(a) As used in this chapter, 'emergency' means an occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technological, or manmade, in war or in peace, that results in a polling place being unavailable or unsuitable for voting. A natural threat includes disease, outbreaks, and epidemics.(b) Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, a county election commission shall use the following procedures when an emergency necessitates a change to a polling place location within ten (10) days of an election day: (1) A county election commission shall not change a polling place without approval of the coordinator of elections;(2) If no alternative suitable site is available within a precinct, the county election commission may create emergency supersites by moving a polling place that is unavailable or unsuitable due to an emergency to another polling place in the county. To the extent practicable, the county election commission should choose the nearest available and suitable polling place;(3) The county election commission may designate the county election commission office or other centrally located site or sites for voting by any voter in the county;(4) The county election ing place;(3) The county election commission may designate the county election commission office or other centrally located site or sites for voting by any voter in the county;(4) The county election commission shall provide notice of any changes as widely as possible under the circumstances, including, but not limited to, the media, county election commission website if the county maintains a website, secretary of state's website, and if possible, signage at each affected polling place.Added by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 655, s 4, eff. 4/2/2020.
Tennessee Legal Code