§ 20A-7-612 — Misconduct of electors and officers -- Penalty.

(1) It is unlawful for an individual to:
(1)(a) sign a name other than the individual's own name to any referendum petition;
(1)(b) knowingly sign the individual's name more than once for the same referendum at one election;
(1)(c) knowingly indicate that an individual who signed a referendum petition signed the referendum petition on a date other than the date that the individual signed the referendum petition;
(1)(d) sign a referendum petition knowing that the individual is not a legal voter;
(1)(e) in connection with circulating a referendum petition, represent that a document is an official government document if the individual knows or has reason to know that the document is not an official government document; or
(1)(f) knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this part.
(2) It is unlawful for an individual 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:
(2)(a) the signature date associated with the individual's signature for the referendum petition is not the date that the individual signed the referendum petition;
(2)(b) the individual has not witnessed the signatures the individual collects or submits; or
(2)(c) one or more individuals whose signatures appear in the referendum packet is not registered to vote in Utah.
(3) It is unlawful for an individual to:
(3)(a) pay an individual to sign a referendum petition;
(3)(b) pay an individual to remove the individual's signature from a referendum petition;
(3)(c) accept payment to sign a referendum petition;
(3)(d) accept payment to have the individual's name removed from a referendum petition; or
(3)(e) 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:
(3)(e)(i) does not obtain the voluntary direction or consent of the voter;
(3)(e)(ii) believes or has reason to believe that the voter lacks the mental capacity to give the voter's direction or consent;
(3)(e)(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;
(3)(e)(iv) intentionally or knowingly deceives the voter into providing the direction or consent of the voter; or
(3)(e)(v) intentionally or knowingly enters false information on the signature sheet or statement.
(4) A violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(5) The county attorney or municipal attorney shall prosecute any violation of this section.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 442, 2024 General Session