Petitions

Utah Code tit. 20A, ch. 20A-1, pt. 20A-1-P10

in effect

Utah Code § 20A-1-1001 Definitions.

20A-1-1001. Definitions. As used in this part: (1) (a) "Clerk" means the lieutenant governor, a county clerk, municipal clerk, town clerk, city recorder, or municipal recorder. (b) "Clerk" includes a board of trustees under Title 17B, Chapter 1, Provisions Applicable to All Special Districts. (2) "Local petition" means: (a) a manual or electronic local initiative petition described in Chapter 7, Part 5, Local Initiatives - Procedures; or (b) a manual or electronic local referendum petition described in Chapter 7, Part 6, Local Referenda - Procedures. (3) "Petition" means one of the following written requests, signed by registered voters, appealing to an authority with respect to a particular cause: (a) a local petition; (b) a petition to consolidate two or more municipalities under Section 10-2-601; (c) a petition for disincorporation of a municipality under Section 10-2-701; (d) a petition to incorporate a proposed municipality under Section 10-2a-208; (e) a petition to consolidate adjoining counties under Section 17-61-201; (f) a petition to annex a portion of a county to an adjoining county under Section 17-61-301; (g) a petition for the creation of a new county under Section 17-61-401; (h) a petition for the removal of a county seat under Section 17-60-302; (i) a petition for the adoption of an optional plan under Section 17-62-303; (j) a petition for the repeal of an optional plan under Section 17-62-505; (k) a petition to create a special district under Section 17B-1-203; (l) a petition to withdraw an area from a special district under Section 17B-1-504; (m) a petition to dissolve a special district under Section 17B-1-1303; (n) a petition for issuance of local building authority bonds under Section 17D-2-502; (o) a petition to become a registered political party under Section 20A-8-103; (p) a nomination petition for municipal office under Section 20A-9-203; (q) a nomination petition for a regular primary election under Subsection 20A-9-403(3)(a) and Section 20A-9-405; (r) a petition for a political party to qualify as a municipal political party under Section 20A-9-404; (s) a petition for the nomination of a qualified political party under Section 20A-9-408; (t) a nomination petition for a candidate not affiliated with a political party under Section 20A-9-502; (u) a nomination petition to become a delegate to a ratification convention under Section 20A-15-103; (v) a petition to create a new school district under Section 53G-3-301; (w) a petition to consolidate school districts under Section 53G-3-401; (x) a petition to transfer a portion of a school district to another district under Section 53G-3-501; (y) a petition to determine whether a privatization project agreement should be approved under Section 73-10d-4; or (z) a statewide petition. (4) "Petition packet" means: (a) a candidate signature packet, as defined in Section 20A-9-401.1; (b) an initiative packet, as defined in Section 20A-7-101; (c) a referendum packet, as defined in Section 20A-7-101; or (d) any other packet of signature sheets that: (i) is bound together and circulated to gather signatures for a petition; and (ii) includes a cover sheet at the front of the packet and a circulator verification sheet at the end of the packet. (5) "Statewide petition" means: (a) a manual or electronic statewide initiative petition described in Chapter 7, Part 2, Statewide Initiatives; or (b) a manual or electronic statewide referendum petition described in Chapter 7, Part 3, Statewide Referenda. (6) (a) "Substantially similar name" means: (i) the given name, the surname, or both, provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature, contain only minor spelling differences when compared to the given name and surname shown on the official register; (ii) the surname provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature exactly matches the surname shown on the official register, and the given names differ only because one of the given names shown is a commonly used abbreviation or variation of the other; (iii) the surname provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature exactly matches the surname shown on the official register, and the given names differ only because one of the given names shown is accompanied by a first or middle initial or a middle name which is not shown on the other record; or (iv) the surname provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature exactly matches the surname shown on the official register, and the given names differ only because one of the given names shown is an alphabetically corresponding initial that has been provided in the place of a given name shown on the other record. (b) "Substantially similar name" does not include a name having an initial or a middle name provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature that does not match a different initial or middle name shown on the official register. Amended by Chapter 293, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-1-1002 Verification of voter registration.

20A-1-1002. Verification of voter registration. (1) A clerk shall use the following procedures to determine whether a signer of a petition is a registered voter and to determine the address where the voter is registered to vote: (a) if a signer's name and address provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature exactly match a name and address shown on the official register and the signer's signature appears substantially similar to the signature on the statewide voter registration database, the clerk shall declare the signature valid for the district or jurisdiction in which the signer is registered to vote; (b) if there is no exact match of an address and a name, the clerk shall declare the signature valid for the district or jurisdiction in which the signer is registered to vote, if: (i) the address provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature matches the address of an individual on the official register with a substantially similar name; and (ii) the signer's signature appears substantially similar to the signature on the statewide voter registration database of the individual described in Subsection (1)(b)(i); (c) if there is no match of an address and a substantially similar name, the clerk shall declare the signature valid for the district or jurisdiction in which the signer is registered to vote if: (i) the birth date or age provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature matches the birth date or age of an individual on the official register with a substantially similar name; and (ii) the signer's signature appears substantially similar to the signature on the statewide voter registration database of the individual described in Subsection (1)(c)(i). (2) If a signature is not declared valid under Subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c), the clerk shall declare the signature to be invalid. Enacted by Chapter 116, 2023 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-1-1003 Signature removal -- Statement required.

20A-1-1003. Signature removal -- Statement required. (1) A voter who signs a petition may have the voter's signature removed from the petition by submitting to the clerk a statement requesting that the voter's signature be removed. (2) (a) (i) Subject to Subsection (2)(a)(iii), the statement described in Subsection (1) shall include: (A) the name or description of the petition from which the voter seeks to remove the voter's signature; (B) the name of the voter; (C) the resident address at which the voter is registered to vote; (D) except as otherwise provided in Section 20A-7-106, the voter's signature; and (E) the date of the signature described in Subsection (2)(a)(i)(D). (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. (iii) Beginning on May 6, 2026, if an individual is paid to collect a statement described in Subsection (1), the statement shall include, in addition to the information described in Subsection (2)(a)(i): (A) the following printed notice, appearing immediately adjacent to the voter's signature: "I understand that by signing this statement, the [name or description of petition] may not appear on the ballot."; and (B) the following verification to be completed by the individual who collects the statement: "VERIFICATION OF SIGNATURE REMOVAL STATEMENT GATHERER: I, _____________________, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that: I am at least 18 years old; The name that appears on this statement was signed by an individual who professed to a voter who signed the [name or description of petition]; and The individual signed the individual's name on this statement in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have signed this statement on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature. _________________________________________________________ (Name) (Date)." (b) (i) A voter may not submit a statement described in Subsection (1) by mail using prepaid postage, email, or other electronic means. (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b)(i), a clerk may accept a statement described in Subsection (1) submitted by mail using prepaid postage if the statement is postmarked on or before the effective date of this bill. (c) In order for the signature to be removed, the clerk must receive the statement described in Subsection (1) no later than the deadline described in the provision of law governing the petition. (d) A voter may only remove a signature from a petition in accordance with this section and the provision of law governing the petition. (e) A clerk shall analyze a signature, for purposes of removing a signature from a petition, in accordance with Subsection (3). (3) Except to the extent otherwise required under Section 20A-7-106, the clerk shall use the following procedures to determine whether to remove an individual's signature from a petition after receiving a timely, valid statement requesting removal of the signature: (a) if the signer's name and address shown on the statement and the petition exactly match a name and address shown on the official register and the individual's signature on the statement is reasonably consistent with the individual's signature on the statewide voter registration database, the clerk shall remove the signature from the petition; (b) if there is no exact match of an address and a name, the clerk shall remove the signature from the petition if: (i) the address on the statement and the address provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature match the address of an individual on the official register with a substantially similar name; and (ii) the individual's signature on the statement is reasonably consistent with the signature on the statewide voter registration database of the individual described in Subsection (3)(b)(i); and (c) if there is no match of an address and a substantially similar name, the clerk shall remove the signature from the petition if: (i) the birth date or age on the statement and the birth date or age provided by the individual with the individual's petition signature match the birth date or age of an individual on the official register with a substantially similar name; and (ii) the individual's signature on the statement is reasonably consistent with the signature on the statewide voter registration database of the individual described in Subsection (3)(b)(i). (4) If a signature does not qualify for removal under Subsection (3)(a), (b), or (c), or, if applicable, Section 20A-7-106, the clerk may not remove the signature from the petition. Amended by Chapter 27, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-1-1004 Circulator verification sheet -- Rejection of petition packet.

20A-1-1004. Circulator verification sheet -- Rejection of petition packet. (1) The final page of each petition packet shall contain a circulator verification sheet featuring the following printed or typed statement to be completed by the individual who gathers signatures for the petition: VERIFICATION OF SIGNATURE-GATHERER I, _____________________, hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that: I am at least 18 years old; All the names that appear in this petition packet were signed by individuals who professed to be the individuals whose names appear in it, and each of the individuals signed the individual's name on it in my presence or, in the case of an individual with a qualifying disability, I have signed this petition packet on the individual's behalf, at the direction of the individual and in the individual's presence, by entering the initials "AV" as the individual's signature; I certify that, for each individual whose signature is represented in this petition packet by the initials "AV": I obtained the individual's voluntary direction or consent to sign the petition packet on the individual's behalf; I do not believe and do not have reason to believe that the individual lacked the mental capacity to give direction or consent; I do not believe and do not have reason to believe that the individual did not understand the purpose or nature of my signing the petition packet on the individual's behalf; I did not intentionally or knowingly deceive the individual into directing me to, or consenting for me to, sign the petition packet on the individual's behalf; and I did not intentionally or knowingly enter false information on the signature sheet; I did not knowingly make a misrepresentation of fact related to this petition; I believe that each individual's name and address is written correctly, that each signer has had an opportunity to read all the information contained in the petition, and that each signer is or will be registered to vote in Utah at the time the petition packet is submitted for verification; The correct date of signature appears next to each individual's name; I have not paid or given anything of value to any individual who signed this petition packet to encourage that individual to sign it; I understand that if I have been or will be paid to gather signatures for this petition, my compensation must be based on an hourly rate if the petition is an initiative or referendum petition, or on an hourly rate or rate per valid signature if the petition is another type of petition. I completed the signature gatherer training available on the lieutenant governor's website at www.vote.utah.gov before gathering signatures for this petition. Yes ____ No ____ (Check one) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Printed Name) (Signature) (Residence Address) (Date) (2) A clerk shall reject a petition packet if: (a) all or any portion of the circulator verification sheet described in this section is not completed by the individual who gathered signatures for the petition; or (b) the individual who gathered signatures for the petition checked "No" in response to the signature gatherer training statement. Enacted by Chapter 293, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-1-1005 Online training for signature gatherers.

20A-1-1005. Online training for signature gatherers. (1) The lieutenant governor shall develop and maintain an online training course to educate individuals who collect signatures for a petition. (2) The training course shall: (a) inform signature gatherers of the requirements, restrictions, and procedures that apply to the circulation of petitions and collection of signatures, including information about: (i) collecting a signature from an individual with a disability; and (ii) electronic signature gathering; (b) emphasize compliance with the requirements, restrictions, and procedures described in Subsection (2)(a); (c) highlight the potential for criminal penalties for knowingly or intentionally falsifying, misrepresenting, or otherwise violating applicable law in the circulation of a petition and collection of signatures; and (d) recommend best practices for individuals who gather signatures for a petition. (3) The lieutenant governor shall make the training course described in Subsection (2) available on the lieutenant governor's website. (4) An individual may not gather signatures for a petition unless the individual has, before collecting any signatures, completed the online training course described in this section. Enacted by Chapter 293, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 20A-1-1006 Signing a petition -- Waiver of privacy status by at-risk voter.

20A-1-1006. Signing a petition -- Waiver of privacy status by at-risk voter. (1) As used in this section, "at-risk voter" means the same as that term is defined in Section 20A-2-601. (2) Subject to Subsection (3), if an at-risk voter signs a petition, the voter's voter identification number and date of signature are subject to disclosure to the same extent, and in the same manner, as the voter identification number and date of signature of a voter who is not an at-risk voter who signs the petition. (3) (a) Subsection (2) applies only to the extent of a disclosure made in direct relation to the petition, including: (i) disclosing the voter identification number and date of signature of an at-risk voter who signed the petition; (ii) signature verification or certification for the petition; or (iii) removing a signature from the petition. (b) Except to the extent described in Subsection (3)(a), the voter registration record of an at-risk voter retains the classification as a private record. Enacted by Chapter 102, 2026 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title20A/Chapter1/20A-1-P10.html?v=C20A-1-P10_2023050320230503Fetched: 10/26/2026