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Senate hears challenge to recorded vote; earlier tally on Senate Bill 63 ruled failed
Summary
Senators flagged a recording error that showed Senator Beatty as voting 'aye' when he says he voted 'no.' Leadership honored a request for a revote and called the roll; the chair later recited an earlier tally of 11 ayes and 18 nays and said the bill would be filed.
The Utah State Senate opened its floor session by addressing a contested recorded vote on Senate Bill 63 after Senator Beatty said the electronic record incorrectly showed him voting 'aye.' Members raised the problem immediately after the prior vote and asked for a new roll call to ensure the record matched the actual vote.
Senator Beatty asked that a new vote be held and for a call of the Senate, saying that if the recorded tally remained in error and were challenged it could jeopardize the bill’s validity. Members noted the difficulty in automated recording systems distinguishing soft-spoken 'aye' and 'nay' responses and discussed whether the chamber should standardize the verbal responses used during votes.
The secretary was asked to call the roll on whether Senate Bill 63 should be read for the third time. After the roll and related discussion, the chair stated that he would rule the earlier action as failing, reporting a count of 11 ayes and 18 nays; the chair said the bill would be filed. The chamber then moved on to subsequent business.
The matter centered on ensuring the formal record accurately reflected members’ votes; no formal court challenge or further remedial motion was recorded during the session. The Senate proceeded with its calendar after the chair’s ruling and the request for a re-vote was managed under chamber procedure.
