20A-9-206 - Fair campaign practices -- Voluntary pledge -- Pledge is a public record -- Retention requirements.
20A-9-206. Fair campaign practices -- Voluntary pledge -- Pledge is a public record-- Retention requirements.
(1) Each person seeking to become a candidate for any elective office that is to be filledat the next election shall be provided with a copy of the pledge of fair campaign practices.
(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 forpublic 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 toa 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 orfavor, 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 orthe 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 shallnot participate in, nor shall I permit the use of, any other criticism of any candidate or thecandidate's immediate family that I do not believe to be truthful, provable, and relevant to mycampaign.
I SHALL NOT use, nor shall I permit the use of, any practice that tends to corrupt orundermine our American system of free elections, or that hinders or prevents the free expressionof the will of the voters, including practices intended to hinder or prevent any eligible personfrom registering to vote or voting.
I SHALL NOT coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself or for any othercandidate from my employees or volunteers.
I SHALL immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual orgroup which resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of an opponent, tomethods in violation of the letter or spirit of this pledge. I shall accept responsibility to take firmaction against any subordinate who violates any provision of this pledge or the laws governingelections.
I SHALL defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and equalparticipation in the electoral process.
I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Utah, herebyvoluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct my campaign inaccordance 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 bedistributed 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:
(a) accept all signed pledges that are submitted for filing; and
(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 faircampaign practices.
Amended by Chapter 202, 2009 General Session