to voters, or, if the election officer modifies an argument under Subsection (2)(c), three days after the day on which the election officer and the person that submitted the argument agree on the modification:
(i) by sending the proposition information pamphlet electronically to each individual in the municipality for whom the municipality has an email address, unless the individual has indicated that the municipality is prohibited from using the individual's email address for that purpose; and
(ii) by posting the proposition information pamphlet on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section 63A-16-601, and the home page of the municipality's website, if the municipality has a website, until:
(A) if the sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum or an agent of the sponsors do not timely deliver any verified initiative packets or any verified referendum packets under Section 20A-7-105, the day after the date of the deadline for delivery of the verified initiative packets or verified referendum packets;
(B) the local clerk determines, under Section 20A-7-507 or 20A-7-607, that the number of signatures necessary to qualify the proposed initiative or referendum for placement on the ballot is insufficient and the determination is not timely appealed or is upheld after appeal; or
(C) the day after the date of the election at which the proposed initiative or referendum appears on the ballot; and
(b) if the municipality regularly mails a newsletter, utility bill, or other material to the municipality's residents, including an Internet address, where a resident may view the proposition information pamphlet, in the next mailing, for which the municipality has not begun preparation, that falls on or after the later of:
(i) 10 days after the day on which the municipality or a court determines that the proposed initiative or referendum is legally referable to voters; or
(ii) if the election officer modifies an argument under Subsection (2)(c), three days after the day on which the election officer and the person that submitted the argument agree on the modification.
(6) An election officer for a county shall, within the later of 10 days after the day on which the county or a court determines that the proposed initiative or referendum is legally referable to voters, or, if the election officer modifies an argument under Subsection (2)(c), three days after the day on which the election officer and the person that submitted the argument agree on the modification, publish the proposition information pamphlet as follows:
(a) by sending the proposition information pamphlet electronically to each individual in the county for whom the county has an email address obtained via voter registration; and
(b) by posting the proposition information pamphlet on the Utah Public Notice Website, created in Section 63A-16-601, and the home page of the county's website, until:
(i) if the sponsors of the proposed initiative or referendum or an agent of the sponsors do not timely deliver any verified initiative packets or any verified referendum packets under Section 20A-7-105, the day after the date of the deadline for delivery of the verified initiative packets or verified referendum packets;
(ii) the local clerk determines, under Section 20A-7-507 or 20A-7-607, that the number of signatures necessary to qualify the proposed initiative or referendum for placement on the ballot is insufficient and the determination is not timely appealed or is upheld after appeal; or
(iii) the day after the date of the election at which the proposed initiative or referendum appears on the ballot.
Amended by Chapter 116, 2023 General Session