AB700-SA3,2,145
5.15
(6) (b) No later than 60 days before each September primary and general
6election, and no later than 30 days before each other election the governing body of
7any municipality may by resolution combine 2 or more wards for voting purposes to
8facilitate using a common polling place. Whenever wards are so combined, the
9original ward numbers shall continue to be utilized for all official purposes. Except
10as otherwise authorized under this paragraph, every municipality having a
11population of
50,000 or more, or 35,000 or more
after June 1, 1996, shall maintain
12separate returns for each ward so combined. In municipalities having a population
13of
less than 50,000, or less than 35,000
after June 1, 1996, the governing body may
1provide in the resolution that returns shall be maintained only for each group of
2combined wards at any election.
In municipalities having a population as shown in
3the 1990 federal decennial census of at least 87,000 but not more than 150,000, the
4governing body may provide in a resolution adopted prior to June 1, 1996 that groups
5of not more than 2 wards shall use common ballot boxes and ballots or voting
6machines and that returns shall be maintained only for each group of combined
7wards at any election held prior to June 1, 1996. Whenever a governing body
8provides for common ballot boxes and ballots or voting machines, separate returns
9shall be maintained for each separate ballot required under ss. 5.62 and 5.64 at the
10September primary and general election. The municipal clerk shall transmit a copy
11of the resolution to the county clerk of each county in which the municipality is
12contained. In municipalities having a population of
less than 50,000, or less than
1335,000
after June 1, 1996, the resolution shall remain in effect for each election until
14modified or rescinded, or until a new division is made under this section.".
