§11-92.3  Consolidated precincts; natural
disasters; postponement; absentee voting required; special elections.  (a) 
In the event of a flood, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, high wind, or
other natural disaster, occurring prior to an election, that makes a precinct
inaccessible, the chief election officer or county clerk in the case of county
elections may consolidate precincts within a representative district.  If the
extent of damage caused by any natural disaster is such that the ability of voters,
in any precinct, district, or county, to exercise their right to vote is
substantially impaired, the chief election officer or county clerk in the case
of county elections may require the registered voters of the affected precinct
to vote by absentee ballot pursuant to section 15-2.5 and may postpone the
conducting of an election in the affected precinct for no more than twenty-one
days; provided that any such postponement shall not affect the conduct of the
election, tabulation, or distribution of results for those precincts,
districts, or counties not designated for postponement.  The chief election
officer or county clerk in the case of county elections shall give notice of
the consolidation, postponement, or requirement to vote by absentee ballot, in
the affected county or precinct prior to the opening of the precinct polling
place by whatever possible news or broadcast media are available.  Precinct
officials and workers affected by any consolidation shall not forfeit their
pay.



(b)  In the event the chief election officer or
the county clerk in a county election determines that the number of candidates
or issues on the ballot in a special, special primary, or special general
election does not require the full number of established precincts, the precincts
may be consolidated for the purposes of the special, special primary, or
special general election into a small number of special, special primary, or
special general election precincts.



A special, special primary, or special general
election precinct shall be considered the same as an established precinct for
all purposes, including precinct official requirements provided in section
11-71.  Not later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day prior to the special, special
primary, or special general election, the chief election officer or the county
clerk shall give public notice, in the area in which the special, special
primary, or special general election is to be held, of the special, special
primary, or special general election precincts and their polling places. 
Notices of the consolidation also shall be posted on election day at the
established precinct polling places, giving the location of the special,
special primary, or special general election precinct polling place. [L 1983, c
34, §11; am L 1993, c 304, §5; am L 1996, c 215, §3; am L 1998, c 2, §5]