UtahUtah law limits ballots for voters without citizenship proof
For elections starting November 1, 2026, Utah voters who have not provided citizenship proof may vote only in federal races unless they provide proof before voting.
What it does
Starting November 1, 2026, voters who have not provided proof of U.S. citizenship may vote only in federal races. They may use a provisional ballot for all races, but votes for other races count only if they provide proof by the canvass deadline.
Election officers review voter records for possible noncitizenship. A voter they identify gets notice and a chance to dispute the finding; if they do not refute it within 30 days, the officer removes them from the voter list.
Argument forVoters flagged as possible noncitizens may dispute the finding and cast a provisional ballot while it is reviewed, which could help eligible voters challenge a mistake.
Argument againstVoters who have not provided citizenship proof could lose the chance to vote in state and local races, even if they are eligible for those contests.
More detail
Election officers provide standard ballots and federal-only ballots. For elections that include a federal race and are held on or after November 1, 2026, voters without proof may vote only in federal races. Proof may include specified government, birth, passport, naturalization, or tribal records; voters may also show legal documents linking a name change to their proof. Voters who have not provided citizenship proof may cast a standard ballot provisionally, but only their votes for federal races count unless they provide proof by the deadline. A voter who already provided proof does not need to provide it again when registering. This applies to elections held on or after November 1, 2026. For a provisional standard ballot, proof must arrive before noon on the last business day before the canvass.
Election officers review voter records and notify voters they determine are not U.S. citizens. Election officers may use lawfully available tools, including federal and state records, to review voter registration records for possible noncitizenship. The review must be uniform and nondiscriminatory. The officer must tell the voter the reason for the finding and give them a chance to dispute it. The voter may cast a provisional ballot while the dispute is pending, but it counts only if the voter provides citizenship proof by the deadline. If the voter does not refute the finding within 30 days after notice is sent, the officer removes them from the voter list. By July 1, 2026, the lieutenant governor, with help from county clerks as needed, must conduct the review and send notices.
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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 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 7House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 7Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 4House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 4Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 4Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 4Senate/ floor amendment
- Mar 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 12Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 12Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 12Senate/ floor amendment
- Feb 12Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Feb 10Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 10Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]
- Feb 9Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 9Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Feb 9LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0209S03
- Feb 7LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0209S03
- Feb 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0209S03
- Feb 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0209S03
- Feb 4Senate Comm - Not Considered [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]
- Feb 4LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0209S02
- Feb 2Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0209S02
- Jan 27Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 26Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 26House/ to Senate
- Jan 26House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Jan 26House/ substituted
- Jan 26House/ uncircled
- Jan 23LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0209S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0209S02
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0209S02
- Jan 23House/ circled
- Jan 23House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 23LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0209S01
- Jan 22House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 22House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended [House Government Operations Committee]Major
- Jan 21House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 21House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 21House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Government Operations Committee]Major
- Jan 21LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0209S01
- Jan 21LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0209S01
- Jan 21House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 21LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0209
- Jan 20House/ to standing committee [House Government Operations Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 19LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0209
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 9LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0209
- Jan 9LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0209
- Jan 9Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 9Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting