CHAPTER 18. VOTE CENTERS - Indiana Statutes

IC 3-11-18
     Chapter 18. Vote Centers

IC 3-11-18-1
Application of chapter
     Sec. 1. This chapter applies to a county designated as a vote center pilot county under this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-2
Designation of vote center pilot county
     Sec. 2. The secretary of state may designate a county as a vote center pilot county under this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-3
County application
     Sec. 3. (a) For a county to be designated a vote center pilot county:
        (1) the county election board (or board of elections and registration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4), by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, must approve the filing of an application to be designated a vote center pilot county;
        (2) all members of the board must sign the application; and
        (3) the application must be filed with the secretary of state.
    (b) The application must include:
        (1) a resolution adopted by the county executive; and
        (2) a resolution adopted by the county fiscal body;
approving the submission of the application.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-4
Vote center administration plan
     Sec. 4. The application must include a plan for the administration of vote centers in the county. The plan must include at least the following:
        (1) The total number of vote centers to be established.
        (2) The location of each vote center, and the municipality, if any, in which the vote center is located.
        (3) A list of each municipality within the county that is entitled to conduct a municipal primary or municipal election, as of the date of the application.
        (4) The total number of voters within each municipality, as of the date of the application, and the number of those voters within each municipality designated as "active" and "inactive" according to the county voter registration office.
        (5) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), a list of the precincts whose polls will be located at the vote center.         (6) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), the number of precinct election boards that will be appointed to administer an election at the vote center.
        (7) For each precinct election board designated under subdivision (6), the number and name of each precinct the precinct election board will administer.
        (8) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), the number and title of the precinct election officers who will be appointed to serve at the vote center.
        (9) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2):
            (A) the number and type of ballot variations that will be provided at the vote center; and
            (B) whether these ballots will be:
                (i) delivered to the vote center before the opening of the polls; or
                (ii) printed on demand for a voter's use.
        (10) A detailed description of any hardware, firmware, or software used:
            (A) to create an electronic poll list for each precinct whose polls are to be located at a vote center; or
            (B) to establish a secure electronic connection between the county election board and the precinct election officials administering a vote center.
        (11) A description of the equipment and procedures to be used to ensure that information concerning a voter entered into any electronic poll list used by precinct election officers at a vote center is immediately accessible to:
            (A) the county election board; and
            (B) the electronic poll lists used by precinct election officers at all other vote centers in the county.
        (12) For each precinct designated under subdivision (5), the number of electronic poll lists to be provided for the precinct.
        (13) The security and contingency plans to be implemented by the county to:
            (A) prevent a disruption of the vote center process; and
            (B) ensure that the election is properly conducted if a disruption occurs.
        (14) A certification that the vote center complies with the accessibility requirements applicable to polling places under IC 3-11-8.
        (15) A sketch depicting the planned layout of the vote center, indicating the location of:
            (A) equipment; and
            (B) precinct election officers;
        within the vote center.
        (16) The total number of vote centers to be established at satellite offices that are established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 to allow voters to cast absentee ballots in accordance with IC 3-11.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.
IC 3-11-18-5
Vote centers in municipalities
     Sec. 5. (a) Except for a municipality described in subsection (b), a plan must provide a vote center for use by voters residing in each municipality within the county conducting a municipal primary or a municipal election.
    (b) A vote center may not be used in a municipal primary or municipal election conducted within a municipality that is partially located in a county that has not been designated a vote center pilot county.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-6
Number of vote centers required
     Sec. 6. When the total number of voters designated under section 4(4) of this chapter as "active" equals at least twenty-five thousand (25,000) in the municipalities listed in the plan, the following apply:
        (1) The plan must provide for at least one (1) vote center for each ten thousand (10,000) active voters.
        (2) In addition to the vote centers designated in subdivision (1), the plan must provide for a vote center for any fraction of ten thousand (10,000) voters.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-7
Approval of application; criteria
     Sec. 7. Before approving an application to designate a county as a vote center pilot county under this chapter, the secretary of state must determine the following:
        (1) That the secure electronic connection as described under section 4(10)(B) of this chapter is sufficient to prevent:
            (A) any voter from voting more than once; and
            (B) unauthorized access by any person to:
                (i) the electronic poll lists for a precinct whose polls are to be located at the vote center; or
                (ii) the computerized list of voters of the county.
        (2) That the planned design and location of the equipment and precinct officers will provide the most efficient access for:
            (A) voters to enter the polls, cast their ballots, and leave the vote center; and
            (B) precinct election officials, watchers, challengers, and pollbook holders to exercise their rights and perform their duties within the vote center.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-8
Effective date of designation
     Sec. 8. The designation of a county as a vote center pilot county takes effect immediately unless otherwise specified by the secretary of state. As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-9
Notice of location of vote centers
     Sec. 9. The county executive shall publish notice of the location of each vote center in accordance with IC 3-11-8-3.2.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-10
Suspension of certain orders relating to precincts; revival of orders
     Sec. 10. (a) An order issued by a county to:
        (1) designate the polls for a precinct or to locate the polls for a precinct at the polls for an adjoining precinct under IC 3-10 or IC 3-11; or
        (2) omit precinct election officers under IC 3-6-6-38 at a specified precinct;
is suspended during the period that the voters of that precinct are entitled to cast a ballot at a vote center.
    (b) An order suspended under subsection (a) is revived and in full force and effect without further action by a county when the voters of that precinct are no longer entitled to cast a ballot at a vote center under this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-11
Administration of elections according to laws and plan
     Sec. 11. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the county shall administer an election conducted at a vote center in accordance with federal law, this title, and the plan submitted with the application under section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-12
Casting absentee ballots at vote centers located at satellite offices
     Sec. 12. Notwithstanding any other law, a voter who resides in a vote center pilot county is entitled to cast an absentee ballot at a vote center located at a satellite office of the county election board established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 in the same manner and subject to the same restrictions applicable to a voter wishing to cast an absentee ballot before an absentee board located in the office of the circuit court clerk or board of elections and registration.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-13
Electronic poll lists at vote centers
     Sec. 13. Notwithstanding any other law, the electronic poll list used at each vote center:
        (1) must be capable of capturing an electronic image of the signature of a voter on the list; and
        (2) may be in a format approved by the secretary of state. As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-14
Voter right to cast vote at any vote center in county
     Sec. 14. Notwithstanding any other law, including IC 3-11-8-2 and IC 3-14-2-11, a voter who resides in a vote center pilot county is entitled to cast a ballot at any vote center established in the county without regard to the precinct in which the voter resides.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-15
Vote center greeters; appointment by county election board; credentials
     Sec. 15. (a) In addition to the precinct election officers appointed under IC 3-6-6, a county election board by the unanimous vote of the entire membership may appoint one (1) or more greeters to:
        (1) direct voters entering the vote center to the appropriate location for the voters to sign the electronic poll list; and
        (2) provide other instructions to facilitate the efficient movement of individuals within the vote center.
    (b) An individual appointed as a greeter under this section must bear credentials issued by the county election board stating the name of the individual and the individual's status as a greeter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-16
Separation of ballots at vote center by precinct
     Sec. 16. The precinct election board administering an election at a vote center shall keep the ballots cast in each precinct separate from the ballots cast in any other precinct whose election is administered at the vote center, so that the votes cast for each candidate and on each public question in each of the precincts administered by the board may be determined.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-17
Amendment of county vote center plan
     Sec. 17. (a) The secretary of state may permit a county to amend a plan submitted under section 4 of this chapter.
    (b) For a county to amend its plan:
        (1) the county election board (or board of elections and registration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4), by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, must approve the filing of a request to amend the plan;
        (2) all members of the board must sign the request; and
        (3) the request must be filed with the secretary of state.
    (c) The request for amendment must set forth the specific amendments proposed to be made to the plan.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.
IC 3-11-18-18
Revocation of vote center county designation
     Sec. 18. The designation of a county as a vote center pilot county may be revoked by the secretary of state:
        (1) following the filing of a request for revocation approved by the unanimous vote of the entire membership of the county election board (or board of elections and registration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4) and signed by all members of the board; or
        (2) upon a determination by the secretary of state that the administration of the vote center pilot program within the county does not comply with:
            (A) federal or state law; or
            (B) the plan submitted under section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-19
Adoption of guidelines by secretary of state
     Sec. 19. Notwithstanding IC 4-22-2, the secretary of state may adopt guidelines to administer the pilot program under this chapter.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119.

IC 3-11-18-20
Expiration of chapter
     Sec. 20. This chapter expires December 31, 2010.
As added by P.L.164-2006, SEC.119. Amended by P.L.108-2008, SEC.3.