1. (1)(a) The lieutenant governor shall establish a written audit policy for candidate nomination petitions establishing procedures to comply with Subsection 20A-9-408(9) where the lieutenant governor is the reviewing officer.

   1. (b) The contracted county clerk may not perform the audit unless it is for a conflicted race, or unless authorized by the Director of Elections in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

2. (2)(a) Each county clerk shall develop a written audit policy establishing procedures to comply with Subsection 20A-9-408(9) for nomination petitions where the county clerk is the reviewing officer.

   1. (b) The policy shall include the designation of another elected official to conduct audits of a conflicted race.

3. (3) The audit policies established by the lieutenant governor or a county clerk shall meet the following minimum standards in addition to the requirements of Section R623-12-3:

   1. (a) the audit is conducted on 1% of each reviewed signature, including a sampling of valid and rejected signatures;
   2. (b) the audit may not be performed until after the required threshold has been met;
   3. (c) the audit shall be completed no later than one day before the day on which the qualified political party holds the convention to select a nominee for the elective office to which the signature packets relate in accordance with Subsection 20A-9-408(9)(c); and
   4. (d) the audit shall be performed on a random selection of signatures, not packets.

4. (4) A county clerk shall ensure that an audit contains a review verifying:

   1. (a) that each selected signature is assigned to the correct packet and candidate by ensuring the number on the physical packet matches the packet number associated with the signature and the correct candidate in the petition verification system;
   2. (b) that, for a signature that is rejected, the reason was properly marked in the packet and logged in the petition verification system; and

   3. (c) for a signature that is accepted as valid:

      1. (i) the determination of the reviewing officer;
      2. (ii) if the signer resides in the same district as the candidate;
      3. (iii) if the signer belongs to a political party eligible to sign the nomination petition;
      4. (iv) the signatures were properly marked as valid in the packet and logged into the petition verification system; and
      5. (v) if the reviewer was sworn in and properly trained.

KEY: Elections, Election Audits, Post Election Audits, Ballot Envelope Signature Audit, Candidate Nomination Petition Signature Audits

Date of Last Change: October 23, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 20A-3a-106; 20A-1-108