Section 17-5A-7

Authority to change configuration, boundaries, etc., of election precincts; procedure; copy of resolution and map to be sent to reapportionment task force.

(a) The county governing body shall have sole authority to change the configuration, boundaries, or designation of an election precinct. Any change so determined shall be adopted by resolution of the county governing body.

(b) After June 1, 1989, a county governing body shall only change a precinct by dividing the precinct into two or more precincts except when in order to make it more convenient for voters to vote, or to facilitate the administration of the election process, or to accomplish reapportionment, it becomes necessary to consolidate all or part of a precinct with adjacent precincts, a part or parts may be consolidated.

(c) Except as may be provided further by local election laws or by the electronic vote counting statutes, whenever at any general or primary election in any election precinct over 300 votes shall have been cast by paper ballot or 600 by voting machines, the county governing body shall readjust the boundary lines of said election precincts or shall separate the list of qualified registered voters in such precinct into alphabetical groups of not more than 300 when paper ballots are used or 600 when voting machines are used and may divide or consolidate any number of precincts and resubdivide the same in order that not more than 300 voters shall be contained in any one precinct and authorized to vote at one box when paper ballots are used, or not more than 600 voters shall be contained in any one precinct in which voting machines are used and voters are authorized to vote at only one place.

(d) In changing any precinct boundary, the county governing body shall comply with the requirements of Section 17-5A-3.

(e) Within 30 days after the adoption of any resolution as provided in this section, the county governing body shall send to the reapportionment task force a certified copy of the resolution and a copy of a map showing the new precinct boundaries together with a written description of such boundaries.

(Acts 1989, No. 89-952, p. 1874, §7.)