§11-92.3  Consolidated precincts; naturaldisasters; postponement; absentee voting required; special elections.  (a) In the event of a flood, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, high wind, orother natural disaster, occurring prior to an election, that makes a precinctinaccessible, the chief election officer or county clerk in the case of countyelections may consolidate precincts within a representative district.  If theextent 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 issubstantially impaired, the chief election officer or county clerk in the caseof county elections may require the registered voters of the affected precinctto vote by absentee ballot pursuant to section 15-2.5 and may postpone theconducting of an election in the affected precinct for no more than twenty-onedays; provided that any such postponement shall not affect the conduct of theelection, tabulation, or distribution of results for those precincts,districts, or counties not designated for postponement.  The chief electionofficer or county clerk in the case of county elections shall give notice ofthe consolidation, postponement, or requirement to vote by absentee ballot, inthe affected county or precinct prior to the opening of the precinct pollingplace by whatever possible news or broadcast media are available.  Precinctofficials and workers affected by any consolidation shall not forfeit theirpay.

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

A special, special primary, or special generalelection precinct shall be considered the same as an established precinct forall purposes, including precinct official requirements provided in section11-71.  Not later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day prior to the special, specialprimary, or special general election, the chief election officer or the countyclerk shall give public notice, in the area in which the special, specialprimary, or special general election is to be held, of the special, specialprimary, or special general election precincts and their polling places. Notices of the consolidation also shall be posted on election day at theestablished precinct polling places, giving the location of the special,special primary, or special general election precinct polling place. [L 1983, c34, §11; am L 1993, c 304, §5; am L 1996, c 215, §3; am L 1998, c 2, §5]