Troupis Law Orrice, P.A. Cumst T. Trourss: ‘Asromey ak Coursnce ar Lew (208) 938-5584 {01 East Str Susy, Sue 50 EPR PO. Box 2408 rroupis@troupislaw com Excir, Inavo 83616 License WW IoaHo, Oxzcon, Carona, AND Haines January 4, 2016 James Evans, Chairman Utah Republican Party 117 E. South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Dear Chairman Evans: You asked me to review the Utah Election law and advise you regarding the interplay of the laws governing the lieutenant governor's certification of the signatures of Petition signers and the Party's certification of the registered political parties whose members may vote for the party's candidates. The cited portions of the following three statutes are relevant to this inquiry Under §20A-9-406(1), on or before March 1, 2016, the UTGOP must certify to the licutenant governor the identity of one or more registered political parties whose members may vote for its candidates. Under §20A-9-408(8)(b), a member of the UTGOP may seek its nomination for elective office by collecting signatures of registered voters "who are permitted by the qualified political party to vote for the qualified political party's candidates in a primary election.” Under §20A-9-408(9)(d), upon receipt of the signatures collected by eandidates, the election officer determines whether each signer is a registered voter who is qualified to sign the petition; and thereafter notifies the UTGOP and licutenant governor of the names of qualified nominees of the Party. ‘The UTGOP's duty under the law is to certify by 5 P.M. on March 1, 2016, which party or parties may vote in its primary. The Party has no duty to submit this certification prior to that date. In addition, since the Party's membership rules have been amended, until the UTGOP completes its membership verification, and thereafter submits its certification, it will not be possible for County Clerks to validate signatures, or for the lieutenant governor or County Clerks to certify any UTGOP candidate as having met the required signature threshold. Because the Party now requires members to comply with its Constitution and Bylaws as a condition of membership, the Clerks cannot rely solely on voter registration records as a determinant of Party membership. As a result, until the Party completes its membership verification and files its certification, election officers cannot determine which signatures gathered by a candidate are valid. Respectfully, LO 4) Christ T. Troupis