Senate Bill 162 MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTING Changes State Convention Dates for all Political Parties in Utah

MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTING

Senate Bill 162 passed by the 2011 Legislature in the General Session on March 4, in the House and March 9 in the Senate makes significant changes to Utah’s current election system, including moving the date for political parties to certify the names of their party’s candidates in April instead of May 13.  Some counties will have their county convention 7 days after the caucus in March.  SB 162 Votes

This bill decreases the time between the caucus in March and the state conventions 

by almost 30 days, which  also decreases the time between the caucus and the county conventions.  Campaigning for a state wide race in only 4-5 weeks while also

participating in 29 county conventions is going to be interesting.

As near as I can tell, there was absolutely no publicity for this bill. 

You will remember by March 3 there was considerable attention 

on HB 477 changing the GRAMA laws in Utah and by March 7 HB 477 

had been introduced and passed both the House and the Senate. 

Note the times that SB 162 was voted on, March 4 House, 

and March 9 in Senate.  There was such a huge uproar by that 

time on HB 477  I guess no one noticed the impact of this bill on Utah.

SB 162

The highlighted provisions list he major changes, but the ONE change this blog will

focus on is the change in the date of notification of  each registered political party
             787      that wishes to participate in the primary election shall:
             788          (i) certify the name and office of all of the registered political party's candidates to the
             789      lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. [on May 13] on the first Monday after the third
             790      Saturday in April of each even-numbered year; and
             791          (ii) certify the name and office of each of its county candidates to the county clerks by
             792      5 p.m. on [May 13] the first Monday after the third Saturday in April of each even-numbered
             793      year.

As you will note, previously the date was May 13 and both major political parties held their conventions the Saturday prior to May 13.  SB 162 TEXT

MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTING

                                                   Chief Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

House Sponsor: Brad L. Dee

Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    changes the period of time in which to file:
             14              .    a declaration of candidacy; or
             15              .    a certificate of nomination;
             16          .    changes the date of the municipal primary;
             17          .    changes the date by which:
             18              .    a political party certifies a candidate for the primary ballot;
             19              .    an ordinance may be adopted for exemption from a primary;
             20              .    a candidate is certified for the ballot; and
             21              .    a certified ballot title is submitted to an election officer;
             22          .    changes dates related to:
             23              .    filling a midterm vacancy; and
             24              .    nominating a State Board of Education member;
             25          .    enacts the Uniform Military and Overseas Voting Act;
             26          .    repeals provisions in Title 20A, Chapter 3, Part 4, Voting by Members of the
             27      Military and by Other Persons Living or Serving Abroad;
             28          .    designates an email address provided by, or a completed ballot transmitted by, a
             29      military or overseas voter as a private record; and

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             30          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.