Utah Code 20A-3a-402.5. Signature verification audits

20A-3a-402.5. Signature verification audits.

(1)	An election officer shall, in accordance with this section and rules made under Section 20A-3a-106, conduct regular audits of signature comparisons made between signatures on envelopes and voter signatures maintained by the election officer.

Board of canvassers: means the entities established by Sections 20A-4-301 and 20A-4-306 to canvass election returns. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Election: means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal primary election, and a special district election. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Election officer: means :

(a)	the lieutenant governor, for all statewide ballots and elections;

(b)

the county clerk for:

(i)	a county ballot and election; and

(ii)

a ballot and election as a provider election officer as provided in Section 20A-5-400. See Utah Code 20A-1-102

Signature: includes a name, mark, or sign written with the intent to authenticate an instrument or writing. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

Voter: means an individual who:

(a)	meets the requirements for voting in an election;

(b)	meets the requirements of election registration;

(c)	is registered to vote; and

(d)	is listed in the official register book. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
(2)	An individual who conducts an audit of signature comparisons may not audit the individual’s own work.

(3)

Before separating ballots from return envelopes, the election officer shall:

(a)	audit 1% of all signature comparisons of the envelopes to be separated to determine the accuracy of the comparisons made; and

(b)	provide additional training or staff reassignments, as needed, based on the results of the audit.

(4)

An election officer shall submit to the lieutenant governor and the board of canvassers a record of:

(a)	the audits performed under this section;

(b)	the results of the audits; and

(c)	any remedial action taken.

Enacted by Chapter 297, 2023 General Session