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CHAPTER 16.1-04PRECINCTS AND VOTING PLACES16.1-04-01.Precincts - Duties and responsibilities of the board of countycommissioners or the governing body of the city. The board of county commissioners of
each county:1.Shall divide the county into precincts and establish the precinct boundaries, except
that within the boundaries of any incorporated city, the governing body of the city
shall divide the city into precincts and establish their boundaries pursuant to title 40.
Any number of townships or parts of townships may be joined into a single precinct
provided that no precinct may encompass more than one legislative district.2.May alter the number and size of precincts within the county by combining or
dividing precincts. However, the governing body of any incorporated city has the
authority to alter the number and size of precincts located within its boundaries. The
board of county commissioners may relinquish the jurisdiction provided under
subsection 1 over all or any portion of a township or townships under its jurisdiction
to a city for the purpose of establishing a voting precinct if a majority of the
governing body of the city agrees to assume such jurisdiction. The governing body
of a city, by majority vote, may return jurisdiction granted herein to the county and
the county shall accept that jurisdiction.16.1-04-02.Voting places - Duties and responsibilities of the board of countycommissioners or the governing body of the city. The board of county commissioners of
each county:1.Shall designate a voting place for each precinct and may alter the voting places
when there is a good and sufficient reason. However, the voting places for precincts
located within the boundaries of any incorporated city must be designated, and
altered if required, by the governing body of the city.2.Shall provide that all voting places are accessible to the elderly and the physically
disabled.3.May utilize vote centers that contain all of the precincts in a county so that any
qualified elector of the county may choose to cast a ballot in that polling location.
Qualified electors may vote early at early voting precincts, by absentee ballot, at the
polling location of their residential precinct, or at a county vote center. Vote center
polling places must serve as the designated polling place for at least one precinct in
the county in addition to serving as the site where any county voter may cast a
ballot.An individual voting or attempting to vote more than once in any singleelection is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.16.1-04-03. Time limitations. The authority granted by this chapter must be exercisedby the respective governing bodies no later than December thirty-first of the year immediately
preceding an election cycle and no later than seventy days before a special election. If legislative
reapportionment occurs, the authority granted by this chapter must be exercised, as it relates to
the establishment or reestablishment of voting precincts that may be required because of any
change in legislative districts, within thirty-five days after the effective date of the
reapportionment.Page No. 1Document Outlinechapter 16.1-04 precincts and voting places