Tennessee § 2-3-107 - Polling places — Physical requirements — Use of public buildings — Rentals for private buildings.

§ 2-3-107. Polling places — Physical requirements — Use of public buildings — Rentals for private buildings.

The county election commission shall designate as polling places only rooms which have adequate heat, light, space and other facilities, including a sufficient number of electrical outlets where voting machines are used, for the comfortable and orderly conduct of elections. The commission shall, insofar as practicable, arrange for the use of public schools and other public buildings for polling places on election day and during the early voting period. If the county election commission has arranged for the use of a public school or a public charter school as a polling place for a regular November election, as defined in § 2-1-104, then the LEA or the public charter school, respectively, shall be closed for instruction on the election day. The LEA or the public charter school may use the day as an in-service day for school personnel. An LEA or public charter school may choose to be open or closed for instruction on election days other than days on which a regular November election occurs. If an LEA or public charter school chooses to close on an election day, then the LEA or public charter school may use the day as an in-service day for school personnel. Before adopting a calendar for a school year, each LEA and public charter school shall consult with the county election commission as to the elections that are scheduled to be conducted during the school year for which the calendar is to be adopted. Upon application of the commission, the authority which has the control of any building or grounds supported by taxation under the laws of this state shall make available the necessary space for the purpose of holding elections and adequate space for the storage of voting machines without charge. A reasonable sum may be paid for necessary extra janitor service. If a state park is to be used as a voting location, the park must establish the site for the polling place at least one (1) year prior to the date of the election, and the location of the polling site within the park may not change without the consent of the county election committee. When polling places are established in private buildings, the commission may pay a reasonable rental. Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; T.C.A., § 2-312; Acts 2001, ch. 413, § 6; 2013, ch. 231, § 3; 2018, ch. 867, § 1. Amendments. The 2018 amendment, effective January 1, 2019, added (b)(1)(B). Effective Dates. Acts 2018, ch. 867, § 2. January 1, 2019. Cross-References. Convenient voting centers, title 2, chapter 3, part 3. Law Reviews. Tennessee Civil Disabilities: A Systemic Approach (Neil P. Cohen), 41 Tenn. L. Rev. 253 (1974).