Utah’s House Majority Leader, Rep. Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, has indicated that the state legislature may shorten the timeline for the state’s special election law in order to fill Utah’s soon-to-be vacant congressional seat in two districts in four months rather than six.
That would necessitate a special session that could be called by lawmakers or Gov. Cox. According to Schultz, he did not believe lawmakers would identify themselves.
The special primary and general election schedules must be completed within 180 days, or approximately six months, according to Utah law. This reflects the requirement that the primary and the election be scheduled within 90 days of each other. Additionally, the law stipulates that the primary and general elections must be separated by another 90 days.
Additionally, unless the legislature provides funding to change the dates, the law mandates that elections be held on particular existing election days.
As it stands, unless the legislature intervenes, the general election cannot be held before March 2024.
While facilitating the Take 2 Digital recording, Schultz found out if the exceptional political decision will be hung on the current political race on November seventh or be climbed.
Shultz stated, “I think it will happen sooner.” He stated, “If you look at the Chaffetz race, it took about 60 days.” He was alluding to the exceptional political race held when previous Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz declared he was leaving in 2017.
Maura Carabello, who also hosts KSL At Night, hosts the Take 2 Podcast. She said that the parties need 21 to 28 days to plan and hold their conventions and for candidates to collect signatures.
“So you think you can shorten that total election time by more than four months?” She inquired, Totally,” Shultz said.
What would need to be changed in Utah’s special election law? Legislators could shorten the time between the Governor’s call and the primary, as well as between the primary and general election, in order to hold a primary special election before November.
That would permit them to pick the dates while as yet following their own recently set, apparently more limited schedule. Regardless of when they move, they would still need to allocate funds accordingly.
It would be cheaper for taxpayers to move just one election day, like the primary than to move both elections. The 60-day scenario proposed by Schultz calls for the primary to be held sometime in the summer and the general election to be held on November 7. The metropolitan essential political decision is likewise being held for this present year on August 15.
Shultz stated that a fall special election is his preference. He added the governing body will ensure there’s “a lot of time” to hold an essential.
This quick timeline is consistent with what KSL NewsRadio heard from Utah’s GOP Chair Robert Axson late last week. Additionally, he is worried about party conventions occurring during the Fourth of July weekend.
When he was asked about the timing again this weekend on the Inside Utah Politics Podcast, Shultz agreed with him.
Schultz said, “We as a legislature, we will not let that seat sit vacant for very long,” referring to a possible special general election in March 2024.
Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, is the leader of the Democratic Minority in Utah. She appeared on a guest panel with Shultz on Inside Utah Politics, where the host inquired as to whether Democrats would oppose that.
She stated, “I don’t see any opposition to that.”
Source – kslnewsradio
