§ 5-506. Optional use of computer registration lists. 1.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter to the contrary, a board
of elections may apply to the state board of elections for permission to
discontinue preparation, use and maintenance of registration poll
records.

2. The state board of elections shall adopt regulations establishing
the requirements which must be met by a board of elections seeking such
permission.

3. Such requirements shall include, but not be limited to the
following:

a. The board of elections maintains a complete, current, computer
readable record for each registered voter which includes a reproducible
signature, except that the record of the elections in which such voter
has voted shall not be required to be maintained in such record for
longer than the five previous calendar years. Such record may also
include a copy of the entire registration poll record or application for
registration of each such voter.

b. The board of elections maintains at least two copies of such
computer readable records, which it stores in two different buildings.

c. The computer generated registration list prepared for each election
in each election district shall be prepared in a manner which meets or
exceeds standards for clarity and speed of production established by the
state board of elections, shall be in a form approved by such board,
shall include the names of all voters eligible to vote in such election
and shall be in alphabetical order, except that, at a primary election,
the names of the voters enrolled in each political party may be placed
in a separate part of the list or in a separate list, as the board of
elections in its discretion, may determine. Such list shall contain,
adjacent to each voter's name, or in a space so designated, at least the
following: street address, date of birth, party enrollment, year of
registration, a computer reproduced facsimile of the voter's signature
or an indication that the voter is unable to sign his name, a place for
the voter to sign his name at such election and a place for the
inspectors to mark the voting machine number, the public counter number
if any, or the number of any paper ballots given the voter.

d. The board of elections preserves, for as long as registration
records are otherwise required to be preserved, the original application
for registration or registration poll record of every registered voter
filed in a manner which makes such records available for examination or,
if the computer readable record for each registered voter maintained by
the board of elections includes a copy of the entire registration poll
record or application for registration of each such voter, the board of
elections preserves the original of each such poll record or application
in such a manner for a period of at least two years, or such longer
period as the state board of elections may require, after such copy is
entered in the computer readable record or if such computer readable
records do not include the backs of those registration poll records
which have been used at one or more elections, the board preserves the
original of each such poll record for a period of at least two years
after such copy is entered in such computer readable record or four
years after the last election at which such poll record was used,
whichever is later, or such longer period as the state board of
elections may require.

4. After such inquiry as it deems appropriate, the state board of
elections shall approve the applications of those boards of elections
whose systems meet the requirements established by this section and the
regulations of the state board. Such boards may then discontinue
preparation, use and maintenance of registration poll records.

5. If the state board of elections amends its regulations, a board of
elections whose system was previously approved by the state board shall
have a reasonable time to conform to the new regulation.

6. If the state board of elections determines on its own initiative,
or upon investigation of a complaint, that the system being used by a
board of elections is not in compliance with the requirements of this
section and the regulations of the state board, it shall order such
board of elections to comply forthwith.

7. If such a board of elections does not comply with the provisions of
subdivision six of this section, the state board shall issue an order
withdrawing permission to discontinue use of registration poll records
and such board of elections shall be required to reinstitute use of such
records on the first day of December following issuance of such an
order.

8. No computer tape, computer disc or other record which can be used
to reproduce such computer generated facsimile signatures shall be sold
or otherwise distributed other than for use by a board of elections or
upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. However all other
data contained on any such tape, disc or record shall be sold or
otherwise distributed in the same manner as other records of the board
of elections.