SB1596

THE CONTEXT: A county board of supervisors (county BOS) must establish a convenient number of election precincts in the county on or before October 1 each year preceding the general election. At least 20 days before an election the county BOS must designate one polling place within each precinct where the election will be held.

WHAT THE BILL DID: Requires a state, county, city, town or school district office to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place for an election when requested by the officer in charge of elections.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for polling places into an enforceable rule. It would require a state, county, city, town or school district office to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place for any election when requested by the officer in charge of elections, and would also remove the authority of the county BOS to use voting centers in place of specifically designated polling places, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.