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House backs substitute to let unaffiliated voters affiliate on primary election day (substitute introduced)
Summary
Representative Cheryl Allen introduced a first substitute to House Bill 255 to allow unaffiliated voters to affiliate with a political party at polling places on primary election day for three primary cycles (2004, 2006, 2008); sponsor said the change is a convenience for voters and county clerks generally endorsed it despite local costs.
Representative Cheryl Allen moved to delete the title and body of House Bill 255 and replace it with a first substitute that allows unaffiliated voters to become affiliated with a political party at polling places on the day of the primary election for the next three primary cycles (February 2004, 2006 and 2008). Allen said the change is intended as a convenience for voters and noted that county clerks have endorsed the change even though it may impose additional local staffing costs at some polling places.
Allen said the authority would be limited to three primary election dates to allow the policy to be reevaluated and to limit the cost to counties. She stressed the change would not cost the state and described the measure as a way to make affiliation easier for the large number of unaffiliated voters in Utah.
On the floor, Allen urged support for the substitute and voting was opened; the transcript excerpt records the presentation and the motion but does not include a final recorded floor tally in this excerpt.
