CHAPTER 18. VOTE CENTERS
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 votecenter 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 votecenter 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 pilotcounty:
(1) the county election board (or board of elections andregistration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4), byunanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, mustapprove the filing of an application to be designated a votecenter 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 administrationof vote centers in the county. The plan must include at least thefollowing:
(1) The total number of vote centers to be established.
(2) The location of each vote center, and the municipality, ifany, in which the vote center is located.
(3) A list of each municipality within the county that is entitledto conduct a municipal primary or municipal election, as of thedate of the application.
(4) The total number of voters within each municipality, as ofthe date of the application, and the number of those voterswithin each municipality designated as "active" and "inactive"according to the county voter registration office.
(5) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), a listof the precincts whose polls will be located at the vote center. (6) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), thenumber of precinct election boards that will be appointed toadminister an election at the vote center.
(7) For each precinct election board designated undersubdivision (6), the number and name of each precinct theprecinct election board will administer.
(8) For each vote center designated under subdivision (2), thenumber and title of the precinct election officers who will beappointed 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 beprovided at the vote center; and
(B) whether these ballots will be:
(i) delivered to the vote center before the opening of thepolls; or
(ii) printed on demand for a voter's use.
(10) A detailed description of any hardware, firmware, orsoftware used:
(A) to create an electronic poll list for each precinct whosepolls are to be located at a vote center; or
(B) to establish a secure electronic connection between thecounty election board and the precinct election officialsadministering a vote center.
(11) A description of the equipment and procedures to be usedto ensure that information concerning a voter entered into anyelectronic poll list used by precinct election officers at a votecenter is immediately accessible to:
(A) the county election board; and
(B) the electronic poll lists used by precinct election officersat all other vote centers in the county.
(12) For each precinct designated under subdivision (5), thenumber of electronic poll lists to be provided for the precinct.
(13) The security and contingency plans to be implemented bythe county to:
(A) prevent a disruption of the vote center process; and
(B) ensure that the election is properly conducted if adisruption occurs.
(14) A certification that the vote center complies with theaccessibility requirements applicable to polling places underIC 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 atsatellite offices that are established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 toallow 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 eachmunicipality within the county conducting a municipal primary or amunicipal election.
(b) A vote center may not be used in a municipal primary ormunicipal election conducted within a municipality that is partiallylocated in a county that has not been designated a vote center pilotcounty.
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 section4(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 foreach 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 tenthousand (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 asa vote center pilot county under this chapter, the secretary of statemust determine the following:
(1) That the secure electronic connection as described undersection 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 tobe 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 andprecinct officers will provide the most efficient access for:
(A) voters to enter the polls, cast their ballots, and leave thevote center; and
(B) precinct election officials, watchers, challengers, andpollbook holders to exercise their rights and perform theirduties 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 countytakes effect immediately unless otherwise specified by the secretaryof 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 locationof 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 aprecinct at the polls for an adjoining precinct under IC 3-10 orIC 3-11; or
(2) omit precinct election officers under IC 3-6-6-38 at aspecified precinct;
is suspended during the period that the voters of that precinct areentitled to cast a ballot at a vote center.
(b) An order suspended under subsection (a) is revived and in fullforce and effect without further action by a county when the votersof that precinct are no longer entitled to cast a ballot at a vote centerunder 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 countyshall administer an election conducted at a vote center in accordancewith federal law, this title, and the plan submitted with theapplication 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 avote center pilot county is entitled to cast an absentee ballot at a votecenter located at a satellite office of the county election boardestablished under IC 3-11-10-26.3 in the same manner and subject tothe same restrictions applicable to a voter wishing to cast an absenteeballot before an absentee board located in the office of the circuitcourt 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 listused at each vote center:
(1) must be capable of capturing an electronic image of thesignature 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 3-11-8-2and IC 3-14-2-11, a voter who resides in a vote center pilot county isentitled to cast a ballot at any vote center established in the countywithout 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 appointedunder IC 3-6-6, a county election board by the unanimous vote of theentire membership may appoint one (1) or more greeters to:
(1) direct voters entering the vote center to the appropriatelocation for the voters to sign the electronic poll list; and
(2) provide other instructions to facilitate the efficientmovement of individuals within the vote center.
(b) An individual appointed as a greeter under this section mustbear credentials issued by the county election board stating the nameof 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 ata vote center shall keep the ballots cast in each precinct separatefrom the ballots cast in any other precinct whose election isadministered at the vote center, so that the votes cast for eachcandidate and on each public question in each of the precinctsadministered 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 amenda 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 andregistration established under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4), byunanimous vote of the entire membership of the board, mustapprove 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 specificamendments 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 countymay be revoked by the secretary of state:
(1) following the filing of a request for revocation approved bythe unanimous vote of the entire membership of the countyelection board (or board of elections and registrationestablished under IC 3-6-5.2 or IC 3-6-5.4) and signed by allmembers of the board; or
(2) upon a determination by the secretary of state that theadministration of the vote center pilot program within thecounty 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 mayadopt 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.