25-26a04. Same; maps; requirements; word description; filing with secretary of state; notification of change. (a) Each county election officer shall provide and maintain a suitable map or maps drawn to a scale no smaller than ½ mile to the inch in incorporated places and urban areas and no smaller than two miles to the inch in rural areas and clearly delineating all major observable features such as roads, streams, and railway lines and other visible ground features which meet the requirements of the federal bureau of the census for use as census block boundaries and showing the current geographical boundaries of each election precinct, representative district and senatorial district in the county. A street or other roadway which has been platted but not graded is not a visible or observable feature for the purposes of this section. The names of the features, including municipal boundaries, which constitute the boundaries of the precincts shall be shown clearly on the map or maps. The names or designations of the precincts shall be marked on the map or maps. A word description of the geographical boundaries shall be attached to each map. Such map, with attached description, shall be a public record.

(b) Each county election officer shall send a copy of each map or maps with attached description to the secretary of state. Such copies shall be public records.

(c) The county election officer shall notify the secretary of state in writing at least 30 days before any change in a political subdivision boundary or any changes in the boundaries or the reorganization of election precincts become effective and shall furnish a copy of the map or maps showing the current geographical boundaries, designation and word description of each new election precinct. The visible ground features of changed or new precinct boundaries shown on the map or maps, if not coinciding with an existing census block as established by the federal bureau of the census, shall be documented for actual physical existence using either topographical quadrangles of the United States Geological Survey or aerial photography or a plat of the precinct boundaries certified by a licensed engineer or licensed land surveyor and clearly stating and certifying that such engineer or surveyor has personally viewed the precinct boundaries and observed the actual physical existence of the visible ground features delineating such boundaries.

History: L. 1987, ch. 123, § 4; L. 1988, ch. 121, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 127, § 3; April 19.