§ 7-5-101 - Precinct boundaries and polling sites -- Establishment and alteration.

7-5-101. Precinct boundaries and polling sites -- Establishment and alteration.

(a) (1) The county board of election commissioners shall:

(A) Establish election precincts; and

(B) (i) Designate a polling site for each precinct.

(ii) A polling site may serve two (2) or more precincts, including parts of precincts.

(2) Except as provided in 6-14-106, the designation of polling sites shall be by a unanimous vote of the members of the county board present.

(b) (1) The county board by order may alter the boundaries of existing election precincts and establish new ones.

(2) A precinct shall not be altered and a new precinct shall not be created less than thirty (30) days before an election, except in the event of an emergency as determined by the county board.

(3) (A) An order to alter the boundaries of any precinct or establish any new one shall not be effective until it has been filed with the county clerk.

(B) The order shall contain a:

(i) Written description; and

(ii) Map of the boundaries of the precincts altered or established.

(c) (1) Within thirty (30) days after the boundaries of an election precinct are altered or a new election precinct is established, the county clerk shall submit five (5) copies of the changes in the form of a map and written descriptions to the Secretary of State.

(2) Upon receipt of the changes, the Secretary of State immediately shall forward a copy to the:

(A) Office of the Attorney General;

(B) Census State Data Center; and

(C) Cartography Section of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.

(d) (1) Except for school elections under 6-14-106, the polling sites for each election shall be the same as those established for the immediately preceding general election unless changed by order of the county board.

(2) The county board shall not change a polling site for any precinct less than thirty (30) days before an election, except in the event of an emergency.

(3) Notice of any changes made in polling sites shall be provided by posting information at the polling sites used in the last election and, except for school elections and special elections, the notice shall be mailed by the county clerk to each affected registered voter at least fifteen (15) days before the election.