When designating polling places, the elections official shall undertake necessary measures in the locating of polling places to ensure that polling places meet the guidelines promulgated by the Secretary of State for accessibility by the physically handicapped.
PrecinctsPolling Places
Section § 12280
Elections officials are responsible for choosing polling places that are accessible to people with physical disabilities. They must follow guidelines set by the Secretary of State to ensure accessibility needs are met.
polling place accessibility elections official responsibility physically handicapped access
Section § 12281
If the original polling place for a precinct can't be used, elections officials must notify voters of a new location with a mailed notice, if there's enough time before the election. If there's not enough time, officials or the precinct board can select a new polling place, post a notice nearby the original location, and run the election at the new site. This rule doesn't apply to vote center elections.
(a)CA Elections Code § 12281(a) If, for any valid reason, the polling place designated for any precinct cannot be used, and this fact is known in sufficient time to allow a mailed notice to be received before the election, the elections official may designate another polling place and shall mail, to each voter in the precinct a notice showing this change.
(b)CA Elections Code § 12281(b) If the information is not known in sufficient time for a mailing pursuant to subdivision (a), either the elections official or, in the case of an emergency, the precinct board on the day of election, shall designate another polling place as near the place first designated as possible, post notice on or near the place first designated,
and conduct the election at the new location.
(c)CA Elections Code § 12281(c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.
polling place change voter notification emergency polling place designation
Section § 12282
If a property is exempt from taxes under a specific rule, it must be offered at no cost to election officials to use as a polling place.
Property exempted from taxation pursuant to Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be made available free of charge to the elections official for use as a polling place pursuant to Section 213.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
polling place availability tax exemption free use for elections
Section § 12283
This law defines a 'public building' in California as any building owned or controlled by local government, the University of California, California State University, or community colleges. These buildings can be used as polling places or vote centers for elections. If an elections official requests use of these spaces, the governing body must allow it, except in the case of the University of California, which is encouraged but not required to comply. School buildings used as polling places can choose to continue holding classes, close for training, or close entirely. Elections officials must request use of these buildings well in advance to allow time for planning.
When permitting use of their buildings, the governing body must ensure sufficient space is provided for voting without disruption, and offer free parking and internet access if needed. Lastly, any building used for polling must meet accessibility requirements based on various federal acts, ensuring voter access for all, including those with disabilities.
(a)CA Elections Code § 12283(a) For purposes of this section, “public building” means a building owned or controlled by any of the following:
(1)CA Elections Code § 12283(a)(1) A local governmental agency, including a city or county.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12283(a)(2) The University of California.
(3)CA Elections Code § 12283(a)(3) The California State University.
(4)CA Elections Code § 12283(a)(4) A community college district.
(b)Copy CA Elections Code § 12283(b)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(1) The governing body having jurisdiction over school buildings or other public buildings may authorize the use of its buildings for polling
places, or for vote centers, as described in Section 4005, beginning up to 10 days before the election and continuing through election day, and it may also authorize the use of its buildings, without cost, for the storage of voting machines and other vote-tabulating devices.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(2) If a city or county elections official specifically requests the use of a school building or public building for polling places, or vote centers beginning up to 10 days before the election and continuing through
election day, as well as during key dates necessary for drop-off, set-up, and pick-up of election materials, as determined by the elections official, the governing body having jurisdiction over the particular school building or public building shall allow its use for the purpose requested, except that the University of California is encouraged, but not required, to comply with a request made pursuant to this paragraph.
(3)CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(3) When allowing use of a school building for polling places or vote centers, the governing body may, but is not required to, do any of the following:
(A)CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(3)(A) Continue school in session, if the governing body identifies to the elections official making the request the specific areas of the school buildings not occupied by school activities that
will be allowed for use as polling places or vote centers.
(B)CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(3)(B) Designate the day for staff training and development.
(C)CA Elections Code § 12283(b)(3)(C) Close the school to students and certificated employees.
(c)Copy CA Elections Code § 12283(c)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 12283(c)(1) An elections official requesting the use of a school building pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include in the official’s request a list of the schools from which the use of a building for polling places or vote centers is needed. Requests must be made within sufficient time in advance of the school year for the governing body to determine, on a school-by-school or districtwide basis, whether to keep the affected schools in session, designate the schoolday for staff training and development, or close the school to students
and nonclassified employees before school calendars are printed and distributed to parents.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12283(c)(2) An elections official requesting the use of a public building pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include in the official’s request a list of the buildings from which the use of a building for polling places or vote centers is needed. Requests shall be made sufficiently before election day for the governing body of the city, county, or other local governmental agency to adequately plan for the public building’s use as a polling place or vote center.
(d)CA Elections Code § 12283(d) Once a governing body has approved the use of a school building or public building as a polling place or vote center, the governing body shall instruct the school district or other public administrator to provide the elections official a site
with an adequate amount of space that will allow the precinct board or vote center to perform its duties in a manner that will not impede, interfere, or interrupt the normal process of voting and to make internet access available for use by local elections officials, if requested. Beginning 10 days before the election and continuing through election day, if requested by the elections official, the district administrator shall make building parking available at no charge to the precinct or vote center board and voters.
(e)CA Elections Code § 12283(e) A public building, including, but not limited to, a building operated by a school district, that is used as a polling place or vote center shall comply with applicable accessibility requirements described in this article, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.).
public building definition local government buildings polling places
Section § 12284
This law allows state elections officials to use state-owned buildings and parking lots for polling places and vote centers without charging a fee. However, the Department of General Services can refuse to offer certain facilities if they cannot keep confidential materials safe, the public cannot access them, using them would disrupt state business, or they are not practical for voting purposes.
Upon request of the elections official, state-owned buildings, parking lots, and other facilities shall be made available free of charge for use as polling places and vote centers, except that the Department of General Services may exclude from use as polling places or vote centers state facilities at which access to confidential materials cannot be reasonably safeguarded, which are inaccessible to the public, the use of which would disrupt state business, or which are otherwise impractical for use as polling places.
polling places vote centers state-owned buildings
Section § 12285
This law says that a mobile home can be used as a polling place if there are no other facilities available for mobile home park residents to vote conveniently. The elections official must designate the mobile home as a polling place according to specific rules. Also, rental agreements can't stop the use of a mobile home for this purpose.
A mobilehome may be used as a polling place if the elections official determines that no other facilities are available for the convenient exercise of voting rights by mobilehome park residents and the mobilehome is designated as a polling place by the elections official pursuant to Section 12286. No rental agreement shall prohibit the use of a mobilehome for those purposes.
mobilehome polling place voting rights elections official
Section § 12286
The law outlines the responsibilities of the elections official at least 29 days before an election. They must set up a convenient number of election precincts within the area, establish precinct boundaries, designate polling places for each precinct, and appoint and notify a precinct board for each jurisdiction. Elections officials should try to allow voters attending from different districts to vote at one polling place when possible.
Additionally, in areas where only landowners vote, specific polling places will be designated for nonresident landowners. These rules don't apply to elections using vote centers.
(a)CA Elections Code § 12286(a) At least 29 days prior to the election, the elections official shall do all of the following:
(1)CA Elections Code § 12286(a)(1) Establish a convenient number of election precincts within the affected jurisdiction.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12286(a)(2) Define the precinct boundaries.
(3)CA Elections Code § 12286(a)(3) Designate a polling place for each precinct.
(4)CA Elections Code § 12286(a)(4) Appoint for each precinct a precinct board pursuant to Sections 12302 to 12304, inclusive.
(5)CA Elections Code § 12286(a)(5) Notify the members of each precinct board
of their appointment and the location of the precinct and polling place where they will serve.
(b)CA Elections Code § 12286(b) The elections official, in establishing precincts and defining their boundaries, shall, to the extent practicable, provide for a single polling place where a voter entitled to vote in more than one district may cast all of his or her ballots.
(c)CA Elections Code § 12286(c) In a landowner voting district, the county elections official shall designate the polling place at which a nonresident landowner shall vote.
(d)CA Elections Code § 12286(d) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.
elections official duties establish election precincts define precinct boundaries
Section § 12287
The law states that a candidate's home cannot be used as a polling place in any election where their name is on the ballot.
A candidate’s residence shall not be designated as a polling place for an election at which that candidate’s name will appear on the ballot.
candidate residence polling place restriction election integrity
Section § 12287.5
This law states that a single-family home cannot be used as a polling place if it is the registered address of a person required to register as a sex offender. Elections officials must check the address using the Megan’s Law website no more than 60 days before selecting the location as a polling place. Additionally, any elections official who is a registered sex offender is banned from accessing the public Megan’s Law website.
A single-family residence shall not be designated as a polling place if elections officials determine that it has the registered address of a person who is required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act. Elections officials shall, not more than 60 days prior to designating a single-family residence as a polling place, use the Megan’s Law Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice to determine if the residence has the registered address of a sex offender. In accordance with subdivision (k) of Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, an elections official who is required to register as a sex offender shall be prohibited from accessing the Megan’s Law public Internet Web site.
polling place restrictions single-family residence sex offender registration
Section § 12288
Polling places must not have doors, windows, or any openings connecting them to areas where alcohol is sold or served while voting is underway.
A polling place shall not be accessible by a door, window, or other opening to any place where any alcoholic beverage is sold or dispensed while the polls are open.
polling place accessibility alcohol prohibition voting location rules
