HB 213 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Voting Revisions

HB 213 changes Utah's voting system by requiring voters to actively request mail ballots starting in 2026, shifting from the previous automatic mail ballot system. It limits mail ballots to voters who specifically request them or are covered under the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act (military/overseas voters), while prohibiting mail ballots for those who opt out or fail to vote in general elections. The bill mandates an online ballot request system managed by the lieutenant governor and updates voter registration forms to inform voters about these changes and how to request mail ballots. These revisions directly affect all Utah voters participating in elections, altering how mail ballots are distributed and received.

Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill fundamentally changes Utah's voting system by shifting from a primarily mail-in election model to a hybrid in-person and mail-in system starting in 2026. The key change is that ballots will no longer be automatically mailed to all voters; instead, voters must actively request mail ballots, except for military and overseas voters. Ballots must now be received by the close of polls on election day rather than postmarked before election day. The bill also adds requirements for notifying voters about these changes and establishes an online ballot request system.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of voting requirements by adding new obligations for voters to actively request mail ballots, while simultaneously reducing the automatic mailing of ballots to all registered voters. The scope of ballot validity requirements was narrowed by changing the deadline from postmark to receipt.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the primary election method from mail-in to a hybrid in-person and mail-in system effective 2026

Changed ballot validity deadline from postmark before election day to receipt before close of polls on election day

Added requirement for voters to actively request mail ballots through voter registration forms, in-person requests, or a new online system

Added requirement for election officers to notify active voters about the new mail ballot request requirements

Added requirement for voters to resubmit mail ballot requests if they fail to vote in a regular general election

Added requirement for election officers to provide alternate address request forms for voters who cannot receive ballots at their residence

Modified voter registration forms to include ballot notification options and warnings about new mail ballot request deadlines

ELIGIBILITY

Ballots will only be mailed to voters who request them, except for military and overseas voters covered by federal law

TIMELINE

New mail ballot request deadline set at 5 p.m. on the last business day at least 60 days before election day

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'covered voter,' 'remote ballot request deadline,' and 'remote voter'

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors