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House Restores Residency Restriction for Election Judges; Bill Set Aside for Later Consideration
Summary
The House amended substitute H.B. 145 to reinstate a residency‑based restriction on who may serve as an election judge where a candidate resides, after floor debate about the law’s impact on rural counties; the bill was then "circled" for later action.
The House amended substitute H.B. 145 (qualifications of election judges) to restore language tying the disqualification of election judges to where a candidate resides, rather than broadly barring relatives of statewide candidates from serving anywhere in the state.
Representative Robert A. Slack, the bill sponsor, explained current law and the committee changes. Representative (Barrington) moved to restore the original "candidate resides" phrasing; she and others argued the committee version would have swept too broadly and would have prevented relatives of statewide candidates from serving in rural precincts far from a candidate’s home. "If the bill goes through as amended by the committee, that means that nobody who lives in the state of Utah can work for the poll any place in the state if they are a relative of Senator Hatch or Senator Garn," one speaker said during debate.
Supporters of the original committee language said immediate relatives should be barred from serving where a candidate’s name appears on the ballot, to avoid real or perceived conflicts. Floor debate focused on the difference between restricting service in the candidate’s district versus restricting relatives statewide. The amendment to restore residency language was adopted by the House after discussion and division calls. Following additional procedure the House later "circled" H.B. 145 for later consideration rather than taking final passage that day.
Sponsors and objectors both emphasized protecting voter confidence while ensuring adequate staffing of rural precincts; motions to circle the bill were used to defer final action and allow further consideration.
