Emergency

Primary definition

A situation requiring postponement of ordinary election activities. "The governor may, upon issuance of an executive order declaring a state of emergency or impending emergency, suspend or delay any qualifying of candidates, absentee voting in person, or elections. The governor shall take such action only upon the certification of the secretary of state that a state of emergency exists." La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §18:401.1(B). The states do not have the power to delay elections for OFFICES. "If an emergency occurs that will adversely affect the FEDERAL conduct of an election at which candidates for federal office will appear on the ballot, the election shall not be postponed or delayed." Iowa Admin. Code 721-21.1(12). See also EMERGENCY. ELECTION

Also known asstate of emergency · impending emergency · election emergency · emergency declaration · federal emergency
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
Electronic Voting GlossaryView source

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Carnegie Mellon University

A situation requiring postponement of ordinary election activities. "The governor may, upon issuance of an executive order declaring a state of emergency or impending emergency, suspend or delay any qualifying of candidates, absentee voting in person, or elections. The governor shall take such action only upon the certification of the secretary of state that a state of emergency exists." La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §18:401.1(B). The states do not have the power to delay elections for OFFICES. "If an emergency occurs that will adversely affect the FEDERAL conduct of an election at which candidates for federal office will appear on the ballot, the election shall not be postponed or delayed." Iowa Admin. Code 721-21.1(12). See also EMERGENCY. ELECTION

Electronic Voting Glossary · 2024

Cite this term

Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Emergency. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/emergency

Sources

1 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026

01

Electronic Voting Glossary
Electronic Voting Glossary

Single-source

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