Utah Code

Utah Code § 20A-7-608 (2026)

Short title and summary of referendum -- Duties of local clerk and local attorney

✓ current as of May 2026

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Upon receipt of a referendum petition, the local clerk shall deliver a copy of the referendum petition and the law to which the referendum relates to the local attorney.

The local attorney shall:

entitle each county or municipal referendum that qualifies for the ballot "Proposition Number __" and give the referendum a number assigned in accordance with Section 20A-6-107;

prepare for the referendum:

an impartial short title, not exceeding 25 words, that generally describes the subject of the law to which the referendum relates; and

an impartial summary of the contents of the law to which the referendum relates, not exceeding 125 words;

file the proposed short title, summary, and the numbered referendum title with the local clerk within 20 calendar days after the day on which an eligible voter submits the referendum petition to the local clerk; and

promptly provide notice of the filing of the proposed short title and summary to:

the sponsors of the petition; and

the local legislative body for the jurisdiction where the referendum petition was circulated.

The short title and summary may be distinct from the title of the law that is the subject of the referendum petition.

In preparing a short title, the local attorney shall, to the best of the local attorney's ability, give a true and impartial description of the subject of the referendum.

In preparing a summary, the local attorney shall, to the best of the local attorney's ability, give a true and impartial summary of the contents of the referendum.

The short title and summary may not intentionally be an argument, or likely to create prejudice, for or against the referendum.

Within five calendar days after the day on which the local attorney files a proposed short title and summary under Subsection (2)(c), the local legislative body for the jurisdiction where the referendum petition was circulated and the sponsors of the referendum petition may file written comments in response to the proposed short title and summary with the local clerk.

Within five calendar days after the last date to submit written comments under Subsection (4)(a), the local attorney shall:

review any written comments filed in accordance with Subsection (4)(a);

prepare a final short title and summary that meets the requirements of Subsection (3); and

return the referendum petition and file the short title and summary with the local clerk.

Subject to Subsection (6), for each county or municipal referendum, the following shall be printed on the official ballot:

the short title; and

except as provided in Subsection (4)(d):

the summary;

a copy of the ordinance, resolution, or written description of the local law; and

a link to a location on the election officer's website where a voter may review additional information relating to each referendum, including the information described in Subsection 20A-7-602(2) and the arguments relating to the referendum that are included in the local voter information pamphlet.

Unless the information described in Subsection (4)(c)(ii) is printed on the official ballot, the election officer shall include with the ballot a separate ballot proposition insert that includes the short title and summary for each referendum on the ballot and a link to a location on the election officer's website where a voter may review the additional information described in Subsection (4)(c)(ii)(C).

Unless the information described in Subsection 20A-7-508(4)(c)(ii) for all initiatives on the ballot, and the information described in Subsection (4)(c)(ii) for all referenda on the ballot, is printed on the ballot, the ballot shall include the following statement at the beginning of the portion of the ballot that includes ballot measures, "The ballot proposition sheet included with this ballot contains an impartial summary of each initiative and referendum on this ballot, unless the summary is printed directly on the ballot."

Immediately after the local attorney files a copy of the short title and summary with the local clerk, the local clerk shall send a copy of the short title and summary to the sponsors of the referendum petition and the local legislative body for the jurisdiction where the referendum petition was circulated.

If the short title or summary provided by the local attorney is unsatisfactory or does not comply with the requirements of this section, the decision of the local attorney may be appealed to the appropriate court by:

at least three sponsors of the referendum petition; or

a majority of the local legislative body for the jurisdiction where the referendum petition was circulated.

The court:

shall examine the short title and summary and consider the arguments; and

enter an order consistent with the requirements of this section.

The local clerk shall include the short title and summary in the ballot or ballot proposition insert, as required by this section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1998–2017 · leading case: Walker v. Weber Cnty., 973 P.2d 927 (Utah 1998).

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Walker v. Weber Cnty., 973 P.2d 927 (Utah 1998). · cites it 16× “5 For example, section 20A-7-608 requires that the local attorney preparing the ballot title give a “true and impartial” statement of the purpose of the measure, “to the best of his ability.”

Low v. City of Monticello, 2002 UT 90 (Utah 2002). “§§ 20A-7-608(4), -610(4). The plain language of the statute specifically states that any voter may apply to this court for an extraordinary writ, and if the voter does so, the voter must apply within ten days.”

Burr v. City of Orem, 2013 UT 57 (Utah 2013). · cites it 9× “Urax Copr § 20A-7-608(3). 9 . Stavros, 2000 UT 63, ¶ 22 , 15 P.”

Zonts v. Pleasant Grove City, 2017 UT 48 (Utah 2017). · cites it 2× “2 None of _____________________________________________________________ 1 The petition actually cites the parallel provisions of Utah Code section 20A-7-608(6), pertaining to referenda.”

Zonts v. Pleasant Grove City, 2017 UT 48 (Utah 2017). · cites it 2× “1 The petition actually cites the parallel provisions of Utah Code section 20A-7-608(6), pertaining to referenda.”

Kendell v. North Ogden City, 84 P.3d 1134 (Utah 2003). · cites it 2× “Utah Code Ann. § 20A-7-608 (4)(a) & (b) (2002).”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(2) — 1 case

Walker v. Weber Cnty., 973 P.2d 927 (Utah 1998). “5 For example, section 20A-7-608 requires that the local attorney preparing the ballot title give a “true and impartial” statement of the purpose of the measure, “to the best of his ability.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(3) — 1 case

Burr v. City of Orem, 2013 UT 57 (Utah 2013). “Urax Copr § 20A-7-608(3). 9 . Stavros, 2000 UT 63, ¶ 22 , 15 P.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(4) — 2 cases

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(4)(b) — 1 case

Burr v. City of Orem, 2013 UT 57 (Utah 2013). “Urax Copr § 20A-7-608(3). 9 . Stavros, 2000 UT 63, ¶ 22 , 15 P.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(6) — 3 cases

Zonts v. Pleasant Grove City, 2017 UT 48 (Utah 2017). “2 None of _____________________________________________________________ 1 The petition actually cites the parallel provisions of Utah Code section 20A-7-608(6), pertaining to referenda.”

Burr v. City of Orem, 2013 UT 57 (Utah 2013). “Urax Copr § 20A-7-608(3). 9 . Stavros, 2000 UT 63, ¶ 22 , 15 P.”

Zonts v. Pleasant Grove City, 2017 UT 48 (Utah 2017). “1 The petition actually cites the parallel provisions of Utah Code section 20A-7-608(6), pertaining to referenda.”

— Utah Code § 20A-7-608(6)(a) — 1 case

Burr v. City of Orem, 2013 UT 57 (Utah 2013). “Urax Copr § 20A-7-608(3). 9 . Stavros, 2000 UT 63, ¶ 22 , 15 P.”

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