All Roll Calls
Yes: 132 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 262026 General SessionHouse
Voting Equipment Amendments
Sponsored By: Paul A. Cutler (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Voting and Voter RegistrationGovernment Operations (State Issues)Election AdministrationProcurement
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Utah ballot machines must keep paper records
Beginning May 6, 2026, all equipment used to cast mechanical ballots must produce a permanent paper record. The rule is no longer limited to equipment certified after January 1, 2005. Records must be human-readable, available for voter inspection before leaving the polling place, and machine-readable when practical. Watchers must be able to observe the records. The paper record is official for recounts and election challenges; human-readable text controls when it conflicts with machine-readable information.
Utah voting equipment cannot connect wirelessly
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah election officers must ensure voting equipment cannot communicate wirelessly. Electronic pollbooks and official registers are exempt. Voting equipment rules also cover parts of vote-counting equipment, voting devices, and voting machines.
Utah removes ranked-choice equipment approval path
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah removes one way to certify equipment for ranked-choice voting. That path relied on successful use in a federal race in the United States or a U.S. territory. Election officials can no longer use that path to obtain equipment approval.
Public input but tighter voting equipment choices
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah's lieutenant governor must use competitive bidding for a new voting equipment system. The Voting Equipment Selection Committee assists and must check proposed purchases against the state's mechanical-ballot requirements. The public must have time to review and comment on each system before the evaluation committee reviews proposals. After an election officer selects a new system for purchase under this process, the officer cannot acquire equipment outside it. The law provides no new funding for equipment purchases or transition costs.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Paul A. Cutler
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Ronald M. Winterton
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/5/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 29 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 24 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/28/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 1/20/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 74 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/7/2026House/ to Governor
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
2/23/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
2/23/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
2/9/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
2/9/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
2/5/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/5/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/4/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/4/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
1/29/2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
1/29/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
1/28/2026Senate/ to standing committee
1/23/2026SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
1/21/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
1/20/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
1/20/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
1/20/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
1/20/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
1/20/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
2/23/2026
Substitute #1
1/17/2026
Introduced
12/5/2025