Existing law authorizes the elections official conducting local, special, or consolidated elections, or statewide elections other than the direct primary, presidential primary, or general election, to divide the territory within which the election is to be held into special election or consolidated election precincts by consolidating existing precincts, as specified. Existing law further authorizes that official to change and alter the precincts for those elections as often as needed. Existing law requires the polling place used for a consolidated precinct to be located within the boundaries of the consolidated precinct.

This bill would additionally require, on and after January 1, 2006, that if the polling place designated for a precinct has been relocated from the location that was used as a polling place during the preceding 2 consecutive statewide elections, the elections official post, or provide to be posted, a notice of the location of the new polling place in a format and manner deemed appropriate by the local elections official. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature that, to the extent possible, the polling place used for a consolidated precinct be established in a facility that is easy to locate, identifiable, easily recognizable, large enough to accommodate the voters of the consolidated precinct, and accessible to elderly and disabled voters. By imposing new duties on local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.