Rather than operating a network of precincts, North Dakota counties soon could have authority to set up election "voting centers" to serve people from a broader area.

"The counties and the auditors believe that this option will allow them to concentrate their resources, including personnel, equipment and materials, in the best manner on Election Day," said Sen. Carolyn Nelson, D-Fargo.

North Dakota's Senate voted 44-0 on Wednesday to give final legislative approval to a bill that allows counties to establish the centers. The measure, which was introduced at the behest of Secretary of State Al Jaeger, now goes to Gov. John Hoeven for his review.

Voting centers could have ballots for some or all of a county's precincts and voters will still get a ballot that is specific to their precinct, Nelson said. The option could help eliminate voters' confusion about where they should go to vote, she said.

North Dakotans already may vote weeks before an election by absentee ballot or by visiting their county courthouse, and the bill does not disturb those options. "This does not change any of the existing ways of voting," Nelson said.

The voting center would help North Dakotans who commute to work in larger cities within their home counties, she said.

"In our commuting society, there are voters who leave their home precinct within the county prior to the opening of the polls and are unable to return prior to the closing of the polls," Nelson said. "They want to cast an actual ballot at an actual polling site. This would allow them to do that."

The bill is HB1378.