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Sponsors propose decentralizing signature verification for statewide candidate petitions; committee holds bill
Summary
Representative Shepherd proposed House Bill 458 to require petition signature verification to be performed by each county clerk in the county where the signer resides; after extensive public testimony and committee questioning, the committee voted to hold the bill for further work.
Representative Shepherd presented House Bill 458, a proposal to decentralize verification of statewide candidate petition signatures so that each county clerk verifies signatures for voters who reside in that county rather than using a single county to verify all statewide packets.
Under the bill as explained by Representative Shepherd, candidates would prepare county‑specific petition packets; voters could only sign the packet designated for the county where they reside. Packets would be submitted to the appropriate county clerk, who would stamp them on receipt and verify signatures. Each county clerk would report verified signature totals to the lieutenant governor’s office, which would maintain running totals. Representative Shepherd described the approach as "my signature, my clerk."
Proponents who testified said decentralization would improve accountability and transparency and reduce logistical burdens on a single county. Utah County Chief Deputy Clerk Brian Vokes told the committee the change would bring verification closer to voters and allow voters to hold their local clerk accountable. Supporters also said decentralization would reduce the risk of overburdening one clerk and ease travel and deadline pressures for candidates.
County clerks and the Utah Association of Counties raised operational concerns. Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch told the committee clerks oppose the bill on logistical and funding grounds: the proposal would shift a nonfunded mandate to counties, require organizing submission/validation across 29 offices, complicate candidate notification of sufficiency, and make statewide observation and audits more difficult. Clerks also noted that some counties contract with others for verification work and that the bill should not prevent practical collaboration.
Representative Stoddard moved to hold the bill for further work and study; the committee approved the motion to hold in a roll call. Sponsor Shepherd said stakeholders had been consulted but indicated willingness to refine the proposal. The committee vote to hold was recorded and the bill remains under further consideration.
