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

(1) (1)(a) This section governs appointment of poll workers in elections where candidates are distinguished by registered political parties.
(1)(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.
(1)(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.
(1)(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) (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.
(3)(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:

(4)(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
(4)(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:

(5)(a) a political party fails to file the poll worker list by the filing deadline; or
(5)(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.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 15, 2023 General Session