reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 3 - Statewide Referenda › Section 311 - Temporary stay -- Effective date -- Effect of repeal by Legislature.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-311.
Temporary stay -- Effective date -- Effect of repeal by Legislature.
(1) If, at the time during the counting period described in Section 20A-7-307, the lieutenant governor determines that, at that point in time, an adequate number of signatures are certified to comply with the signature requirements, the lieutenant governor shall:
(a) issue an order temporarily staying the law from going into effect; and
(b) continue the process of certifying signatures and removing signatures as required by this part.
(2) The temporary stay described in Subsection (1) remains in effect, regardless of whether a future count falls below the signature threshold, until the day on which:
(a) if the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition insufficient, five days after the day on which the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition insufficient; or
(b) if the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition sufficient, the day on which governor issues the proclamation described in Section 20A-7-310.
(3) A law submitted to the people by referendum that is approved by the voters at an election takes effect the later of:
(a) five days after the date of the official proclamation of the vote by the governor; or
(b) the effective date specified in the approved law.
(4) If, after the lieutenant governor issues a temporary stay order under Subsection (1)(a), the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition insufficient, the law that is the subject of the referendum petition takes effect the later of:
(a) five days after the day on which the lieutenant governor declares the referendum petition insufficient; or
(b) the effective date specified in the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
(5)
(a) The governor may not veto a law approved by the people.
(b) The Legislature may amend any laws approved by the people at any legislative session after the people approve the law.
(6) If the Legislature repeals a law challenged by referendum petition under this part, the referendum petition is void and no further action on the referendum petition is required.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 3 - Statewide Referenda › Section 312 - Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-312.
Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to:
(a) sign any name other than the person's own to a referendum petition;
(b) knowingly sign the person's name more than once for the same referendum petition at one election;
(c) knowingly indicate that a person who signed a referendum petition signed the referendum petition on a date other than the date that the person signed the petition;
(d) sign a referendum petition knowing the person is not a legal voter; or
(e) knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this part.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to sign the verification for a referendum packet, or to electronically sign the verification for a signature under Subsection 20A-21-201(9) knowing that:
(a) the person does not meet the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105;
(b) the signature date associated with the person's signature for the referendum petition is not the date that the person signed the referendum petition;
(c) the person has not witnessed the signatures of those persons whose signatures the person collects or submits; or
(d) one or more individuals who sign the referendum petition are not registered to vote in Utah.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to:
(a) pay a person to sign a referendum petition;
(b) pay a person to remove the person's signature from a referendum petition;
(c) accept payment to sign a referendum petition; or
(d) accept payment to have the person's name removed from a referendum petition.
(4) Any person violating this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 3 - Statewide Referenda › Section 314 - Electronic referendum process -- Obtaining signatures -- Request to remove signature.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-314.
Electronic referendum process -- Obtaining signatures -- Request to remove signature.
(1) This section applies to the electronic referendum process.
(2) A Utah voter may sign a referendum petition if the voter is a legal voter.
(3) The sponsors shall ensure that the signature-gatherer who collects a signature from an individual:
(a) verifies that the individual is at least 18 years old and meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105; and
(b) is informed that each signer is required to read and understand the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.
(4) A voter who signs a referendum petition may have the voter's signature removed from the referendum petition by submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed before 5 p.m. no later than the earlier of:
(a) 30 days after the day on which the voter signs the statement requesting removal; or
(b) 45 days after the day on which the lieutenant governor posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-315(4).
(5)
(a) The statement described in Subsection (4) shall include:
(i) the name of the voter;
(ii) the resident address at which the voter is registered to vote;
(iii) the signature of the voter; and
(iv) the date of the signature described in Subsection (5)(a)(iii).
(b) To increase the likelihood of the voter's signature being identified and removed, the statement described in Subsection (4) may include the voter's birth date or age.
(c) A voter may not submit a signature removal statement described in Subsection (4) by email or other electronic means, unless the lieutenant governor establishes a signature removal process that is consistent with the requirements of this section and Section 20A-21-201.
(d) A person may only remove an electronic signature from a referendum petition in accordance with this section.
(e) A county clerk shall analyze a holographic signature, for purposes of removing an electronic signature from a referendum petition, in accordance with Subsection 20A-1-1003(3).
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 116, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 3 - Statewide Referenda › Section 315 - Electronic referendum process -- Collecting signatures ---- Removal of signatures.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-315.
Electronic referendum process -- Collecting signatures -- Removal of signatures.
(1) This section applies only to the electronic referendum process.
(2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., 40 days after the day on which the legislative session at which the law passed ends.
(3) The lieutenant governor shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding Your Petition Signature"; and
(b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following referendum:
[insert title of referendum]
To access a copy of the referendum petition, the law that is the subject of the referendum petition, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the referendum petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the information referred to in the email]."
(4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs a referendum petition is certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the name, voter identification number, and date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
(a) If the county clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-314(4), the county clerk shall:
(i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
(ii) remove the voter's signature from the referendum petition and the signature totals.
(b) The county clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
(i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
(ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-314(4).
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 4 - Local Initiatives and Referenda - General Provisions › Section 401.3 - Voter participation areas.

Effective 5/14/2019
20A-7-401.3.
Voter participation areas.
(1)
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2):
(i) a metro township with a population of 65,000 or more, a city of the first or second class, or a county of the first or second class shall, no later than January 1, 2020, again on January 1, 2022, and January 1 each 10 years after 2022, divide the metro township, city, or county into eight contiguous and compact voter participation areas of substantially equal population; and
(ii) a metro township with a population of 10,000 or more, a city of the third or fourth class, or a county of the third or fourth class shall, no later than January 1, 2020, again on January 1, 2022, and January 1 each 10 years after 2022, divide the metro township, city, or county into four contiguous and compact voter participation areas of substantially equal population.
(b) A metro township, city, or county shall use the voter participation areas described in Subsection (1)(a) or (2)(b) for the purpose described in Sections 20A-7-501 and 20A-7-601.
(2)
(a) This section does not apply to a metro township with a population of less than 10,000, a county of the fifth or sixth class, a city of the fifth class, or a town.
(b) A metro township, city, or county that has established council districts that are not at-large districts may, regardless of the number of council districts that are not at-large districts, use the council districts as voter participation areas under this section.
Enacted by Chapter 203, 2019 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 4 - Local Initiatives and Referenda - General Provisions › Section 405 - Public meeting.

Effective 5/14/2019
20A-7-405.
Public meeting.
(1) A county or municipality may not discuss a proposed initiative, an initiative, a proposed referendum, or a referendum at a public meeting unless the county or municipality complies with the requirements of this section.
(2) The legislative body of a county or municipality may hold a public meeting to discuss a proposed initiative, an initiative, a proposed referendum, or a referendum if the legislative body:
(a) allows equal time, within a reasonable limit, for presentations on both sides of the proposed initiative, initiative, proposed referendum, or referendum;
(b) provides interested parties an opportunity to present oral testimony within reasonable time limits; and
(c) holds the public meeting:
(i) during the legislative body's normal meeting time; or
(ii) for a meeting time other than the legislative body's normal meeting time, beginning at or after 6 p.m.
(3) This section does not prohibit a working group meeting from being held before 6 p.m.
Enacted by Chapter 203, 2019 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 4 - Local Initiatives and Referenda - General Provisions › Section 406 - Informational materials.

Effective 5/14/2019
20A-7-406.
Informational materials.
The lieutenant governor shall create and publish to the lieutenant governor's website instructions on how a person may:
(1) qualify a local initiative for the ballot under Part 5, Local Initiatives - Procedures; or
(2) qualify a local referendum for the ballot under Part 6, Local Referenda - Procedures.
Enacted by Chapter 203, 2019 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 502 - Local initiative process -- Application procedures.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-502.
Local initiative process -- Application procedures.
(1) Individuals wishing to circulate an initiative petition shall file an initiative application with the local clerk.
(2) The initiative application shall include:
(a) the name and residence address of at least five sponsors of the initiative petition;
(b) a statement indicating that each of the sponsors is registered to vote in Utah;
(c) the signature of each of the sponsors, acknowledged by a notary public;
(d) a copy of the proposed law that includes:
(i) the title of the proposed law that clearly expresses the subject of the law;
(ii) a description of all proposed sources of funding for the costs associated with the proposed law, including the proposed percentage of total funding from each source; and
(iii) the text of the proposed law;
(e) if the initiative petition proposes a tax increase, the following statement, "This initiative seeks to increase the current (insert name of tax) rate by (insert the tax percentage difference) percent, resulting in a(n) (insert the tax percentage increase) percent increase in the current tax rate."; and
(f) a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the initiative petition may be paid for gathering signatures.
(3) A proposed law submitted under this section may not contain more than one subject to the same extent that a bill may not pass containing more than one subject as provided in Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 22.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 502.6 - Posting initiative information.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-502.6.
Posting initiative information.
(1) Within one business day after the day on which the local clerk's office receives the initial fiscal impact and legal statement under Subsection 20A-7-502.5(4)(a), the local clerk shall post the following information together in a conspicuous place on the local clerk's website:
(a) the initiative application;
(b) the initiative petition;
(c) the text of the proposed law;
(d) the initial fiscal impact and legal statement; and
(e) information describing how an individual may remove the individual's signature from the initiative petition.
(2) The local clerk shall:
(a) promptly update the information described in Subsection (1) if the information changes; and
(b) maintain the information described in Subsection (1) on the local clerk's website until the initiative fails to qualify for the ballot or is passed or defeated at an election.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 502.7 - Referability to voters.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-502.7.
Referability to voters.
(1) Within 20 days after the day on which an eligible voter files an initiative application under Section 20A-7-502, counsel for the county, city, town, or metro township to which the initiative pertains shall:
(a) review the proposed law that is the subject of the initiative application to determine whether the law is legally referable to voters; and
(b) notify the first three sponsors, in writing, whether the proposed law is:
(i) legally referable to voters; or
(ii) rejected as not legally referable to voters.
(2) A proposed law that is the subject of an initiative application is legally referable to voters unless:
(a) the proposed law:
(i) is patently unconstitutional;
(ii) is nonsensical;
(iii) is administrative, rather than legislative, in nature;
(iv) could not become law if passed;
(v) contains more than one subject as evaluated in accordance with Subsection 20A-7-502(3); or
(b) is identical or substantially similar to a legally referable proposed law sought by an initiative application submitted to the local clerk, under Section 20A-7-502, within two years before the day on which the initiative application for the current proposed law is filed;
(c) the subject of the proposed law is not clearly expressed in the law's title; or
(d) the initiative application was not timely filed or does not comply with the requirements of this part.
(3) After the end of the 20-day period described in Subsection (1), a county, city, town, or metro township may not:
(a) reject a proposed initiative as not legally referable to voters; or
(b) bring a legal action, other than to appeal a court decision, challenging a proposed initiative on the grounds that the proposed initiative is not legally referable to voters.
(4) If a county, city, town, or metro township rejects a proposed initiative, a sponsor of the proposed initiative may, within 10 days after the day on which a sponsor is notified under Subsection (1)(b), appeal the decision to:
(a) district court; or
(b) the Supreme Court, if the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over the appeal.
(5) If, on appeal, the court determines that the law proposed by the initiative application is legally referable to voters, the local clerk shall comply with Subsection 20A-7-504(3), or give the sponsors access to the website defined in Section 20A-21-101, within five days after the day on which the determination, and any appeal of the determination, is final.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 504 - Manual initiative process -- Circulation requirements -- Local clerk to provide sponsors with materials.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-504.
Manual initiative process -- Circulation requirements -- Local clerk to provide sponsors with materials.
(1) This section applies only to the manual initiative process.
(2) In order to obtain the necessary number of signatures required by this part, the sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall, after the sponsors receive the documents described in Subsections (3) and 20A-7-401.5(4)(b), circulate initiative packets that meet the form requirements of this part.
(3) Within five days after the day on which a county, city, town, metro township, or court determines, in accordance with Section 20A-7-502.7, that a law proposed in an initiative petition is legally referable to voters, the local clerk shall provide to the sponsors:
(a) a copy of the initiative petition; and
(b) a signature sheet.
(4) The sponsors of the initiative shall:
(a) arrange and pay for the printing of all documents that are part of the initiative packets; and
(b) ensure that the initiative packets and the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) meet the requirements of this part.
(5)
(a) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors may prepare the initiative packets for circulation by creating multiple initiative packets.
(b) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall create initiative packets by binding a copy of the initiative petition with the text of the proposed law and no more than 50 signature sheets together at the top in a manner that the initiative packets may be conveniently opened for signing.
(c) An initiative packet is not required to have a uniform number of signature sheets.
(d) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall include, with each initiative packet, a copy of the proposition information pamphlet provided to the sponsors under Subsection 20A-7-401.5(4)(b).
(6)
(a) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall, before gathering signatures:
(i) contact the county clerk to receive a range of numbers that the sponsors may use to number initiative packets; and
(ii) number each initiative packet, sequentially, within the range of numbers provided by the county clerk, starting with the lowest number in the range.
(b) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors may not:
(i) number an initiative packet in a manner not directed by the county clerk; or
(ii) circulate or submit an initiative packet that is not numbered in the manner directed by the county clerk.
(c) The county clerk shall keep a record of the number range provided under Subsection (6)(a).
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 509 - Form of ballot -- Manner of voting.

Effective 5/14/2019
20A-7-509.
Form of ballot -- Manner of voting.
(1) The local clerk shall ensure that the number and ballot title are presented upon the official ballot with, immediately adjacent to them, the words "For" and "Against," each word presented with an adjacent square in which the voter may indicate the voter's vote.
(2) Voters desiring to vote in favor of enacting the law proposed by the initiative petition shall mark the square adjacent to the word "For," and voters desiring to vote against enacting the law proposed by the initiative petition shall mark the square adjacent to the word "Against."
Amended by Chapter 203, 2019 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 510 - Return and canvass -- Conflicting measures -- Law effective on proclamation.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-510.
Return and canvass -- Conflicting measures -- Law effective on proclamation.
(1) The votes on the law proposed by the initiative petition shall be counted, canvassed, and delivered as provided in Title 20A, Chapter 4, Part 3, Canvassing Returns.
(2) After the local board of canvassers completes the canvass, the local clerk shall certify to the local legislative body the vote for and against the law proposed by the initiative petition.
(3)
(a) The local legislative body shall immediately issue a proclamation that:
(i) gives the total number of votes cast in the local jurisdiction for and against each law proposed by an initiative petition; and
(ii) declares those laws proposed by an initiative petition that are approved by majority vote to be in full force and effect as the law of the local jurisdiction.
(b) When the local legislative body determines that two proposed laws, or that parts of two proposed laws approved by the people at the same election are entirely in conflict, the local legislative body shall proclaim as law the initiative that received the greatest number of affirmative votes, regardless of the difference in the majorities which those initiatives have received.
(c)
(i) Within 10 days after the day on which the local legislative body issues the proclamation, any qualified voter who signed the initiative petition proposing the law that is declared by the local legislative body to be superseded by another initiative approved at the same election may bring an action in the appropriate court to review the decision.
(ii) The court shall:
(A) consider the matter and decide whether the proposed laws are entirely in conflict; and
(B) issue an order, consistent with the court's decision, to the local legislative body.
(4) Within 10 days after the day on which the court enters an order under Subsection (3)(c)(ii), the local legislative body shall:
(a) proclaim as law all initiatives approved by the people that the court determines are not in conflict; and
(b) for the initiatives approved by the people as law that the court determines to be in conflict, proclaim as law the initiative that received the greatest number of affirmative votes, regardless of the difference in majorities.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 511 - Effective date.

20A-7-511.
Effective date.
(1)
(a) Any proposed law submitted to the people by initiative petition that is approved by the voters at any election takes effect on the date specified in the initiative petition.
(b) If the initiative petition does not specify an effective date, a law approved by the voters at any election takes effect five days after the date of the official proclamation of the vote by the county legislative body.
(2) The local legislative body may amend any laws approved by the people at any meeting after the law has taken effect.
Enacted by Chapter 272, 1994 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 512 - Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-512.
Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.
(1) It is unlawful for any individual to:
(a) sign any name other than the individual's own name to an initiative petition or a statement described in Subsection 20A-7-505(4) or 20A-7-515(4);
(b) knowingly sign the individual's name more than once for the same initiative at one election;
(c) knowingly indicate that an individual who signed an initiative petition signed the initiative petition on a date other than the date that the individual signed the initiative petition;
(d) sign an initiative petition knowing the individual is not a legal voter; or
(e) knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this part.
(2) It is unlawful for an individual to sign the verification for an initiative packet, or to electronically sign the verification for a signature under Subsection 20A-21-201(9), knowing that:
(a) the individual does not meet the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105;
(b) the signature date associated with the individual's signature for the initiative petition is not the date that the individual signed the initiative petition;
(c) the individual has not witnessed the signatures of the individuals whose signatures the individual collects or submits; or
(d) one or more individuals who signed the initiative petition are not registered to vote in Utah.
(3) It is unlawful for an individual to:
(a) pay an individual to sign an initiative petition;
(b) pay an individual to remove the individual's signature from an initiative petition;
(c) accept payment to sign an initiative petition; or
(d) accept payment to have the individual's name removed from an initiative petition.
(4) A violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 513 - Fiscal review -- Repeal, amendment, or resubmission.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-513.
Fiscal review -- Repeal, amendment, or resubmission.
(1) No later than 60 days after the date of an election in which the voters approve an initiative, the budget officer shall:
(a) for each initiative approved by the voters, prepare a final fiscal impact statement, using current financial information and containing the information required by Subsection 20A-7-502.5(2), except for the information required by Subsection 20A-7-502.5(2)(a)(vii); and
(b) deliver a copy of the final fiscal impact statement to:
(i) the local legislative body of the jurisdiction where the initiative was circulated;
(ii) the local clerk; and
(iii) the first three sponsors listed on the initiative application.
(2) If the final fiscal impact statement exceeds the estimate in the initial fiscal impact and legal statement by 25% or more, the local legislative body shall review the final fiscal impact statement and may, by a majority vote:
(a) repeal the law established by passage of the initiative;
(b) amend the law established by the passage of the initiative; or
(c) pass a resolution informing the voters that they may file an initiative petition to repeal the law enacted by passage of the initiative.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 515 - Electronic initiative process -- Obtaining signatures -- Request to remove signature.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-515.
Electronic initiative process -- Obtaining signatures -- Request to remove signature.
(1) This section applies to the electronic initiative process.
(2) A Utah voter may sign a local initiative petition if the voter is a legal voter and resides in the local jurisdiction.
(3) The sponsors shall ensure that the signature-gatherer who collects a signature from an individual:
(a) verifies that the individual is at least 18 years old and meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105; and
(b) is informed that each signer is required to read and understand the law proposed by the initiative.
(4)
(a) A voter who signs an initiative petition may have the voter's signature removed from the initiative petition by submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed before 5 p.m. no later than the earlier of:
(i) 30 days after the day on which the voter signs the signature removal statement;
(ii) 90 days after the day on which the local clerk posts the voter's name under Subsection 20A-7-516(4);
(iii) 316 days after the day on which the initiative application is filed; or
(iv)
(A) for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section 20A-7-502; or
(B) for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal general election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section 20A-7-502.
(b) The statement described in Subsection (4)(a) shall include:
(i) the name of the voter;
(ii) the resident address at which the voter is registered to vote;
(iii) the signature of the voter; and
(iv) the date of the signature described in Subsection (4)(b)(iii).
(c) To increase the likelihood of the voter's signature being identified and removed, the statement described in Subsection (4)(a) may include the voter's birth date or age.
(d) A voter may not submit a signature removal statement described in Subsection (4)(a) by email or other electronic means, unless the lieutenant governor establishes a signature removal process that is consistent with the requirements of this section and Section 20A-21-201.
(e) A person may only remove an electronic signature from an initiative petition in accordance with this section.
(f) A county clerk shall analyze a holographic signature, for purposes of removing an electronic signature from an initiative petition, in accordance with Subsection 20A-1-1003(3).
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
Amended by Chapter 116, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 5 - Local Initiatives - Procedures › Section 516 - Electronic initiative process -- Collecting signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-516.
Electronic initiative process -- Collecting signatures -- Email notification -- Removal of signatures.
(1) This section applies only to the electronic initiative process.
(2) A signature-gatherer may not collect a signature after 5 p.m., the earlier of:
(a) 316 days after the day on which the initiative application is filed; or
(b)
(i) for a county initiative, April 15 immediately before the next regular general election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section 20A-7-502; or
(ii) for a municipal initiative, April 15 immediately before the next municipal general election immediately after the initiative application is filed under Section 20A-7-502.
(3) The local clerk shall send to each individual who provides a valid email address during the signature-gathering process an email that includes the following:
(a) the subject of the email shall include the following statement, "Notice Regarding Your Petition Signature"; and
(b) the body of the email shall include the following statement in 12-point type:
"You signed a petition for the following initiative:
[insert title of initiative]
To access a copy of the initiative petition, the text of the law proposed by the initiative, the initial fiscal impact and legal statement, and information on the deadline for removing your signature from the initiative petition, please visit the following link: [insert a uniform resource locator that takes the individual directly to the page on the lieutenant governor's website that includes the information referred to in the email]."
(4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the county clerk shall, within two business days after the day on which the signature of an individual who signs an initiative petition is certified under Section 20A-21-201, post the name, voter identification number, and date of signature of the individual on the lieutenant governor's website, in a conspicuous location designated by the lieutenant governor.
(5)
(a) If the local clerk timely receives a statement requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-515(4), the local clerk shall:
(i) ensure that the voter's name, voter identification number, and date of signature are not included in the posting described in Subsection (4); and
(ii) remove the voter's signature from the initiative petition and the initiative petition signature totals.
(b) The local clerk shall comply with Subsection (5)(a) before the later of:
(i) the deadline described in Subsection (4); or
(ii) two business days after the day on which the county clerk receives a statement requesting signature removal under Subsection 20A-7-515(4).
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 602 - Local referendum process -- Application procedures.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-602.
Local referendum process -- Application procedures.
(1) Individuals wishing to circulate a referendum petition shall file a referendum application with the local clerk.
(2) The referendum application shall include:
(a) the name and residence address of at least five sponsors of the referendum petition;
(b) a statement indicating that each of the sponsors is registered to vote in Utah;
(c) a statement indicating whether persons gathering signatures for the referendum petition may be paid for gathering signatures;
(d) the signature of each of the sponsors, acknowledged by a notary public; and
(e)
(i) if the referendum challenges an ordinance or resolution, a copy of the ordinance or resolution; or
(ii) if the referendum challenges a local law that is not an ordinance or resolution, a written description of the local law, including the result of the vote on the local law.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 602.7 - Referability to voters of local law other than land use law.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-602.7.
Referability to voters of local law other than land use law.
(1) Within 20 days after the day on which an eligible voter files a referendum application under Section 20A-7-602 for a local law other than a land use law, counsel for the county, city, town, or metro township to which the referendum pertains shall:
(a) review the referendum application to determine whether the proposed referendum is legally referable to voters; and
(b) notify the first three sponsors, in writing, whether the proposed referendum is:
(i) legally referable to voters; or
(ii) rejected as not legally referable to voters.
(2) For a local law other than a land use law, a proposed referendum is legally referable to voters unless:
(a) the proposed referendum challenges an action that is administrative, rather than legislative, in nature;
(b) the proposed referendum challenges more than one law passed by the local legislative body; or
(c) the referendum application was not timely filed or does not comply with the requirements of this part.
(3) After the end of the 20-day period described in Subsection (1), a county, city, town, or metro township may not, for a local law other than a land use law:
(a) reject a proposed referendum as not legally referable to voters; or
(b) except as provided in Subsection (4), challenge, in a legal action or otherwise, a proposed referendum on the grounds that the proposed referendum is not legally referable to voters.
(4)
(a) If, under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), a county, city, town, or metro township rejects a proposed referendum concerning a local law other than a land use law, a sponsor of the proposed referendum may, within 10 days after the day on which a sponsor is notified under Subsection (1)(b), challenge or appeal the decision to:
(i) the Supreme Court, by means of an extraordinary writ, if possible; or
(ii) a district court, if the sponsor is prohibited from pursuing an extraordinary writ under Subsection (4)(a)(i).
(b) Failure of a sponsor to timely challenge or appeal a rejection under Subsection (4)(a) terminates the referendum.
(5) If, on a challenge or appeal, the court determines that the proposed referendum described in Subsection (4) is legally referable to voters, the local clerk shall comply with Subsection 20A-7-604(3), or give the sponsors access to the website defined in Section 20A-21-101, within five days after the day on which the determination, and any challenge or appeal of the determination, is final.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 604 - Manual referendum process -- Circulation requirements -- Local clerk to provide sponsors with materials.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-604.
Manual referendum process -- Circulation requirements -- Local clerk to provide sponsors with materials.
(1) This section applies only to the manual referendum process.
(2) In order to obtain the necessary number of signatures required by this part, the sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall, after the sponsors receive the documents described in Subsections (3) and 20A-7-401.5(4)(b), circulate referendum packets that meet the form requirements of this part.
(3) Within five days after the day on which a county, city, town, metro township, or court determines, in accordance with Section 20A-7-602.7, that a proposed referendum is legally referable to voters, the local clerk shall provide the sponsors with
a copy of the referendum petition and a signature sheet.
(4) The sponsors of the referendum petition shall:
(a) arrange and pay for the printing of all documents that are part of the referendum packets; and
(b) ensure that the referendum packets and the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) meet the form requirements of this section.
(5)
(a) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors may prepare the referendum packets for circulation by creating multiple referendum packets.
(b) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall create referendum packets by binding a copy of the referendum petition with the text of the law that is the subject of the referendum and no more than 50 signature sheets together at the top in a manner that the referendum packets may be conveniently opened for signing.
(c) A referendum packet is not required to have a uniform number of signature sheets.
(d) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall include, with each packet, a copy of the proposition information pamphlet provided to the sponsors under Subsection 20A-7-401.5(4)(b).
(6)
(a) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors shall, before gathering signatures:
(i) contact the county clerk to receive a range of numbers that the sponsors may use to number referendum packets;
(ii) sign an agreement with the local clerk, specifying the range of numbers that the sponsor will use to number the referendum packets; and
(iii) number each referendum packet, sequentially, within the range of numbers provided by the county clerk, starting with the lowest number in the range.
(b) The sponsors or an agent of the sponsors may not:
(i) number a referendum packet in a manner not directed by the county clerk; or
(ii) circulate or submit a referendum packet that is not numbered in the manner directed by the county clerk.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 604.5 - Posting referendum information.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-604.5.
Posting referendum information.
(1) On the day on which the local clerk complies with Subsection 20A-7-604(3), or gives the sponsors access to the website defined in Section 20A-21-101, the local clerk shall post the following information together in a conspicuous place on the local clerk's website:
(a) the referendum petition;
(b) a copy of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition; and
(c) information describing how an individual may remove the individual's signature from the referendum petition.
(2) The local clerk shall:
(a) promptly update the information described in Subsection (1) if the information changes; and
(b) maintain the information described in Subsection (1) on the local clerk's website until the referendum fails to qualify for the ballot or is passed or defeated at an election.
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 609 - Form of ballot -- Manner of voting.

Effective 5/3/2023
20A-7-609.
Form of ballot -- Manner of voting.
(1) The local clerk shall ensure that the number and ballot title are presented upon the official ballot with, immediately adjacent to them, the words "For" and "Against," each word presented with an adjacent square in which the elector may indicate the elector's vote.
(2)
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(i) or Section 20A-7-609.5, and unless the county legislative body calls a special election, the county clerk shall ensure that county referenda that have qualified for the ballot appear on the next regular general election ballot.
(b) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii) or Section 20A-7-609.5, and unless the municipal legislative body calls a special election, the municipal recorder or clerk shall ensure that municipal referenda that have qualified for the ballot appear on the next regular municipal election ballot.
(c)
(i) Except as provided in Section 20A-7-609.5, if a local law passes after January 30 of the year in which there is a regular general election, the county clerk shall ensure that a county referendum that has qualified for the ballot appears on the ballot at the second regular general election immediately following the passage of the local law unless the county legislative body calls a special election.
(ii) Except as provided in Section 20A-7-609.5, if a local law passes after January 30 of the year in which there is a municipal general election, the municipal recorder or clerk shall ensure that a municipal referendum that has qualified for the ballot appears on the ballot at the second municipal general election immediately following the passage of the local law unless the municipal legislative body calls a special election.
(3)
(a)
(i) A voter desiring to vote in favor of the law that is the subject of the referendum shall mark the square adjacent to the word "For."
(ii) The law that is the subject of the referendum is effective if a majority of voters mark "For."
(b)
(i) A voter desiring to vote against the law that is the subject of the referendum shall mark the square following the word "Against."
(ii) The law that is the subject of the referendum is not effective if a majority of voters mark "Against."
Amended by Chapter 107, 2023 General Session
2023 Utah Code › Title 20A - Election Code › Chapter 7 - Issues Submitted to the Voters › Part 6 - Local Referenda - Procedures › Section 609.5 - Election on referendum challenging local tax law conducted entirely by mail.

Effective 5/12/2020
20A-7-609.5.
Election on referendum challenging local tax law conducted entirely by mail.
(1) An election officer may administer an election on a referendum challenging a local tax law entirely by mail.
(2) For purposes of an election conducted under this section, the election officer shall:
(a) designate as the election day the day that is 30 days after the day on which the election officer complies with Subsection (2)(b); and
(b) within 30 days after the day on which the referendum described in Subsection (1) qualifies for the ballot, mail to each registered voter within the voting precincts to which the local tax law applies:
(i) a manual ballot;
(ii) a statement that there will be no polling place for the election;
(iii) a statement specifying the election day described in Subsection (2)(a);
(iv) a business reply mail envelope;
(v) instructions for returning the ballot that include an express notice about any relevant deadlines that the voter must meet in order for the voter's vote to be counted;
(vi) a warning, on a separate page of colored paper in boldface print, indicating that if the voter fails to follow the instructions included with the manual ballot, the voter will be unable to vote in that election because there will be no polling place for the election; and
(vii)
(A) a copy of the proposition information pamphlet relating to the referendum if a proposition information pamphlet relating to the referendum was published under Section 20A-7-401.5; or
(B) a website address where an individual may view a copy of the proposition information pamphlet described in Subsection (2)(b)(vii)(A).
(3) An election officer who administers an election under this section shall:
(a)
(i) obtain, in person, the signatures of each voter within that voting precinct before the election; or
(ii) obtain the signature of each voter within the voting precinct from the county clerk; and
(b) maintain the signatures on file in the election officer's office.
(4)
(a) Upon receiving a returned manual ballot under this section, the election officer shall compare the signature on each return envelope with the voter's signature that is maintained on file and verify that the signatures are the same.
(b) If the election officer questions the authenticity of the signature on the return envelope, the election officer shall immediately contact the voter to verify the signature.
(c) If there is not a signature on the return envelope or if the election officer determines that the signature on the return envelope does not match the voter's signature that is maintained on file, the election officer shall:
(i) disqualify the ballot; and
(ii) notify the voter of the disqualification and the reason for the disqualification.
Amended by Chapter 31, 2020 General Session