Section 205 – Manual initiative process — Obtaining signatures — Verification — Removal of signature.

• (1) This section applies only to the manual initiative process.

• (2) A Utah voter may sign an initiative petition if the voter is a legal voter.

• (3)
  • (a) The sponsors shall ensure that the individual in whose presence each signature sheet was signed:
    • (i) is at least 18 years old and meets the residency requirements of Section 20A-2-105;
    • (ii) verifies each signature sheet by completing the verification printed on the last page of each initiative packet; and
    • (iii) is informed that each signer is required to read and understand the law proposed by the initiative.
  • (b) An individual may not sign the verification printed on the last page of the initiative packet if the person signed a signature sheet in the initiative packet.

• (4)
  • (a) A voter who has signed an initiative petition may have the voter’s signature removed from the petition by submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voter’s signature be removed before 5 p.m. no later than the earlier of:
    • (i) for an initiative packet received by the county clerk before December 1:
      • (A) 30 days after the day on which the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
      • (B) 90 days after the day on which the lieutenant governor posts the voter’s name under Subsection 20A-7-207(2); or
    • (ii) for an initiative packet received by the county clerk on or after December 1:
      • (A) 30 days after the day on which the voter signs the signature removal statement; or
      • (B) 45 days after the day on which the lieutenant governor posts the voter’s name under Subsection 20A-7-207(2).
  • (b)
    • (i) The statement shall include:
      • (A) the name of the voter;
      • (B) the resident address at which the voter is registered to vote;
      • (C) the signature of the voter; and
      • (D) the date of the signature described in Subsection (4)(b)(i)(C).
    • (ii) To increase the likelihood of the voter’s signature being identified and removed, the statement may include the voter’s birth date or age.
  • (c) A voter may not submit a statement by email or other electronic means.
  • (d) In order for the signature to be removed, the county clerk must receive the statement before 5 p.m. no later than the applicable deadline described in Subsection (4)(a).
  • (e) A person may only remove a signature from an initiative petition in accordance with this Subsection (4).
  • (f) A county clerk shall analyze a signature, for purposes of removing a signature from an initiative petition, in accordance with Section 20A-7-206.3.

Amended by Chapter 325, 2022 General Session