History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 1; Repealed, L. 1990, ch. 127, § 5; April 19.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each election precinct shall be composed of contiguous and compact areas having clearly observable boundaries using visible ground features which meet the requirements of the federal bureau of the census and which coincide with census block boundaries as established by the federal bureau of the census and shall be wholly contained within any larger district from which any municipal, township or county officers are elected;
(b) election precincts for election purposes shall be designated consecutively in the county by number or name, or a combination of name and number;
(c) any municipal exclave or township enclave shall be a separate precinct and designated by a separate number or name, or combination of name and number, and shall not be identified with or as a part of any other municipal or township precinct;
(d) from and after the time that the legislature has been redistricted in 1992, precincts shall be arranged so that no precinct lies in more than one legislative district;
(e) a street or other roadway which has been platted but not graded is not a visible or observable feature for the purposes of this section; and
(f) where a legislative district boundary coincides with a municipal boundary which is changed by reason of annexation, such legislative district boundary shall be maintained as a precinct boundary until the next legislative redistricting regardless of whether such a legislative district boundary uses a visible ground feature or coincides with a census block boundary.
History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 2; L. 1990, ch. 127, § 1; April 19.
(a) (1) If required by the creation of a political subdivision, new precincts may be created.
(2) If there is an alteration of a political subdivision by annexation, new precincts may be created.
(3) If a political subdivision annexes an area adjacent to the political subdivision boundary, the annexed area may be included in a precinct immediately adjacent to it, if the annexed area is in the same legislative district.
(4) A municipality or county election officer may establish new election precincts lying entirely within the boundaries of any existing precinct and shall designate the new precincts by name or number, or a combination of name and number, which shall include the designated name or number of the former precinct.
(5) If required to conform and coincide with a federal census block boundary established by the federal bureau of the census, a county election officer may change precinct boundaries.
(b) When necessary to comply with the provisions of this act, not less than 45 days after the legislature has been redistricted, or by June 10 in a year the last digit of which is 2 (whichever occurs first), precinct boundaries shall be reestablished.
History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 3; L. 1990, ch. 127, § 2; April 19.
(b) Each county election officer shall send a copy of each map or maps with attached description to the secretary of state. Such copies shall be public records.
(c) The county election officer shall notify the secretary of state in writing at least 30 days before any change in a political subdivision boundary or any changes in the boundaries or the reorganization of election precincts become effective and shall furnish a copy of the map or maps showing the current geographical boundaries, designation and word description of each new election precinct. The visible ground features of changed or new precinct boundaries shown on the map or maps, if not coinciding with an existing census block as established by the federal bureau of the census, shall be documented for actual physical existence using either topographical quadrangles of the United States Geological Survey or aerial photography or a plat of the precinct boundaries certified by a licensed engineer or licensed land surveyor and clearly stating and certifying that such engineer or surveyor has personally viewed the precinct boundaries and observed the actual physical existence of the visible ground features delineating such boundaries.
History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 4; L. 1988, ch. 121, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 127, § 3; April 19.
(b) If the initial or corrected precinct maps as required in this act are not filed by the deadlines set forth in this act, the secretary of state is hereby authorized and required to establish where necessary appropriate precinct boundaries in compliance with the provisions of this act, notwithstanding other law to the contrary providing or establishing authority for any county or city official to establish precinct boundaries. The secretary of state will notify the appropriate county election officer of any precincts established under the provisions of this subsection, and the county election officer immediately shall notify the appropriate city or county officials who shall forthwith adopt as the official precincts those precincts established by the secretary of state.
History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 5; L. 1990, ch. 127, § 4; April 19.