UtahUtah requires university researchers to study voting security and identification
Utah Valley University researchers must study voting security and ballot drop-box identification checks, then present findings to lawmakers by their October 2026 interim meeting.
What it does
Two Utah Valley University research units must compare in-person and mail voting risks. Their study must examine fraud, voter-list accuracy, and issues raised by an election audit.
Researchers must study how identification checks at ballot drop boxes would work, including costs and wait times. This study requirement does not itself impose identification checks on voters.
Argument forComparing voting risks and studying drop-box costs and wait times could help lawmakers weigh security measures against practical burdens on voters.
Argument againstRequiring this study without setting aside money could pull university staff and resources away from other work.
More detail
The two university research units must compare the security risks of in-person voting and voting by mail. The Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy and the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University must compare Utah with states where voting by mail is not the main voting method. The study must examine potential and actual fraud, voter-list accuracy, and related issues from Utah's 2024 election-system performance audit. The law took effect May 6, 2026. The researchers must present results to the Legislature's Government Operations Interim Committee at or before its October 2026 interim meeting.
The same two Utah Valley University research units must study how to check identification at ballot drop boxes. The study concerns a process in which voters present identification and have it checked before depositing a ballot in a drop box. The researchers must provide information, analysis, and recommendations on logistics, wait times, costs, and ballot processing. This provision requires a study and does not itself require voters to show identification at drop boxes. The law sets aside no money for the study. This requirement took effect May 6, 2026. The drop-box findings are part of the results due to the Government Operations Interim Committee at or before its October 2026 interim meeting.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 7Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 7Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House
- Mar 6Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Mar 6House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 6House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 6Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 6Senate/ substituted
- Mar 6Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0311S02
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0311S02
- Mar 5LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0311S02
- Mar 5LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0311S02
- Mar 5Senate/ circled
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0311S01
- Mar 4LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0311S01
- Mar 4Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Mar 4Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 4House/ to Senate
- Mar 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0311S01
- Mar 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0311S01
- Feb 9House/ held
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 9House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 30House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 30House/ committee report favorable [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 29House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 27House/ to standing committee [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 26House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 25LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0311
- Jan 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0311
- Jan 22House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 22House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 21LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0311
- Jan 21LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0311
- Jan 21Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 21Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting