This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah House gave final approval Friday to a different kind of "death penalty" — no longer allowing political parties to replace candidates who are removed from the ballot for failing to file campaign financial disclosure forms on time.
It voted 50-20 to concur with Senate amendments to HB48, now on its way to Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature.
Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, sponsor of the bill said, it would prevent the gamesmanship that parties have sometimes attempted.
He said they sometimes have a "place holder" candidate file and compete until shortly before the general election. Then that candidate intentionally fails to file disclosure forms, allowing replacement with a much better-known candidate.
The other party may not have raised sufficient money or made proper plans to handle the more popular, late-emerging candidate.
The bill would create a $100 fine for late filing. If the disclosure is not filed within 24 hours after the deadline, candidates would be removed from the ballot — and parties would not be allowed to replace them.
The bill also removes what had been a new legal requirement that qualified political parties must allow unaffiliated voters to participate in their primaries. Erasing that mirrors a recent court ruling. House Democrats had blasted that provision in earlier debate.
The Utah Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to participate in its primaries, the Utah GOP does not.
— Lee Davidson