HB 231: Primary Election Amendments - Utah

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Utah's primary election laws to require runoff elections when no candidate receives a majority of votes in certain races, establishes new deadlines for changing party affiliation, and updates procedures for military and overseas voters. The changes aim to ensure clearer election outcomes and provide more flexibility for voters to change party affiliation closer to election day.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of primary election rules to include runoff election procedures for specific high-level offices and modifies party affiliation change deadlines to allow changes up to the day before the primary election.

REQUIREMENT

New runoff election requirement for primary races where no candidate receives more than 50% of votes and no candidate receives at least 10% more votes than the second-place candidate

New procedures for military and overseas voters to cast ballots in runoff elections, including ranked-choice ballot options

Updated notice requirements for runoff elections to include specific information about voter qualifications and polling locations

TIMELINE

Changed party affiliation deadline from earlier dates to allow changes up to the day before the regular primary election, with effect taking place the day after the statewide canvass

TECHNICAL

Technical corrections to section numbering and formatting throughout the bill text

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies primary election procedures in Utah, adding a new runoff election requirement for certain races where no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and adding a 10% margin threshold between top candidates. It also updates party affiliation designation rules and expands military/overseas voting provisions for runoff elections. The bill changes the chief sponsor from Jordan Teuscher to Jason Kyle and adds Daniel McCay as Senate sponsor.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional code sections (20A-2-107 and 20A-2-107.5) related to party affiliation designation, and added a new 10% margin requirement for triggering runoff elections in addition to the 50% threshold.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new runoff election requirement for primary races where no candidate receives more than 50% of votes AND the top candidate does not receive at least 10% more votes than the second-place candidate.

Added provisions for military and overseas voters to cast ballots in runoff elections, including ranked-choice voting options.

Added new party affiliation designation deadlines and procedures in sections 20A-2-107 and 20A-2-107.5.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified tie-breaking procedures to reference the new runoff election section (20A-9-409.1) as an exception to standard tie-breaking rules.

TIMELINE

Updated section headers and sponsor information, changing Chief Sponsor from Jordan Teuscher to Jason Kyle and adding Daniel McCay as Senate Sponsor.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of affected Utah Code sections to include 20A-2-107 and 20A-2-107.5 for party affiliation matters.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces a runoff election system for certain primary races where no candidate receives over 50% of the votes, replacing the previous tie-breaking by lot method for those specific races. It also adds provisions for military and overseas voters to participate in runoff elections and makes technical updates to various election-related statutes.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of primary election procedures by adding a new runoff election requirement for national, statewide, and multi-county offices when no candidate achieves a majority, while maintaining the existing tie-breaking by lot for county-level offices.

REQUIREMENT

New runoff election requirement for primary races where no candidate receives more than 50% of votes in national, statewide, or multi-county offices

Provisions allowing military and overseas voters to rank candidates in primary ballots that may lead to runoff elections

Runoff election notices must include candidate names, polling places, and voter qualifications, with alternative simplified notice options available

TIMELINE

Runoff elections must be held 35 days after the primary election, with specific notice requirements including newspaper publication, website posting, and voter mailings

TECHNICAL

Updated section references and added new code section 20A-9-409.1 to govern the runoff election process

Primary Election Amendments

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