20A-6-305. Master ballot position list — Random selection — Procedures — Publication — Surname — Exemptions — Ballot order.
(1)
As used in this section, “master ballot position list” means an official list of the 26 characters in the alphabet listed in random order and numbered from one to 26 as provided under Subsection (2).
Terms Used In Utah Code 20A-6-305
Ballot: means the storage medium, including a paper, mechanical, or electronic storage medium, that records an individual voter's vote. 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;
Election official: means any election officer, election judge, or poll worker. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Municipal office: means an elective office in a municipality. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Position: means a square, circle, rectangle, or other geometric shape on a ballot in which the voter marks the voter's choice. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
Town: includes , depending on population, a metro township as defined in Section 10-3c-102. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
United States: includes each state, district, and territory of the United States of America. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2)
The lieutenant governor shall:
(a)
within 30 days after the candidate filing deadline in each even-numbered year, conduct a random selection to create a master ballot position list for all elections in accordance with procedures established under Subsection (2)(c);
(b)
publish the master ballot position list on the lieutenant governor’s election website no later than 15 days after creating the list; and
(c)
establish written procedures for:
(i)
the election official to use the master ballot position list; and
(ii)
the lieutenant governor in:
(A)
conducting the random selection in a fair manner; and
(B)
providing a record of the random selection process used.
(3)
In accordance with the written procedures established under Subsection (2)(c)(i), an election officer shall use the master ballot position list for the current year to determine the order in which to list candidates on the ballot for an election held during the year.
(4)
To determine the order in which to list candidates on the ballot required under Subsection (3), the election officer shall apply the randomized alphabet using:
(a)
the candidate’s surname;
(b)
for candidates with a surname that has the same spelling, the candidate’s given name; and
(c)
the surname of the president and the surname of the governor for an election for the offices of president and vice president and governor and lieutenant governor.
(5)
Subsections (1) through (4) do not apply to:
(a)
an election for an office for which only one candidate is listed on the ballot; or
(b)
a judicial retention election under Section 20A-12-201.
(6)
Subject to Subsection (7), each ticket that appears on a ballot for an election shall appear separately, in the following order:
(a)
for federal office:
(i)
president and vice president of the United States;
(ii)
United States Senate office; and
(iii)
United States House of Representatives office;
(b)
for state office:
(i)
governor and lieutenant governor;
(ii)
attorney general;
(iii)
state auditor;
(iv)
state treasurer;
(v)
state Senate office;
(vi)
state House of Representatives office; and
(vii)
State Board of Education member;
(c)
for county office:
(i)
county executive office;
(ii)
county legislative body member;
(iii)
county assessor;
(iv)
county or district attorney;
(v)
county auditor;
(vi)
county clerk;
(vii)
county recorder;
(viii)
county sheriff;
(ix)
county surveyor;
(x)
county treasurer; and
(xi)
local school board member;
(d)
for municipal office:
(i)
mayor; and
(ii)
city or town council member;
(e)
elected planning and service district council member;
(f)
judicial retention questions; and
(g)
ballot propositions not described in Subsection (6)(f).
(7)
(a)
A ticket for a race for a combined office shall appear on the ballot in the place of the earliest ballot ticket position that is reserved for an office that is subsumed in the combined office.
(b)
Each ticket, other than a ticket described in Subsection (6)(f), shall list:
(i)
each candidate in accordance with Subsections (1) through (4); and
(ii)
except as otherwise provided in this title, the party name, initials, or title following each candidate’s name.
