Presidential Primary Election

Utah Code tit. 20A, ch. 20A-9, pt. 20A-9-P8

in effect

Utah Code § 20A-9-801 Definitions.

20A-9-801. Definitions. As used in this part, "registered political party" means a political party that has complied with the requirements of Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and Procedures, to become a political party officially recognized by the state. Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-802 Presidential primary election established -- Other ballot items prohibited.

20A-9-802. Presidential primary election established -- Other ballot items prohibited. (1) (a) There is established a presidential primary election held on the first Tuesday in March in the year in which a presidential election will be held. (b) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, county clerks shall administer the presidential primary election according to the provisions of this title, including: (i) Chapter 1, General Provisions; (ii) Chapter 2, Voter Registration; (iii) Chapter 3a, Voting; (iv) Chapter 4, Election Returns and Election Contests; (v) Chapter 5, Election Administration; and (vi) Chapter 6, Ballot Form. (c) (i) The county clerks shall ensure that the ballot voted by the voters at the presidential primary election contains only the names of candidates for President of the United States who have qualified as provided in this part. (ii) The county clerks may not present any other items to the voters to be voted upon at this election. (2) Registered political parties, and candidates for President of the United States who are affiliated with a registered political party, may participate in the presidential primary election established by this part. (3) As a condition for using the state's election system, each registered political party wishing to participate in the presidential primary election held under this section shall: (a) declare the political party's intent to participate in the presidential primary election; (b) identify one or more registered political parties whose members may vote for the registered political party's candidates and whether individuals identified as unaffiliated with a political party may vote for the registered political party's candidates; and (c) certify that information to the lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on August 10 of the year before the year in which the presidential primary election will be held. Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-802.5 Presidential primary required.

20A-9-802.5. Presidential primary required. (1) A presidential primary election shall be held under this part each year in which a presidential election will be held. (2) A registered political party that wishes to nominate a presidential candidate for the general election may participate in a presidential primary election conducted under this part. (3) The Legislature shall appropriate sufficient funds to administer each presidential primary election conducted under this part. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-803 Declaration of candidacy -- Filing fee -- Form.

20A-9-803. Declaration of candidacy -- Filing fee -- Form. (1) Candidates for president of the United States who are affiliated with a registered political party that has elected to participate in the presidential primary election and who wish to participate in the primary election shall: (a) file a declaration of candidacy, in person or via a designated agent, with the lieutenant governor between August 15 of the year before the primary election will be held and 5 p.m. on December 1 of the year before the primary election will be held; (b) identify the registered political party whose nomination the candidate is seeking; (c) provide a letter from the registered political party certifying that the candidate may participate as a candidate for that party in that party's presidential primary election; and (d) pay the filing fee of $500. (2) The lieutenant governor shall develop a declaration of candidacy form for presidential candidates participating in the primary. (3) An agent designated to file a declaration of candidacy may not sign the form described in Subsection (2). Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-805 Closed primary -- Determining party affiliation -- Changing party affiliation.

20A-9-805. Closed primary -- Determining party affiliation -- Changing party affiliation. (1) If a registered political party has restricted voting for its presidential candidates as authorized by Subsection 20A-9-802(3)(b), the lieutenant governor shall direct the county clerks and other election officials to allow only those voters meeting the registered political party's criteria to vote for that party's presidential candidates. (2) (a) For each individual who registers to vote, the county clerk shall: (i) record the party affiliation designated by the individual on the voter registration form as the individual's party affiliation; or (ii) if no political party affiliation is designated by the individual on the voter registration form, record the individual's party affiliation as "unaffiliated." (b) Any registered voter may designate or change the voter's political party affiliation by complying with the procedures and requirements of Section 20A-2-107 or Section 20A-9-808. Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-806 Ballots.

20A-9-806. Ballots. (1) The lieutenant governor, together with county clerks, suppliers of election materials, and representatives of registered political parties, shall: (a) develop manual ballots, mechanical ballots, return envelopes and provisional ballot envelopes to be used in a presidential primary election; (b) ensure that the ballots, return envelopes, and provisional ballot envelopes comply generally with the requirements of Chapter 6, Part 1, General Requirements for All Ballots; and (c) provide voting booths, election records and supplies, and ballot boxes for each voting precinct as required by Section 20A-5-403. (2) (a) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsections (1)(b) and (c), Chapter 6, Part 1, General Requirements for All Ballots, and Section 20A-5-403, the lieutenant governor, together with county clerks, suppliers of election materials, and representatives of registered political parties shall ensure that the ballots, return envelopes, provisional ballot envelopes, voting booths, election records and supplies, and ballot boxes: (i) facilitate the distribution, voting, and tallying of ballots in a closed primary; (ii) simplify the task of poll workers, particularly in determining a voter's party affiliation; (iii) minimize the possibility of spoiled ballots due to voter confusion; and (iv) protect against fraud. (b) To accomplish the requirements of this Subsection (2), the lieutenant governor, county clerks, suppliers of election materials, and representatives of registered political parties shall: (i) mark ballots as being for a particular registered political party; and (ii) instruct persons counting the ballots to count only those votes for candidates from the registered political party whose ballot the voter received. (c) To accomplish the requirements of this Subsection (2), the lieutenant governor, county clerks, suppliers of election materials, and representatives of registered political parties may: (i) notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 20A-6-101 and 20A-6-102, use different colored ballots for each registered political party; (ii) place ballots for each registered political party in different voting booths and direct voters to the particular voting booth for the political party whose ballot they are voting; or (iii) consider other means of accomplishing the objectives described in Subsection (2)(a). Amended by Chapter 31, 2020 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-807 Combining voting precincts.

20A-9-807. Combining voting precincts. (1) The county legislative body may combine voting precincts for the presidential primary election by following the procedures and requirements of Section 20A-5-303. (2) The county legislative body may not combine voting precincts if the voting precincts are in different congressional districts as established by Section 20A-13-102. Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-808 Voting.

20A-9-808. Voting. Voting in a presidential primary election shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures of Chapter 3a, Part 2, Voting Procedures. Amended by Chapter 381, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-9-809 Counting votes -- Canvass -- Certification of results to parties.

20A-9-809. Counting votes -- Canvass -- Certification of results to parties. (1) Votes shall be counted, results tabulated, returns transmitted, ballots reviewed and retained, returns canvassed, and recounts and election contests conducted as provided in Chapter 4, Election Returns and Election Contests. (2) After the canvass is complete and the report is prepared, the lieutenant governor shall transmit a copy of the report to each registered political party that participated in the presidential primary election. Amended by Chapter 433, 2019 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter9/20A-9-P8.html?v=C20A-9-P8_2019051420190514Fetched: 10/26/2026