(a) Under no circumstance shall a precinct close due to ballot shortage. The election board chairperson for the precinct shall monitor the ballot supply at the precinct throughout election day and apprise the Clerk of any projected shortage in the number of available ballots.

(b) Upon being informed by an election official that there is a projected shortage of ballots, the Clerk shall promptly supply the precinct with additional printed ballots. If sufficient additional printed ballots are not available, the Clerk shall supply the precinct with copies of the original ballot marked “Alternate Ballot.”