H.B. 13 Enrolled

1

COMMON POLLING PLACES AMENDMENTS
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Douglas C. Aagard
5 Senate Sponsor: Parley G. Hellewell
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Election Code to allow additional use of common polling places.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . increases from 1,000 to 1,250 the maximum number of active voters allowed for a
13 voting precinct;
14 . expands the use of common polling places for two or more voting precincts to any
15 election and any county;
16 . repeals the restrictions that:
17 . the total population of voters authorized to vote at the common polling place
18 may not exceed 4,000 active voters;
19 . in primary elections, the county legislative body may combine voting precincts;
20 and
21 . one set of election judges may be used for the combined precincts if the ballots
22 for each of the combined precincts are identical;
23 . requires each county to have at least two polling places in the county on the date of
24 the election;
25 . requires each common polling place to have at least one voting device that is
26 accessible for individuals with disabilities; and
27 . makes technical changes.
28 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
29 None

30 Other Special Clauses:
31 None
32 Utah Code Sections Affected:
33 AMENDS:
34 20A-5-303, as last amended by Chapter 169, Laws of Utah 2005
35
36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 20A-5-303 is amended to read:
38 20A-5-303. Establishing, dividing, abolishing, and changing voting precincts --
39 Common polling places -- Combined voting precincts -- Counties.
40 (1) (a) After receiving recommendations from the county clerk, the county legislative
41 body may establish, divide, abolish, and change voting precincts.
42 (b) Within 30 days after the establishment, division, abolition, or change of a voting
43 precinct under this section, the county legislative body shall file with the Automated
44 Geographic Reference Center, created under Section 63F-1-506 , a notice describing the action
45 taken and specifying the resulting boundaries of each voting precinct affected by the action.
46 (2) (a) The county legislative body shall alter or divide voting precincts so that each
47 voting precinct contains not more than [1,000] 1,250 active voters.
48 (b) The county legislative body shall:
49 (i) identify those precincts that may reach [1,000 active voters or become] the limit of
50 active voters in a precinct under Subsection (2)(a) or that becomes too large to facilitate the
51 election process; and
52 (ii) divide those precincts before February 1.
53 (3) The county legislative body may not:
54 (a) establish or abolish any voting precinct after February 1 of a regular general
55 election year; or
56 (b) alter or change the boundaries of any voting precinct after February 1 of a regular
57 general election year.

58 (4) (a) For the purpose of [balloting on regular primary or regular general election day]
59 voting in an election, the county legislative body may establish a common polling place for two
60 or more whole voting precincts [according to the following requirements:].
61 [(a) the total population of the voters authorized to vote at the common polling place
62 may not exceed 4,000 active voters; and]
63 (b) At least 90 days before the election, the county legislative body shall designate:
64 [(b)] (i) the voting precincts [voting at,] that will vote at the common polling place; and
65 (ii) the location of[,] the common polling place [shall be designated at least 90 days
66 before the election].
67 [(5) (a) In addition to the requirements contained in Subsection (4), in regular primary
68 elections only, the county legislative body may combine voting precincts and use one set of
69 election judges for the combined precincts if the ballots for each of the combined precincts are
70 identical.]
71 [(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a), the county legislative body in a fourth, fifth, or
72 sixth class county may, in any election, combine voting precincts and]
73 (c) A county may use one set of election judges for the [combined precincts if the
74 ballots for each of the combined precincts are identical] common polling place under this
75 Subsection (4).
76 (5) Each county shall have at least two polling places open for voting on the date of the
77 election.
78 (6) Each common polling place shall have at least one voting device that is accessible
79 for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Public Law 107-252, the Help America
80 Vote Act of 2002.