16-411. Designation of election precincts and polling places

1. Except as prescribed by subsection H, the board of supervisors of each county shall, on or before December 1 of each year preceding the year of a general election, by an order, establish a convenient number of election precincts in the county and define the boundaries thereof. Such election precinct boundaries shall be so established as included within election districts prescribed by law for elected officers of the state and its political subdivisions including community college district precincts, except those elected officers provided for in titles 30 and 48.

2. Not less than twenty days before a general or primary election, and at least ten days before a special election, the board shall designate one polling place within each precinct where the election shall be held. Upon a specific finding of the board, included in the order or resolution designating polling places pursuant to this subsection, that no suitable polling place is available within a precinct, a polling place for such precinct may be designated within an adjacent precinct. Adjacent precincts may be combined if boundaries so established are included in election districts prescribed by law for state elected officials and political subdivisions including community college districts but not including elected officials prescribed by titles 30 and 48. The officer in charge of elections may also split a precinct for administrative purposes. Any such polling places shall be listed in separate sections of the order or resolution.

3. If the board fails to designate the place for holding the election, or if it cannot be held at or about the place designated, the justice of the peace in the precinct shall, two days before the election, by an order, copies of which he shall immediately post in three public places in the precinct, designate the place within the precinct for holding the election. If there is no justice of the peace in the precinct, or if he fails to do so, the election board of the precinct shall designate and give notice of the place within the precinct of holding the election.

4. The board is not required to designate a polling place for special district mail ballot elections held pursuant to article 8.1 of this chapter, but the board may designate one or more sites for voters to deposit marked ballots until 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

5. Except as provided in subsection F, a public school shall provide sufficient space for use as a polling place for any city, county or state election when requested by the officer in charge of elections.

6. The principal of the school may deny a request to provide space for use as a polling place for any city, county or state election if, within two weeks after a request has been made, he provides a written statement indicating a reason the election cannot be held in the school, including any of the following:
   1. Space is not available at the school.

   2. A disruption of the normal school activities would occur.

   3. The safety or welfare of the children would be jeopardized.

7. The board shall make available to the public as a public record a list of the polling places for all precincts in which the election is to be held including identification of polling place changes that were submitted to the United States department of justice for approval.

8. Notwithstanding subsection A, the board of supervisors of a county shall not change precinct lines in 1999, 2000 or 2001. The board of supervisors may subdivide an election precinct for administrative purposes or may provide for more than one polling place within the boundaries of the election precincts established for use in voting in elections held in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In providing for multiple polling places within a precinct the board of supervisors shall consider the particular population characteristics of each precinct in order to provide the voters the most reasonable access to the polls possible.

WARNING - The above text was curent June 2003, but may be outdated now.