{ "id": "RS21942", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RS21942", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 104722, "date": "2004-10-26", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T20:05:51.482167", "title": "State Election Laws: Overview of Statutes Regarding Emergency Election Postponement Within the State", "summary": "Federal law establishes the date of the general presidential election as the Tuesday following the\nfirst\nMonday in November every four years. However, due to the possibility of an emergency or disaster,\nincluding the threat of a terrorist attack, occurring immediately before or during a scheduled election,\nsome states have enacted statutes providing for the temporary postponement of elections in their\nrespective states, precincts, districts, or counties. This Report summarizes seven state statutes that\nprovide a mechanism for the postponement of certain elections. In the event of emergencies or\ndisasters, it appears that these laws might provide for the postponement of the general presidential\nelection within the state. (1) The following state statutes are summarized: \nFlorida, Georgia, Hawaii,\nLouisiana, Maryland, New York, and North Carolina. In addition, examples of state statutes that\ngrant the governor the power to suspend certain state laws during an emergency are included. \nAlthough these statutes do not mention elections, they might be relied on to support the state's delay\nof the general presidential election in an emergency. (2) \n 1. \u00a0As this Report provides a summary overview of various\nstate statutory provisions, it is of paramount\nimportance to consult with the appropriate secretary of state or state board of elections for more\ndetailed\ninformation regarding each state's election procedures and regulations. As states may address\nelection\npostponement through rules, regulations, executive orders or other means, this summary of statutes\nis not a\ncomprehensive discussion of election postponement procedures and may not be an exhaustive list\nof states\nwhere election postponement provisions exist. For further information regarding issues relating to\nelection\npostponement, see CRS Report RL32471(pdf) , Executive Branch Power to Postpone\nElections, by Kenneth R.\nThomas.\n 2. \u00a0The Author appreciates the research assistance provided by\nAngela Napili, Information Resource Specialist,\nOffice of Information Resources Management.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21942", "sha1": "6830520ac3d04f500c9b8d0590c3d60f20fa9178", "filename": "files/20041026_RS21942_6830520ac3d04f500c9b8d0590c3d60f20fa9178.pdf", "images": null }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20041026_RS21942_6830520ac3d04f500c9b8d0590c3d60f20fa9178.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs5862/", "id": "RS21942 2004-09-22", "date": "2004-09-22", "retrieved": "2005-06-11T06:16:13", "title": "State Election Laws: Overview of Statutes Regarding Emergency Election Postponement Within the State", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20040922_RS21942_8a36ea8b92fcd1802c9dab8fe1d4acad8a112ffa.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20040922_RS21942_8a36ea8b92fcd1802c9dab8fe1d4acad8a112ffa.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Elections", "name": "Elections" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Election law - U.S. - States", "name": "Election law - U.S. - States" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "State and local government", "name": "State and local government" } ] } ], "topics": [ "American Law" ] }