Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB311: Elections Study
Status: Signed into law, March 23, 2026
This bill directs the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University and the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University to conduct an elections study.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 11, 2026:
0 Elections Study 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Jefferson S. Burton Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell LONG TITLE General Description: This bill directs the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University and the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University to conduct an elections study. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - directs the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University (the institute) and the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University (the center) to conduct an elections study regarding: - the security of in-person voting versus voting by mail; and - best practices for conducting and implementing a process where identification must be presented before depositing a ballot in a ballot drop box; and - directs the institute and the center to present the study to the Government Operations Interim Committee. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: ENACTS: 53H-4-708 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 53H-4-708 is enacted to read: 53H-4-708 . Election study. (1) The institute and the center shall conduct a study to determine: (a) the security risks of in-person voting versus voting by mail; and (b) the best practices for conducting and implementing a …
Sponsors
- Burton, Jefferson S. (R, 64) · primary sponsor
- Michael McKell (R, 25)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : House/ to Governor
- : House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from House for Enrolling
- : House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
Votes
- House/ concurs with Senate amendment (March 6, 2026): 60 yea, 12 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (March 5, 2026): 22 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 9, 2026): 68 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (January 29, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Government Operations (State Issues), Election Administration, Higher Education, Voting and Voter Registration, Election Law
Common questions
- What is HB311?
- HB311 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Elections Study.
- What does HB311 do?
- This bill directs the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University and the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University to conduct an elections study.
- What is the status of HB311?
- Signed into law as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB311?
- Burton, Jefferson S. (R, 64), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB311?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0311.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.