SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5657

BYSenators McCaslin and DeJarnatt; by request of Secretary of State

Consolidating standards for establishing voting precinct boundaries.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Desley Brooks (786-7443)

                  March 9, 1989

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 9, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Secretary of State will, within the next several months, begin to prepare for the 1990 census and 1991 redistricting process.  To facilitate this process, pre-precinct maps will be prepared and forwarded to the United States Census Bureau.  The bureau will tabulate and report the 1990 population for the census units and for precincts drawn onto the pre-census maps.  This information will not be available to the state until 1991.

It has been suggested that re-precincting should be restricted to ensure the maximum usefulness of the final census data by reducing the disparity in the data between the time the information is collected and the time it is reported and used in the redistricting process.

SUMMARY:

Each precinct must be wholly within a single congressional district.  Whenever possible, alterations to the boundaries of any precinct shall follow visible, physical features delineated on the most current map provided by the United States Census Bureau.  After a change to precinct boundaries, county auditors are required to send the Secretary of State a map delineating the new precinct boundary within that county.  Sections of Title 29 regarding the availability of maps for public inspection, and the prohibition of the Secretary of State from associating voting results with materials supplied by the respective county auditors are repealed.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Jennifer Helget, Office of the Secretary of State (pro)