Signed by Governor Spencer Cox

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that repeals automatic voting by mail and requires voters to provide the last 4 digits of their state identification number with their return envelope in Utah.

Highlights:

• Repeals automatic voting by mail and requires voters to provide the last 4 digits of their state identification number with their return envelope in Utah (Sec. 1-34).

• Requires the lieutenant governor to (Sec. 1-34):

• Develop a procedure to evaluate voter registration records based on addresses to identify potential anomalies;

• Develop procedures to investigate the validity of a voter registration when a ballot mailed by the county clerk is returned as undeliverable; and

• Register with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program;

• Requires the lieutenant governor to seek to enter into an agreement with the federal courts where, in exchange for receiving certain information from the state to maintain federal jury lists, the courts will notify the state of individuals who are disqualified from jury service due to criminal convictions or non-citizen status for voting by mail (Sec. 1-34).

• Requires a registered voter who has a Utah driver license or a state identification card to place the last four digits of the card's number on the return envelope, and permits a voter to enter the last four digits of the voter's social security number as an alternate form of identification, and specifies that (Sec. 1-34):

• Until 2029, permits a voter's identity to be verified using signature comparison, if the voter doesn't enter the digits described in the preceding paragraph;

• Beginning in 2029, provides that if a voter does not have a Utah driver license, a Utah state identification card, or a social security card, the voter may provide identification by including a photocopy of certain forms of identification in the return envelope;

• Beginning in 2029, if a voter does not have a type of identification described in the preceding two paragraphs and requires the voter to vote in person, unless the voter qualifies for certain exceptions;

• Subject to certain exceptions, provides that, beginning in 2029, a voter will not receive a ballot by mail unless the voter requests to receive a ballot by mail;

• Specifies that a request to receive a ballot by mail remains in effect for 8 years unless the voter takes certain action that results in termination of the request (Sec. 1-34).

• Specifies that a voter may request, or renew a request, to receive a ballot by mail when the individual (Sec. 1-34):

• Registers to vote;

• Makes a request online;

• Applies to receive or renew a Utah driver license or Utah state identification card; or

• Votes at a polling place;

• Amends voter registration forms relating to:

• Requesting to receive ballot notifications; and

• Requesting to receive a mailed ballot;

• Modifies requirements for an individual to assist a voter to vote at a polling place;

• Modifies a return envelope consistent with the requirements of this bill and to provide certain warnings to a voter;

• Modifies provisions relating to obtaining and returning an emergency ballot;

• Modifies provisions for the processing of ballots, consistent with the provisions of this bill;

• Authorizes an exception to the requirement that the bulk of ballots initially mailed to voters must be mailed from a location in Utah, if the jurisdiction mailing the ballots is assigned to a United States Postal Service area distribution center outside of Utah;

• Extends the duties of the lieutenant governor concerning maintaining the voter registration database and makes technical and conforming changes (Sec. 1-34).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning May 7, 2025 (Sec. 35).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that repeals automatic voting by mail and requires voters to provide the last 4 digits of their state identification number with their return envelope in Utah.

Highlights:

• Repeals automatic voting by mail and requires voters to provide the last 4 digits of their state identification number with their return envelope in Utah (Sec. 1-34).

• Requires the lieutenant governor to (Sec. 1-34):

• Develop a procedure to evaluate voter registration records based on addresses to identify potential anomalies;

• Develop procedures to investigate the validity of a voter registration when a ballot mailed by the county clerk is returned as undeliverable; and

• Register with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program;

• Requires the lieutenant governor to seek to enter into an agreement with the federal courts where, in exchange for receiving certain information from the state to maintain federal jury lists, the courts will notify the state of individuals who are disqualified from jury service due to criminal convictions or non-citizen status for voting by mail (Sec. 1-34).

• Requires a registered voter who has a Utah driver license or a state identification card to place the last four digits of the card's number on the return envelope, and permits a voter to enter the last four digits of the voter's social security number as an alternate form of identification, and specifies that (Sec. 1-34):

• Until 2029, permits a voter's identity to be verified using signature comparison, if the voter doesn't enter the digits described in the preceding paragraph;

• Beginning in 2029, provides that if a voter does not have a Utah driver license, a Utah state identification card, or a social security card, the voter may provide identification by including a photocopy of certain forms of identification in the return envelope;

• Beginning in 2029, if a voter does not have a type of identification described in the preceding two paragraphs and requires the voter to vote in person, unless the voter qualifies for certain exceptions;

• Subject to certain exceptions, provides that, beginning in 2029, a voter will not receive a ballot by mail unless the voter requests to receive a ballot by mail;

• Specifies that a request to receive a ballot by mail remains in effect for 8 years unless the voter takes certain action that results in termination of the request (Sec. 1-34).

• Specifies that a voter may request, or renew a request, to receive a ballot by mail when the individual (Sec. 1-34):

• Registers to vote;

• Makes a request online;

• Applies to receive or renew a Utah driver license or Utah state identification card; or

• Votes at a polling place;

• Amends voter registration forms relating to:

• Requesting to receive ballot notifications; and

• Requesting to receive a mailed ballot;

• Modifies requirements for an individual to assist a voter to vote at a polling place;

• Modifies a return envelope consistent with the requirements of this bill and to provide certain warnings to a voter;

• Modifies provisions relating to obtaining and returning an emergency ballot;

• Modifies provisions for the processing of ballots, consistent with the provisions of this bill;

• Authorizes an exception to the requirement that the bulk of ballots initially mailed to voters must be mailed from a location in Utah, if the jurisdiction mailing the ballots is assigned to a United States Postal Service area distribution center outside of Utah;

• Extends the duties of the lieutenant governor concerning maintaining the voter registration database and makes technical and conforming changes (Sec. 1-34).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning May 7, 2025 (Sec. 35).

Full Bill Text