ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: ELEC DP 5-3-0-0 | 3^rdRead: 16-13-1-0 House: MOE DPA 6-4-0-0

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SB 1140: elections; voting centers; polling places

Sponsor: Senator Hoffman, LD 15

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires certain public offices, including public schools with gymnasiums, to serve as polling places when requested to do so by the officer in charge of elections.

History

Public Schools as Polling Places

Public schools are required to serve as polling places when requested to do so by the officer in charge of elections unless the principal provides a written statement indicating a reason the election cannot be held in the school.  Specifically, public schools are exempt from serving as a polling place if sufficient space is not available or if doing so would jeopardize the safety or welfare of the children (A.R.S. § 16-411).

Designation of Voting Centers

The Legislature authorized the use of voting centers in lieu of or in addition to specifically designated polling places in 2011. Polling places are specifically designated locations where voters in a particular precinct must vote.  Voting centers are locations within a county where registered voters may vote regardless of which precinct the individual lives in. The Board of Supervisors may establish polling places, voting centers or any combination of the two, including co-location of precinct-based polling places or voting centers that also serve as polling places for specific precincts (A.R.S. § 16-411).

Provisions

Public School Holidays

1. Designates every primary and general election day as a holiday for public schools, except for teachers and staff who will receive or conduct in-service training or development activities. (Sec. 1)

2. Prohibits teachers and staff from using personal, vacation or other leave time on primary and general election days. (Sec. 1)

3. Clarifies that teachers and staff will receive compensation for working on primary and general election days. (Sec. 1)

4. Clarifies that school districts are permitted to provide employees time off to vote on primary and general election days. (Sec. 1)

Public Offices & Schools as Polling Places

5. Instructs state, county, municipal and school district offices to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place when requested by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)

6. Requires public schools with gymnasiums to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place when requested by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)

7. Exempts charter schools from the requirement to serve as a polling place when requested by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)

8. Exempts public schools from any state, local or school district requirements that would prevent or limit the school from serving as a polling place if requested to do so by the officer in charge of elections. (Sec. 2)

9. Repeals statute allowing the principal of a school to deny a request to provide space for use as a polling place in specified circumstances. (Sec. 2)

Designation of Voting Locations

10. States voting centers are locations at which an individual who is a registered voter and resident anywhere in the county is allowed to receive the appropriate ballot for that specific voter. (Sec. 2)

11. Specifies polling places are located in election districts. (Sec. 2)

12. Modifies the authorized use of voting centers to specify voting centers may only be established in addition to specifically designated polling places. (Sec. 2)

Miscellaneous

13. Defines gymnasium. (Sec. 2)

14. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)

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                        SB 1140

Initials JH        Page 0 House Engrossed

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