City: includes , depending on population, a metro township as defined in Section 10-3c-102. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
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
Filing officer: means :
(a)
the lieutenant governor, for:
(i)
the office of United States Senator and United States Representative; and
(ii)
all constitutional offices;
(b)
for the office of a state senator, state representative, or the state school board, the lieutenant governor or the applicable clerk described in Subsection (7)(c) or (d);
(c)
the county clerk, for county offices and local school district offices;
(d)
the county clerk in the filer's county of residence, for multicounty offices;
(e)
the city or town clerk, for municipal offices; or
(f)
the special district clerk, for special district offices. See Utah Code 20A-9-101
Municipal general election: means the election held in municipalities and, as applicable, special districts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-202. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
qualified: means to take the oath of office and begin performing the duties of the position for which the individual was elected. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
Regular general election: means the election held throughout the state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year for the purposes established in Section 20A-1-201. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
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
Valid write-in candidate: means a candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate by following the procedures and requirements of this title. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), an individual who wishes to become a valid write-in candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in person, or through a designated agent for a candidate for president or vice president of the United States, with the appropriate filing officer before 5 p.m. no later than 65 days before the regular general election or a municipal general election in which the individual intends to be a write-in candidate.
(b)
(i)
The provisions of this Subsection (1)(b) do not apply to an individual who files a declaration of candidacy for president of the United States.
(ii)
Subject to Subsection (2)(d), an individual may designate an agent to file a declaration of candidacy with the appropriate filing officer if:
(A)
the individual is located outside of the state during the entire filing period;
(B)
the designated agent appears in person before the filing officer; and
(C)
the individual communicates with the filing officer using an electronic device that allows the individual and filing officer to see and hear each other.
(2)
(a)
The form of the declaration of candidacy for a write-in candidate for all offices, except president or vice president of the United States, is substantially as follows: “State of Utah, County of ____ I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of ____ for the ____ district (if applicable). I do solemnly swear that: I will meet the qualifications to hold the office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at _____________ in the City or Town of ____, Utah, Zip Code ____, Phone No. ____; I will not knowingly violate any law governing campaigns and elections; if filing via a designated agent, I will be out of the state of Utah during the entire candidate filing period; I will file all campaign financial disclosure reports as required by law; and I understand that failure to do so will result in my disqualification as a candidate for this office and rejection of any votes cast for me. The mailing address that I designate for receiving official election notices is ___________________________. ____________________________________________________________________ Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year). Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath).”
(b)
The form of the declaration of candidacy for a write-in candidate for president of the United States is substantially as follows: “State of Utah, County of ____ I, ______________, declare my intention of becoming a candidate for the office of the president of the United States. I do solemnly swear that: I will meet the qualifications to hold the office, both legally and constitutionally, if selected; I reside at _____________ in the City or Town of ____, State ____, Zip Code ____, Phone No. ____; I will not knowingly violate any law governing campaigns and elections. The mailing address that I designate for receiving official election notices is ___________________________. I designate _______________ as my vice presidential candidate. ____________________________________________________________________ Subscribed and sworn before me this __________(month\day\year). Notary Public (or other officer qualified to administer oath.)”
(c)
A declaration of candidacy for a write-in candidate for vice president of the United States shall be in substantially the same form as a declaration of candidacy described in Subsection 20A-9-202(7).
(d)
An agent described in Subsection (1)(a) or (b) may not sign the form described in Subsection (2)(a) or (b).
(3)
(a)
The filing officer shall:
(i)
read to the candidate the constitutional and statutory requirements for the office;
(ii)
ask the candidate whether the candidate meets the requirements; and
(iii)
if the declaration of candidacy is for a legislative office, inform the individual that Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 6, prohibits a person who holds a public office of profit or trust, under authority of the United States or Utah, from being a member of the Legislature.
(b)
If the candidate cannot meet the requirements of office, the filing officer may not accept the write-in candidate’s declaration of candidacy.
(4)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a write-in candidate is subject to Subsection 20A-9-201(8).
(b)
A write-in candidate for president of the United States is subject to Subsection 20A-9-201(8)(d) or 20A-9-803(1)(d), as applicable.
(5)
By November 1 of each regular general election year, the lieutenant governor shall certify to each county clerk the names of all write-in candidates who filed their declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor.
Amended by Chapter 142, 2019 General Session Amended by Chapter 255, 2019 General Session Amended by Chapter 279, 2019 General Session
