HB2017

THE CONTEXT: Election Precincts Election precincts are the smallest units of electoral districts. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for establishing the geographic boundaries of election precincts and ensuring that a convenient number of precincts are established to reasonably accommodate voters.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would specifies that at the time election precincts are designated, they must not contain more than 1,000 registered voters, prohibit the Board of Supervisors from authorizing the use of voting centers in place of or in addition to specifically designated polling places, and repeal statute allowing the County Recorder to establish on-site early voting locations.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the government process for voting centers ban more definite and accountable. It would specifies that at the time election precincts are designated, they must not contain more than 1,000 registered voters, and would also prohibit the Board of Supervisors from authorizing the use of voting centers in place of or in addition to specifically designated polling places, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.