COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 2310

(By Delegates Amores, Johnson, Tillis, Mahan, Capito, Rowe and Riggs)


(Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)

[January 22, 1999]


A BILL to amend and reenact section thirty-seven, article one, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to permitting children fourteen years of age and under to accompany their parent or legal guardian to the polls; and making certain technical revisions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section thirty-seven, article one, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS.

ยง3-1-37. Restrictions on presence and conduct at polls.
(a) No person, except other than the election officers and voters while going to the election room to vote and returning therefrom, may be or remain within three hundred feet of the outside entrance to the building housing the polling place while the polls are open; but this section. This subsection does not apply to persons living or carrying on who reside or conduct business within that such distance of the election room entrance to the building housing the polling place, while in the discharge of their legitimate business, or to persons whose business requires them to pass and repass within three hundred feet of such entrance.
(b) A person who is delivering a voter to a polling place by motor vehicle may drive such vehicle to a convenient and accessible location to discharge the voter, notwithstanding that the location is within three hundred feet of the outside entrance to the building housing the polling place. Upon discharging such voter from the vehicle, the person shall remove the vehicle from within three hundred feet of the entrance until such time as the voter is to be transported from the polling place or another voter delivered: Provided, That vehicles delivering voters who require assistance by reason of blindness, disability or advanced age may remain within three hundred feet of the entrance until such time as the voter is to be transported from the polling place.
(c) The election commissions shall limit the number of voters in the election room so as to preserve order. No person may approach nearer than five feet to any booth or compartment while the election is being held, except the voters to prepare their ballots, or the poll clerks when called on by a voter to assist in the preparation of his ballot, and no person, other than election officers and voters engaged in receiving, preparing and depositing their ballots, may be permitted to be within five feet of any ballot box, except by authority of the board of election commissioners, and then only for the purpose of keeping order and enforcing the law.
(d) Not more than one person may be permitted to occupy any booth or compartment at one time. No person may remain in or occupy a booth or compartment longer than may be necessary to prepare his ballot, and in no event longer than five minutes, except that any person who claims a disability pursuant to section thirty-four of this article shall have additional time up to ten additional minutes to prepare his ballot. No voter, or person offering to vote, may hold any conversation or communication with any person other than the poll clerks or commissioners of election, while in the election room.
(e) The provisions of this section do not apply to persons rendering assistance to blind voters as provided in section thirty- four of this article or to any child fourteen years of age or younger who accompanies a parent or legal guardian who is voting. Any dispute concerning the age of a child accompanying a parent or legal guardian who is voting shall be determined by the election commissioners.

Note: The purpose of this bill is to permit children seven years of age or younger to accompany their parent to the polls.