Enrolled Copy H.B. 27
1
Voting Precinct Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
2
3
LONG TITLE
4
General Description:
5
This bill addresses voting precincts.
6
Highlighted Provisions:
7
This bill:
8
▸ authorizes a county legislative body to establish a voting precinct consisting of two or
9
more noncontiguous geographic areas in certain circumstances;
10
▸ requires the name of a voting precinct to be distinguishable from any other voting
11
precinct;
12
▸ authorizes the county clerk to adjust the boundaries of a voting precinct in order to:
13
● match the current boundaries of a local political subdivision; or
14
● match the resulting boundaries of a local subdivision that expands, divides, alters, or
15
changes the local political subdivision's boundaries;
16
▸ requires a county clerk who adjusts the boundaries of a voting precinct to:
17
● file a notice with the Utah Geospatial Resource Center at least 65 days before the date
18
of an election; and
19
● provide a copy of the notice to the county legislative body; and
20
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
21
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22
None
23
Other Special Clauses:
24
None
25
Utah Code Sections Affected:
26
AMENDS:
27
20A-5-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 162, 345 H.B. 27 Enrolled Copy
28
ENACTS:
29
20A-5-303.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32
Section 1. Section 20A-5-303 is amended to read:
33
20A-5-303 . Establishing, dividing, abolishing, and changing voting precincts --
34
Common polling places -- Combined voting precincts.
35
(1)[(a)] After receiving recommendations from the county clerk, the county legislative
36
body may establish, divide, abolish, [and change voting precincts] or change the
37
boundaries of a voting precinct.
38
(2)(a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), a county legislative body may establish a voting
39
precinct that consists of two or more noncontiguous geographic areas if:
40
(i) each noncontiguous area is located entirely within the same municipality; or
41
(ii) the noncontiguous areas are located within a municipality and immediately
42
adjacent to a municipality.
43
(b) A voting precinct described in Subsection (2)(a) must consist of the same elective
44
offices.
45
[(b)] (3) Within 30 days after the establishment, division, abolition, or change of a voting
46
precinct under this section, the county legislative body shall file with the Utah
47
Geospatial Resource Center, created under Section 63A-16-505, a notice describing the
48
action taken and specifying the resulting boundaries of each voting precinct affected by
49
the action.
50
[(2)] (4)(a) The county legislative body shall alter or divide voting precincts so that each
51
voting precinct contains not more than 1,250 active voters at the time of the
52
redistricting described in Subsection (5).
53
(b) The county legislative body [shall] may identify a voting precinct that:
54
(i) [identify those precincts that may reach the limit of active voters in a precinct
55
under Subsection (2)(a) or that becomes] is too large to facilitate the election
56
process; and
57
(ii) except as provided by Subsection [(3)] (5), divide [those precincts] the precinct on
58
or before January 1 of a general election year.
59
[(3)] (5) A county legislative body shall divide a precinct identified under Subsection [
60
(2)(b)(i)] (4)(b)(i) on or before January 31 of a regular general election year that
61
immediately follows the calendar year in which the Legislature divides the state into
- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 27
62
districts in accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
63
[(4)] (6) Notwithstanding Subsection [(2)(a)] (4)(a), and except as provided by Subsection [
64
(5)] (7), the county legislative body may not:
65
(a) establish or abolish [any] a voting precinct after January 1 of a regular general
66
election year;
67
(b) alter or change the boundaries of [any] a voting precinct after January 1 of a regular
68
general election year; or
69
(c) establish, divide, abolish, alter, or change a voting precinct between January 1 of a
70
year immediately preceding the year in which an enumeration is required by the
71
United States Constitution, and the day on which the Legislature divides the state into
72
districts in accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
73
[(5)] (7) A county legislative body may establish, divide, abolish, alter, or change a voting
74
precinct on or before January 31 of a regular general election year that immediately
75
follows the calendar year in which the Legislature divides the state into districts in
76
accordance with Utah Constitution, Article IX, Section 1.
77
[(6)] (8)(a) For the purpose of voting in an election, the county legislative body may
78
establish a common polling place for two or more whole voting precincts.
79
(b) At least 90 days before the date of the election, the county legislative body shall
80
designate:
81
(i) [the voting precincts] each voting precinct that will vote at the common polling
82
place; and
83
(ii) the location of the common polling place.
84
(c) A county may use one set of election judges for the common polling place under this
85
Subsection [(6)] (8).
86
(9) Each voting precinct established under this section shall have a name that is
87
distinguishable from the name of any other voting precinct in the state.
88
[(7)] (10) Each county shall have at least two polling places open for voting on the date of
89
the election.
90
[(8)] (11) Each common polling place shall have at least one voting device that is accessible
91
for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Public Law 107-252, the Help
92
America Vote Act of 2002.
93
Section 2. Section 20A-5-303.5 is enacted to read:
94
20A-5-303.5 . Voting precinct boundaries -- Adjustment by county clerk.
95
(1) Notwithstanding Section 20A-5-303, the county clerk may adjust the boundaries of a
- 3 - H.B. 27 Enrolled Copy
96
voting precinct in order to:
97
(a) match the current boundaries of a local political subdivision; or
98
(b) match the resulting boundaries of a local political subdivision that expands, divides,
99
alters, or changes the local political subdivision's boundaries.
100
(2)(a) A county clerk who adjusts the boundaries of a voting precinct under Subsection
101
(1) shall, no later than 65 days before the date of an election, file with the Utah
102
Geospatial Resource Center, created in Section 63A-16-505, a notice that:
103
(i) describes the reason for the voting precinct boundary adjustment; and
104
(ii) specifies the resulting boundaries of the voting precinct affected by the
105
adjustment.
106
(b) The county clerk shall provide a copy of the notice described in Subsection (2)(a) to
107
the county legislative body.
108
(3) A county clerk may not adjust the boundaries of a voting precinct except as provided in
109
Subsection (1).
110
(4) A county clerk's adjustment of a voting precinct's boundaries under this section is not
111
effective until the county clerk files the notice described in Subsection (2)(a).
112
Section 3. Effective date.
113
This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
- 4 -