Tennessee § 2-3-302 - Establishment of convenient voting centers.

§ 2-3-302. Establishment of convenient voting centers.

After the required approval of the project plan for the convenient voting centers, the county election commission may create a program that establishes convenient voting centers within the county pursuant to § 2-3-303 for local elections conducted in 2019, and for federal, state, and local elections held in 2020. If convenient voting centers are used in the election, the county election commission shall not be limited by the provisions set forth in § 2-3-101(a); provided, that no polling location may be changed within ten (10) days of an election except in an emergency. Each convenient voting center used in the pilot project shall have a secure electronic connection, certified by the coordinator of elections, to the computerized voter registration system maintained by the county election commission permitting all voting information processed by any computer at a convenient voting center to be immediately accessible to all other computers at all convenient voting centers in the county. The secure electronic connection shall be sufficient to prevent any voter from voting more than once and to prevent unauthorized access to the computerized voter registration system. Each convenient voting center shall meet applicable federal and state laws, including the accessibility requirements of the Help America Vote Act (42 U.S.C. § 15301). Chapter 7 of this title applies to all convenient voting centers. This part applies only in counties having a population of not less than forty-four thousand five hundred (44,500) nor more than forty-four thousand six hundred (44,600), in counties having a population of not less than one hundred thirteen thousand nine hundred (113,900) nor more than one hundred fourteen thousand (114,000), and in counties having a population of not less than one hundred eighty-three thousand one hundred (183,100) nor more than one hundred eighty-three thousand two hundred (183,200), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census. Prior to closing a polling location due to the opening or availability of a convenient voting center, the county election commission shall announce a thirty-day period in which the commission shall receive public comment from registered voters regarding the closing of the polling location. If a polling location is closed due to the opening of a convenient voting center, the county election commission shall endeavor to ensure that convenient voting centers are located in locations convenient to voters who had been assigned to the closed polling location. If a polling location is closed due to the opening of a convenient voting center, the county election commission shall post signage on election day, and during the early voting period if that polling location was used as an early voting center, in a conspicuous manner on or near the entrances to the closed polling location that states that the polling location is closed and that provides the address of each convenient voting center. The posting requirement must be met until after the next November statewide general election following the closure. Acts 2016, ch. 768, § 1; 2019, ch. 445, §§ 1-3. Compiler's Notes. Former part 3, §§ 2-3-301 — 2-3-308 (Acts 2008, ch. 1087, § 1; 2011, ch. 455, §§ 1-5; 2013, ch. 236, § 65), concerning municipalities willing to participate in the convenient voting centers pilot project, was repealed and reenacted by Acts 2016, ch. 768, § 1, effective January 1, 2017. For table of U.S. decennial populations of Tennessee counties, see Volume 13 and its supplement. Amendments. The 2019 amendment, in (a), substituted “After the required” for “Upon”, “may” for “shall”, and “local elections conducted in 2019, and for federal, state, and local elections held in 2020” for “local and state elections scheduled in 2018 after January 1, 2017”; and added (f)–(i). Effective Dates. Acts 2016, ch. 768, § 2. January 1, 2017. Acts 2019, ch. 445, § 4. July 1, 2019.