Poll Workers

Utah Code tit. 20A, ch. 20A-5, pt. 20A-5-P6

in effect

Utah Code § 20A-5-601 Appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are distinguished by registered political parties.

20A-5-601. Appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are distinguished by registered political parties. (1) (a) This section governs appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are distinguished by registered political parties. (b) On or before March 1 of each even-numbered year, an election officer shall provide to the county chair of each registered political party a list of the number of poll workers that the party must nominate for each polling place. (c) On or before April 1 of each even-numbered year, the county chair and secretary of each registered political party shall file a list with the election officer containing the names of individuals in the county who are willing to serve as poll workers, who are qualified to serve as poll workers in accordance with this section, and who are competent and trustworthy. (d) The county chair and secretary shall submit names equal in number to the number required by the election officer, plus one. (2) Each election officer shall provide for the appointment of individuals to serve as poll workers at each election. (3) (a) For each election, each election officer shall provide for the appointment of at least three registered voters, or one individual who is 16 or 17 years old and two registered voters, one of whom is at least 21 years old, from the list to serve as poll workers. (b) An election officer may appoint additional poll workers, as needed. (4) For each set of three poll workers appointed for a polling place for an election, the election officer shall ensure that: (a) two poll workers are appointed from the political party that cast the highest number of votes for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer, excluding votes for unopposed candidates, in the jurisdiction holding the election at the last regular general election before the appointment of the poll workers; and (b) one poll worker is appointed from the political party that cast the second highest number of votes for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer, excluding votes for unopposed candidates, in the county, city, or special district, as applicable, at the last regular general election before the appointment of the poll workers. (5) The election officer shall provide for the appointment of any qualified county voter as a poll worker when: (a) a political party fails to file the poll worker list by the filing deadline; or (b) the list is incomplete. (6) A registered voter of the county may serve as a poll worker at any polling place in the county, municipality, or district, as applicable. (7) An election officer may not appoint a candidate's parent, sibling, spouse, child, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law to serve as a poll worker in a polling place where the candidate appears on the ballot. (8) The election officer shall fill all poll worker vacancies. (9) If a conflict arises over the right to certify the poll worker lists for any political party, the election officer may decide between conflicting lists, but may only select names from a properly submitted list. (10) The clerk shall establish compensation for poll workers. (11) The election officer may appoint additional poll workers to serve in the polling place as needed. Amended by Chapter 15, 2023 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-5-602 Appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are not distinguished by registered political parties.

20A-5-602. Appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are not distinguished by registered political parties. (1) (a) This section governs appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are not distinguished by registered political parties. (b) An election officer shall appoint the poll worker at least 15 calendar days before the date of the local election. (2) (a) The election officer shall appoint, or provide for the appointment of, at least three poll workers as follows: (i) three registered voters; or (ii) two registered voters, one of whom is at least 21 years old, and one individual who is 16 or 17 years old. (b) The election officer may appoint additional poll workers to serve in the polling place as needed. (3) The election officer may not appoint any candidate's parent, sibling, spouse, child, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law to serve as a poll worker at a polling place where the candidate appears on the ballot. (4) (a) The clerk shall compensate poll workers for their services. (b) The clerk of a municipality or special district may not compensate poll workers at a rate higher than that paid by the county to the county's poll workers. Amended by Chapter 448, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-5-603 Vacancies -- Removal of poll workers.

20A-5-603. Vacancies -- Removal of poll workers. (1) (a) If a poll worker or alternate is unable to serve, that poll worker or alternate shall immediately notify the election officer, who shall fill the vacancy as provided in this section. (b) The election officer may fill a vacancy occurring under this section by appointing the alternate to serve or, if that is impossible, by appointing some other qualified person to fill the vacancy. (2) The election officer shall summarily remove any poll worker who: (a) neglects the poll worker's duty; (b) commits or encourages fraud in connection with any election; (c) violates any election law; (d) knowingly permits any person to violate any election law; (e) has been convicted of a felony; (f) commits any act that interferes or tends to interfere with a fair and honest election; or (g) is incapable of performing the duties of a poll worker. Amended by Chapter 31, 2020 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-5-605 Duties of poll workers.

20A-5-605. Duties of poll workers. (1) Poll workers shall: (a) arrive at the polling place at a time determined by the election officer; and (b) remain until the official election returns are prepared for delivery. (2) The election officer may designate the title and duties of each poll worker. (3) Upon arriving to open the polls, the poll workers shall: (a) display the United States flag; (b) examine the voting devices to see that they are in proper working order and that security devices have not been tampered with; (c) place the voting devices, voting booths, and the ballot box in plain view of those poll workers and watchers that are present; (d) check the ballots, supplies, records, and forms; (e) if directed by the election officer: (i) make any necessary corrections to the official ballots before the ballots are distributed at the polls; (ii) post any necessary notice of errors in ballots before voting commences; and (iii) post a sample ballot, instructions to voters, and constitutional amendments, if any; (f) open the ballot box in the presence of those assembled, turn the ballot box upside down to empty the ballot box of anything; and (g) immediately before the polls open, lock the ballot box or, if locks and keys are not available, tape the ballot box securely. (4) (a) If any poll worker fails to appear on the morning of the election, or fails or refuses to act: (i) at least six qualified electors who are present at the polling place at the hour designated by law for the opening of the polls shall fill the vacancy by appointing another qualified individual from the voting precinct who is a member of the same political party as the poll worker who is being replaced to act as a poll worker; or (ii) the election officer shall appoint a qualified individual to act as a poll worker. (b) If a majority of the poll workers are present, the poll workers shall open the polls, even though a poll worker has not arrived. (5) (a) If it is impossible or inconvenient to hold an election at the polling place designated, the poll workers, after having assembled at or as near as practicable to the designated place, and before receiving any vote, may move to the nearest convenient place for holding the election. (b) If the poll workers move to a new polling place, the poll workers shall display a proclamation of the change and station a peace officer or some other proper individual at the original polling place to notify voters of the location of the new polling place. (6) If, for any reason, the official ballots are not ready for distribution at a polling place or, if the supply of ballots is exhausted before the polls are closed, the poll workers may use unofficial ballots, made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot, until the election officer provides additional ballots. (7) When it is time to open the polls, one of the poll workers shall announce that the polls are open as required by Section 20A-1-302, or in the case of early voting, Section 20A-3a-602. (8) (a) The poll workers shall comply with the voting procedures and requirements of Chapter 3a, Voting, in allowing people to vote. (b) The poll workers may not allow an individual, other than election officials and those admitted to vote, within six feet of voting devices, voting booths, or the ballot box. (c) Besides the poll workers and watchers, the poll workers may not allow more than four voters in excess of the number of voting booths provided within six feet of voting devices, voting booths, or the ballot box. (d) If necessary, the poll workers shall instruct each voter permitted to use a voting device how to operate the voting device before the voter enters the voting booth. (e) (i) If the voter requests additional instructions after entering the voting booth, two poll workers may, if necessary, enter the booth and give the voter additional instructions. (ii) In regular general elections and regular primary elections, the two poll workers who enter the voting booth to assist the voter shall be of different political parties. Amended by Chapter 170, 2022 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-5-606 Closing the polls -- Preparation and delivery of election returns.

20A-5-606. Closing the polls -- Preparation and delivery of election returns. The election judges shall close the polls and prepare and deliver the election returns as provided in Chapter 4, Election Returns and Election Contests. Amended by Chapter 2, 1994 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter5/20A-5-P6.html?v=C20A-5-P6_1800010118000101Fetched: 10/26/2026