5-506 - Optional use of computer registration lists.

§   5-506.   Optional   use   of   computer   registration  lists.  1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter to the contrary, a  board  of elections may apply to the state board of elections for permission to  discontinue  preparation,  use  and  maintenance  of  registration  poll  records.    2. The state board of elections shall adopt  regulations  establishing  the  requirements which must be met by a board of elections seeking such  permission.    3. Such  requirements  shall  include,  but  not  be  limited  to  the  following:    a.  The  board  of  elections  maintains a complete, current, computer  readable record for each registered voter which includes a  reproducible  signature,  except  that the record of the elections in which such voter  has voted shall not be required to be  maintained  in  such  record  for  longer  than  the  five  previous  calendar  years. Such record may also  include a copy of the entire registration poll record or application for  registration of each such voter.    b. The board of elections  maintains  at  least  two  copies  of  such  computer readable records, which it stores in two different buildings.    c. The computer generated registration list prepared for each election  in  each  election district shall be printed by a printer which meets or  exceeds standards for clarity and speed of reproduction  established  by  the state board of elections, shall be in a form approved by such board,  shall  include the names of all voters eligible to vote in such election  and shall be in alphabetical order, except that, at a primary  election,  the  names  of the voters enrolled in each political party may be placed  in a separate part of the list or in a separate list, as  the  board  of  elections  in  its  discretion, may determine.  Such list shall contain,  adjacent to each voter's name, at least the following:  street  address,  date  of  birth,  party  enrollment,  year  of  registration, a computer  reproduced facsimile of the voter's signature or an indication that  the  voter is unable to sign his name, a place for the voter to sign his name  at  such  election  and  a  place  for the inspectors to mark the voting  machine number, the public counter number and the number  of  any  paper  ballots given the voter.    d.  The  board  of  elections  preserves,  for as long as registration  records are otherwise required to be preserved, the original application  for registration or registration poll record of every  registered  voter  filed in a manner which makes such records available for examination or,  if  the computer readable record for each registered voter maintained by  the board of elections includes a copy of the entire  registration  poll  record  or application for registration of each such voter, the board of  elections preserves the original of each such poll record or application  in such a manner for a period of at least  two  years,  or  such  longer  period  as  the state board of elections may require, after such copy is  entered in the computer readable record or  if  such  computer  readable  records  do  not  include  the  backs of those registration poll records  which have been used at one or more elections, the board  preserves  the  original  of  each  such  poll record for a period of at least two years  after such copy is entered in such  computer  readable  record  or  four  years  after  the  last  election  at  which  such poll record was used,  whichever is later,  or  such  longer  period  as  the  state  board  of  elections may require.    4.  After  such  inquiry  as  it deems appropriate, the state board of  elections shall approve the applications of those  boards  of  elections  whose  systems meet the requirements established by this section and the  regulations of  the  state  board.  Such  boards  may  then  discontinue  preparation, use and maintenance of registration poll records.5.  If the state board of elections amends its regulations, a board of  elections whose system was previously approved by the state board  shall  have a reasonable time to conform to the new regulation.    6.  If  the state board of elections determines on its own initiative,  or upon investigation of a complaint, that the system being  used  by  a  board  of  elections  is not in compliance with the requirements of this  section and the regulations of the state  board,  it  shall  order  such  board of elections to comply forthwith.    7. If such a board of elections does not comply with the provisions of  subdivision  six  of  this section, the state board shall issue an order  withdrawing permission to discontinue use of registration  poll  records  and such board of elections shall be required to reinstitute use of such  records  on  the  first  day  of  December following issuance of such an  order.    8. No computer tape, computer disc or other record which can  be  used  to  reproduce such computer generated facsimile signatures shall be sold  or otherwise distributed other than for use by a board of  elections  or  upon  the  order of a court of competent jurisdiction. However all other  data contained on any such  tape,  disc  or  record  shall  be  sold  or  otherwise  distributed  in the same manner as other records of the board  of elections.