Utah
In Utah, there are two types of political parties: registered parties and qualified parties. These types of parties differ in how they nominate candidates for placement on the primary ballot.
The candidate of a registered party must petition for placement on the primary ballot.
The candidate of a qualified party can either petition for placement on the primary ballot or be nominated for placement at a party convention.
An organization of voters can seek to become a registered political party by submitting a petition to the lieutenant governor's office. The petition must be signed by at least 2,000 registered voters. The petition must also contain a statement declaring the name of the political party. The petition, in addition to the required signatures, must also contain the proposed party's name, which must not exceed four words, and party emblem. The party name and emblem must also be distinguishable from the names and emblems of other political parties.
A qualified political party must complete the same requirements as a registered party. In addition, a qualified political party must do the following:
Maintaining party status
In order to retain registered and qualified political party status, one or more of the party's candidates for any office must win at least 2 percent or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the United States House of Representatives in the same regular general election.
The candidate of a registered party must petition for placement on the primary ballot.
The candidate of a qualified party can either petition for placement on the primary ballot or be nominated for placement at a party convention.
An organization of voters can seek to become a registered political party by submitting a petition to the lieutenant governor's office. The petition must be signed by at least 2,000 registered voters. The petition must also contain a statement declaring the name of the political party. The petition, in addition to the required signatures, must also contain the proposed party's name, which must not exceed four words, and party emblem. The party name and emblem must also be distinguishable from the names and emblems of other political parties.
A qualified political party must complete the same requirements as a registered party. In addition, a qualified political party must do the following:
- A qualified party must "allow unaffiliated voters to vote in the political party's primary election."
- A qualified party must "permit delegates to vote remotely at the political party's convention or provide a procedure for designating an alternate for a delegate who is not present at the convention."
- A qualified party must "hold its convention on or after the fourth Saturday in March."
- A qualified party must "allow candidates to get on the primary election ballot by gathering petition signatures, going through the political party's convention, or both."
Maintaining party status
In order to retain registered and qualified political party status, one or more of the party's candidates for any office must win at least 2 percent or more of the total votes cast for all candidates for the United States House of Representatives in the same regular general election.
As of May 2017, Utah officially recognized five political parties: the Constitution, Democratic, Independent American, Libertarian, and Republican parties.
Constitution Party of Utah Link
Democratic Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
Independent American Party of Utah Link
Libertarian Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
Republican Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
Democratic Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
Independent American Party of Utah Link
Libertarian Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
Republican Party of Utah Link Party by-laws
See statutes: Title 20A-8 of the Utah Election Code
