Arizona HB 2079: counties; precinct size; maximum

Bill Text

HB2079 - 552R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: counties; precinct 
 size; maximum

 �

 State of 
 Arizona

 House of 
 Representatives

 Fifty-fifth 
 Legislature

 Second Regular 
 Session

 2022

 HB 2079

 Introduced by 

 Representatives Finchem: Barton, Biasiucci, Burges, Carter, 
 Chaplik, Diaz, Hoffman, Pingerelli

AN ACT

amending section 
16-411, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to conduct of elections.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 16-411, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-411. Designation of election precincts and polling places; voting 
centers; electioneering; wait times

A. The board of supervisors of each county, on or 
before October 1 of each year preceding the year of a general election, by an 
order, shall establish a convenient number of election precincts in the county 
and define the boundaries of the precincts.� The election precinct boundaries 
shall be established so as to be 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. The board of 
supervisors may not establish an election precinct that contains more than one 
thousand five hundred registered voters on the date the election precinct's 
boundaries are established.

B. At least 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, except that:

1. On 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 that precinct may be designated within an adjacent precinct.

2. 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.� The polling places shall be listed in separate 
sections of the order or resolution.

3. On a specific finding of the board that the 
number of persons who are listed as early voters pursuant to section 16-544 
is likely to substantially reduce the number of voters appearing at one or more 
specific polling places at that election, adjacent precincts may be 
consolidated by combining polling places and precinct boards for that 
election. The board of supervisors shall ensure that a reasonable 
and adequate number of polling places will be designated for that election.� 
Any consolidated polling places shall be listed in separate sections of the 
order or resolution of the board.

4. On a specific resolution of the board, the board 
may authorize the use of voting centers in place of or in addition to 
specifically designated polling places. A voting center shall allow 
any voter in that county to receive the appropriate ballot for that voter on 
election day after presenting identification as prescribed in section 16-579 
and to lawfully cast the ballot. Voting centers may be established 
in coordination and consultation with the county recorder, at other county 
offices or at other locations in the county deemed appropriate. All 
ballots voted at a voting center shall be segregated by election precinct 
before official tabulation.

5. On a specific resolution of the board of 
supervisors that is limited to a specific election date and that is voted on by 
a recorded vote, the board may authorize the county recorder or other officer 
in charge of elections to use emergency voting centers as follows:

(a) The board shall specify in the resolution the 
location and the hours of operation of the emergency voting centers.

(b) A qualified elector voting at an emergency 
voting center shall provide identification as prescribed in section 16-579, 
except that notwithstanding section 16-579, subsection A, paragraph 2, 
for any voting at an emergency voting center, the county recorder or other 
officer in charge of elections may allow a qualified elector to update the 
elector's voter registration information as provided for in the secretary of 
state's instructions and procedures manual adopted pursuant to section 16-452.

(c) If an emergency voting center established 
pursuant to this section becomes unavailable and there is not sufficient time 
for the board of supervisors to convene to approve an alternate location for 
that emergency voting center, the county recorder or other officer in charge of 
elections may make changes to the approved emergency voting center location and 
shall notify the public and the boa