2003 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 234 – City/county elections, poll watcher

HOUSE BILL NO. 234

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0234......................................................by LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CITY/COUNTY ELECTIONS - Amends existing law relating to county and city
elections to provide that poll watchers may challenge the receiving and
counting of votes and may watch any other process or handling required by the
county or city clerk.
                                                                        
02/11    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/12    Rpt prt - to St Aff

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 234
                                                                        
                               BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AMENDING SECTIONS 34-304 AND  50-410,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO
  3        PROVIDE  THAT  POLL  WATCHERS  MAY CHALLENGE THE RECEIVING AND COUNTING OF
  4        VOTES AND MAY WATCH AND CHALLENGE ANY OTHER PROCESS OR  HANDLING  REQUIRED
  5        BY THE CLERK.
                                                                        
  6    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  7        SECTION  1.  That  Section  34-304, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  8    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  9        34-304.  CHALLENGERS -- WATCHERS. The county clerk shall, upon receipt  of
 10    a  written  request,  such  request to be received no later than five (5) days
 11    prior to the day of election, direct that the election judges permit  one  (1)
 12    person  authorized  by each political party to be at the polling place for the
 13    purpose of challenging voters, and shall, if requested, permit any  candidate,
 14    or  one  (1) person authorized by a candidate, several candidates or political
 15    party, to be present to watch and challenge if necessary,  the  receiving  and
 16    counting  of  the  votes,  and  any  other process or handling required by the
 17    county clerk. Such authorization shall be evidenced by a writing signed by the
 18    county chairman and secretary of the political party, or by the  candidate  or
 19    candidates,  and  filed  with  the  county clerk. If the county clerk does not
 20    receive the list of names of those which the parties desire to be present  for
 21    the  purpose of either poll watching or challenging within the time prescribed
 22    above, the clerk shall not allow the presence of such persons later seeking to
 23    serve in those capacities. Persons who are authorized to serve as  challengers
 24    or  watchers  shall  wear  a  visible name tag which includes their respective
 25    titles. Persons permitted to be present to watch the  counting  of  the  votes
 26    shall not absent themselves until the polls are closed.
                                                                        
 27        SECTION  2.  That  Section  50-410, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 28    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 29        50-410.  CHALLENGERS -- WATCHERS. The city clerk shall, upon receipt of  a
 30    written request, such request to be received no later than five (5) days prior
 31    to  day  of  election,  direct  that the election judges permit one (1) person
 32    authorized by each candidate to be at the polling place  for  the  purpose  of
 33    challenging  voters,  and shall if requested, permit any candidate, or one (1)
 34    person authorized by a candidate to be present to watch and challenge if  nec-
 35    essary,  the  receiving  and  counting  of the votes, and any other process or
 36    handling required by the city clerk. Such authorization shall be evidenced  in
 37    writing,  signed  by the candidate, and filed with the city clerk. Persons who
 38    are authorized to serve as challengers or watchers shall wear a  visible  name
 39    tag which includes their respective titles. Persons permitted to be present to
 40    watch  the  counting  of the votes shall not absent themselves until the polls
 41    are closed.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS 12890C1

This legislation provides that poll watchers may challenge the
receiving and counting of votes and may be present to watch any
other process or handling required by the clerk.







                          FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the general fund.


Contact
Name: Rod Beck 
Phone: (208) 376-9797

      Rep Kulczyk
      (208) 332-1000


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                         H 23