Committee splits on plan to sunset paper petition signatures; members call for more study

Staff presented draft legislation that would standardize scanning requirements for electronic signature devices, require offline-capable devices by Jan. 1, 2028, and sunset manual signature gathering for initiatives, referenda and candidate nomination petitions on Jan. 1, 2030, leaving electronic collection as the only permitted method.

Committee members questioned whether any Utah candidate had successfully collected signatures electronically. Representative Grant Miller said he understood no successful statewide proof of concept existed. Clerks warned about security risks if devices carried the full voter registration database while offline; Representative Keltner and staff described an architecture where devices capture signer data offline and synchronize for validation once connected. Members raised access and equity concerns for grassroots organizers who may lack compatible devices or who collect signatures in settings where voters do not carry IDs.

Supporters argued the bill signals a transition and creates incentives to adopt electronic collection while allowing the date to be moved if necessary. Opponents said the 2030 sunset was premature and asked for more testing and security safeguards. A substitute motion to favorably recommend the measure failed on a recorded voice vote, and the committee chose to move the bill through additional hearings and work rather than pass it as a committee bill.