FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1698

                                  C 278 L 89

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher, McLean and Anderson; by request of Secretary of State

Consolidating standards for establishing precinct boundaries.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Each election precinct must be wholly within the district boundaries of a state and county legislative district.  The precincts must be numbered consecutively for the preparation of maps and apportionment purposes.  They may also be named.

Prior to the 1980 state primary, county auditors were required to prepare maps delineating precinct boundaries and to transmit the maps and corresponding lists of census blocks and enumeration districts to the Secretary of State.  The maps of cities or towns were also to be transmitted to the appropriate cities or towns. The maps and lists are public records but the Secretary of State is prohibited from associating voting results with these maps and lists.

SUMMARY:

In addition to satisfying other requirements of state law, each voting precinct must be wholly within a single congressional district.  Generally, alterations to the boundaries of a precinct must follow physical features delineated on the most current maps provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.  A boundary does not have to follow these features if:  it is identical to the exterior boundary of a new annexation or incorporation; or following those features would substantially impair election administration in the area involved.

After a change in precinct boundaries, the county auditor must send a map or maps delineating the new precinct boundaries and a legal description of the new precincts to the Secretary of State and to the cities or towns containing those precincts.  The county auditor may assign names or other numbers rather than just names to the precincts for other election purposes.  Copies of precinct maps must be made available to the public for a reproduction fee. The Secretary of State may adopt rules governing the review of maps delineating precinct boundary changes.

Provisions of the state's Election Code are repealed that required auditors to prepare, prior to the 1980 state primary, precinct maps and corresponding lists of census blocks and enumeration districts.  Also repealed is a provision that prohibits the Secretary of State from associating voting results with these maps and lists.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 89   1

      Senate    42     0 (Senate amended)

      House 97   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989