Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Election Code to provide for election by mail, and further extends the absentee ballot deadline by 24 hours.

Highlights:

• Defines “mobile voting county” as a county that opts into drive-up voting on election day (Sec. 1).

• Requires the lieutenant governor’s office to issue protocols to protect the health and safety of voters and government employees for the 2020 regular primary election, and educate the public on the changes, including (Sec. 1):

• Requiring poll workers use protective gear and wash hands regularly;

• Prohibiting ill poll workers from working; and

• Promoting, to the extent possible, social distancing between poll workers.

• Authorizes the lieutenant governor’s office to make other changes relating to deadlines, locations, and methods of conducting the 2020 primary election, including making the entire primary election a vote by mail system except for allowing a mobile voting county to provide drive-up voting on election day (Sec. 1).

• Requires an election officer to provide a method of accessible voting to a voter with a disability who is not able to vote by mail and provide instructions on their official website on how to correctly mail a ballot (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a caretaker of a voter with a disability to vote at the same time and place as the voter (Sec. 1).

• Requires the following statement notice be posted on an election or polling location that reads “To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, for the 2020 regular primary election only” (Sec. 1):

• “The election will be conducted by mail;

• Drop boxes will be available for depositing mail-in ballots until 8 p.m. on election day;

• There will be no polling places on election day;

• There will be no in-person voting, including no in-person early voting;

• There will be no in-person voter registration or voter registration by provisional ballot; and

• The voter registration deadline is 11 days before the day of the election.”

• Requires the following statement notice be posted at a mobile voting county location that reads “To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, for the 2020 regular primary election only” (Sec. 1):

• “The election will be conducted primarily by mail;

• Drop boxes will be available for depositing mail-in ballots until 8 p.m. on election day;

• There will be no polling places on election day, but there will be limited drive-up voting on election day unless canceled by the county clerk due to public health concerns;

• Except for drive-up voting on election day, there will be no in-person voting, including no in-person early voting;

• There will be no in-person voter registration or voter registration by provisional ballot; and

• The voter registration deadline is 11 days before the day of the election.”

• Establishes that the voter registration deadline shall be 11 days prior to the day of the election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the election officer to mail to each active voter who is eligible to vote in the primary election an absentee ballot (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits an election officer from releasing any ballot counts or any other election results or updates to the public before 10 p.m. on election day (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes vehicles in line at a drive-up voting station at 8 p.m to vote at the drive-up voting system (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text