1998 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 621, As Amended – Rural precincts, vote by mail

HOUSE BILL NO. 621, As Amended

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View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



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Daily Data Tracking History



H0621aa....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
VOTE BY MAIL - RURAL PRECINCTS - Adds to existing law to authorize the
creation of rural, remote precincts with a population of 100 or fewer
people, where elections shall be conducted by mail.

02/05    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/06    Rpt prt - to St Aff
02/16    Rpt out - to Gen Ord
02/18    Rpt out amen - to engros
02/19    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
02/20    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
02/24    3rd rdg as amen - FAILED - 32-34-4
      AYES -- Bell, Bieter, Bivens, Black(15), Boe, Callister, Chase, Deal,
      Field(13), Gagner, Hansen, Henbest, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones(9),
      Jones(22), Jones(20), Judd, Kjellander, Lake, Marley, Meyer, Miller,
      Pischner, Pomeroy, Ridinger, Robison, Stoicheff, Stone, Trail,
      Watson, Zimmermann
      NAYS -- Alltus, Barraclough, Barrett, Black(23), Bruneel, Campbell,
      Clark, Crane, Crow, Denney, Ellsworth, Field(20), Hadley, Kellogg,
      Kempton, Kendell, Kunz, Linford, Loertscher, Mader, McKague,
      Mortensen, Reynolds, Richman, Sali, Schaefer, Stevenson, Stubbs,
      Taylor, Tilman, Tippets, Wheeler, Wood, Mr Speaker
      Absent and excused -- Cuddy, Geddes, Gould, Newcomb
    Floor Sponsors - Jaquet, Hornbeck
    Filed with Chief Clerk

Bill Text


H0621


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fourth Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 1998
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              HOUSE BILL NO. 621, As Amended

                                BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AMENDING CHAPTER 3, TITLE 34, IDAHO CODE, BY THE  ADDI-
 3        TION  OF  A  NEW SECTION 34-307, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR DESIGNATION OF
 4        RURAL, REMOTE PRECINCTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS WITHIN
 5        RURAL, REMOTE PRECINCTS; DECLARING AND EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING RETROACTIVE
 6        APPLICATION.

 7    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 8        SECTION 1.  That Chapter 3, Title 34, Idaho Code,  be,  and  the  same  is
 9    hereby  amended  by  the addition thereto of a  NEW SECTION , to be
10    known and designated as Section 34-307, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

11        34-307.  RURAL, REMOTE PRECINCT. A precinct within the county  which  con-
12    tains  no  more than one hundred (100) registered electors may be designated a
13    rural, remote precinct no later than April 1 in  an  even-numbered  year.  The
14    board  of  county commissioners may make such a designation when petitioned by
15    more than fifty percent (50%) of the registered electors in the precinct. Such
16    a designation shall apply thereafter to all  elections  conducted  within  the
17    precinct  until  revoked  by the commission. Having designated a rural, remote
18    precinct, there shall be no voting  place  established  within  the  precinct.
19    Elections  in  a rural, remote precinct shall be conducted in a manner consis-
20    tent with absentee voting with the following special provisions:
21        (1)  The clerk shall issue a ballot, by mail, to every registered voter in
22    a rural, remote precinct, and shall affix to the return envelope, postage suf-
23    ficient to return the ballot.
24        (2)  The ballot shall be mailed no sooner than twenty-four (24) days prior
25    to the election day and no later than the fourteenth day prior  to  the  elec-
26    tion.
27        (3)  The  clerk shall make necessary provisions to segregate rural, remote
28    precinct ballots by precinct, and for all purposes of the election,  the  pre-
29    cinct integrity shall be maintained.
30        (4)  The  clerk  shall  provide that the signature on the affidavit on the
31    back of the return envelope be compared with the signature on the registration
32    card of the elector, and only if it appears to be valid shall  the  ballot  be
33    counted.
34        (5)  The  clerk shall make available in the office of the clerk, registra-
35    tion on election day for any individual  who  is  eligible  to  vote  and  who
36    resides  in  a  rural,  remote precinct and has not previously registered. The
37    clerk shall provide an official polling place in the office of the clerk and a
38    qualified elector who registers on election day and resides in a rural, remote
39    precinct shall be allowed to vote at the office of the clerk.

40        SECTION 2.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
41    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
42    passage and approval, and, in the event that passage and approval occurs after


                                          2

 1    March 31, 1998, this act shall be effective retroactively to March 31, 1998.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


    





                            STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                  RS 07756
    
    This legislation creates a rural, remote precinct at the option
    of the county clerk. Rural, remote precincts may contain no more
    than 225 registered electors. Elections conducted in the
    precincts designated rural, remote will be consistent with
    absentee voting with the following special provisions:
    1.) Each registered voter in the rural remote precinct will be
    issued a ballot by the clerk with a return envelope,postage 
    paid.
    2.) The ballot will be mailed no sooner than 24 days prior to 
    the
    election and no later than the 14th day prior to the election.
    3.) Precinct integrity will be maintained by segregating the
    ballots received.
    4.) Same day registration and voting will be provided in the
    office of the clerk.
    
    FISCAL NOTE
    
    Staff savings for 22 rural, remote precincts will be 
    realized. For instance, there are voters in the Joseph 
    precinct with 3 - 4 staffers. In addition, it is becoming 
    more difficult to locate people who will work at the polls. 
    And finally, the expense of renting mobile homes as polling 
    places, in Idaho County, for example will be saved.CONTACT: Representative Wendy 
    Jaquet 208: 332-1130
    
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE
    
    Bill No. H 621