20A-7-312. Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.

462 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-20a/chapter-7/20a-7-312

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 3/7/2026

(1)It is unlawful for any person to:

(a)sign any name other than the person's own to a referendum petition;

(b)knowingly sign the person's name more than once for the same referendum petition at one election;

(c)knowingly indicate that a person who signed a referendum petition signed the referendum petition on a date other than the date that the person signed the petition;

(d)sign a referendum petition knowing the person is not a legal voter; or

(e)knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this part.

(2)It is unlawful for any person to sign the verification for a referendum packet, or to electronically sign the verification for a signature under Subsection 20A-21-201(10) knowing that:

(a)the signature date associated with the person's signature for the referendum petition is not the date that the person signed the referendum petition;

(b)the person has not witnessed the signatures of those persons whose signatures the person collects or submits; or

(c)one or more individuals who sign the referendum petition are not registered to vote in Utah.

(3)It is unlawful for an individual to:

(a)pay an individual to sign a referendum petition;

(b)pay an individual, or provide or offer to provide money, prepaid postage, or any other direct financial benefit to an individual, to remove the individual's signature from a referendum petition;

(c)accept payment to sign a referendum petition;

(d)accept payment to have the individual's name removed from a referendum petition;

(e)make a misrepresentation that is likely to deceive, or misrepresent that the individual is affiliated with or acting on behalf of a governmental entity, while the individual gathers or attempts to gather:

(i)a signature for a referendum petition; or

(ii)a statement described in Section 20A-1-1003 requesting removal of a signature from a referendum petition; or

(f)on behalf of a voter described in Section 20A-7-106 , place the initials "AV" or enter any information on a signature sheet or statement described in Section 20A-7-106 , if the individual:

(i)does not obtain the voluntary direction or consent of the voter;

(ii)believes or has reason to believe that the voter lacks the mental capacity to give the voter's direction or consent;

(iii)believes or has reason to believe that the voter does not understand the purpose or nature of the action taken by the individual on behalf of the voter;

(iv)intentionally or knowingly deceives the voter into providing the direction or consent of the voter; or

(v)intentionally or knowingly enters false information on the signature sheet or statement.

(4)Any person violating this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

Amended by Chapter 27 , 2026 General Session