(1) Each person seeking to become a candidate for any elective office that is to be filled at the next election shall be provided with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices.

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Terms Used In Utah Code 20A-9-206

  • Election: means a regular general election, a municipal general election, a statewide special election, a local special election, a regular primary election, a municipal primary election, and a special district election. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
  • Equal: means , with respect to biological sex, of the same value. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Filing officer: means :
         (7)(a) the lieutenant governor, for:
              (7)(a)(i) the office of United States Senator and United States Representative; and
              (7)(a)(ii) all constitutional offices;
         (7)(b) for the office of a state senator, state representative, or the state school board, the lieutenant governor or the applicable clerk described in Subsection (7)(c) or (d);
         (7)(c) the county clerk, for county offices and local school district offices;
         (7)(d) the county clerk in the filer's county of residence, for multicounty offices;
         (7)(e) the city or town clerk, for municipal offices; or
         (7)(f) the special district clerk, for special district offices. See Utah Code 20A-9-101
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: means :
         (24)(a) an individual;
         (24)(b) an association;
         (24)(c) an institution;
         (24)(d) a corporation;
         (24)(e) a company;
         (24)(f) a trust;
         (24)(g) a limited liability company;
         (24)(h) a partnership;
         (24)(i) a political subdivision;
         (24)(j) a government office, department, division, bureau, or other body of government; and
         (24)(k) any other organization or entity. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • qualified: means to take the oath of office and begin performing the duties of the position for which the individual was elected. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
  • Voter: means an individual who:
         (79)(a) meets the requirements for voting in an election;
         (79)(b) meets the requirements of election registration;
         (79)(c) is registered to vote; and
         (79)(d) is listed in the official register book. See Utah Code 20A-1-102
(2) The pledge shall be in the following form:

     “PLEDGE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES

     There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play which every candidate for public office in the State of Utah has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in order that, after vigorously contested but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their right to a free election, and that the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.

     THEREFORE:

     I SHALL conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing, without fear or favor, the record and policies of my opponents that I believe merit criticism.

     I SHALL NOT use, nor shall I permit the use of, scurrilous attacks on any candidate or the candidate’s immediate family. I shall not participate in, nor shall I permit the use of, defamation, libel, or slander against any candidate or the candidate’s immediate family. I shall not participate in, nor shall I permit the use of, any other criticism of any candidate or the candidate’s immediate family that I do not believe to be truthful, provable, and relevant to my campaign.

     I SHALL NOT use, nor shall I permit the use of, any practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our American system of free elections, or that hinders or prevents the free expression of the will of the voters, including practices intended to hinder or prevent any eligible person from registering to vote or voting.

     I SHALL NOT coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself or for any other candidate from my employees or volunteers.

     I SHALL immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group which resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of an opponent, to methods in violation of the letter or spirit of this pledge. I shall accept responsibility to take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this pledge or the laws governing elections.

     I SHALL defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process.

     I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Utah, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct my campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices.”

     Name: ________________________________

     Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________

(3) The filing officer shall print, or cause to be printed, blank forms of the pledge to be distributed to persons filing a declaration of candidacy.
(4) A pledge that is submitted for filing by a candidate is a public record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.
(5) The filing officer shall:

     (5)(a) accept all signed pledges that are submitted for filing; and
     (5)(b) retain each filed pledge for public inspection for 30 calendar days after the election.
(6) A candidate may not be required to subscribe to, endorse, or sign the pledge of fair campaign practices.