SALT LAKE CITY Utah representatives debated Friday whether it is the state s responsibility to intervene in a local deadlock between cities and counties when it comes to election processes. It s just come to the point where we need to say OK, we need to step in and and intervene and remove this loggerhead, resolve this impasse, so this (state) pilot project can move forward, said HB75 sponsor, Rep. Jeffrey Stenquist, R-Draper.
The bill would extend the state s ranked-choice voting pilot program and changes wording to require county clerks to administer the voting as many cities do not have the capability. Currently, the pilot program allows cities to opt into using ranked-choice balloting and they can contract with elections offices outside their county to process the votes.
HB152, sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Stenquist, R-Draper, faltered on a 36-34 vote, failing to reach the threshold of 38 votes under rules that a bill must surpass half of the Utah House of Representatives body of 75.
Stenquist sought to limit nicknames from becoming campaign tools. His bill would only allow the candidate s given name or abbreviated version of it, middle name, surname, initials or an acquired name they can prove they are generally known by in the community for at least five years or longer.
The decisions of whether nicknames like State Auditor John Frugal Dougall he has used it on the ballot for years would be left to the discretion of local election officials, Stenquist said. If candidates can prove it s a name they ve been commonly known by at least five years, it would be allowed.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY Week two of the 2021 Utah Legislature began with news that one Utah lawmaker is hospitalized with COVID-19 and two others tested positive for the disease.
Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove, has been hospitalized with the novel coronavirus after becoming ill before the session started Jan. 19. On Monday, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, and Senate Budget Vice Chairman Don Ipson, R-St. George, both tested positive during rapid testing that is available to lawmakers and Capitol Hill staff.
Ipson tested negative Jan. 22 and remained in Salt Lake City over the weekend, but after testing positive on Monday, he returned to St. George.