§ 4-211 Absentee voting.
A. The Election Commission shall honor valid, individual requests for absentee voting from all eligible voters for the election. Requests on the behalf of another eligible voter will be reviewed and approved at the discretion of the Election Commission.
B. Process for Absentee Ballots.
1. General Election.
a. Eligible voters must submit a request for an absentee ballot to the Election Commission in writing by 5:00 p.m. at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the general election using their date of birth and name as it appears on records from the Office of Enrollment. Request of an absentee ballot may be submitted via facsimile, electronic mail, or any other option that the Election Commission deems appropriate. The Election Commission shall not accept a completed absentee ballot from any person who has not submitted a written request for an absentee ballot by the above deadline.
b. The Election Commission will confirm receipt of all requests for absentee ballots.
c. The Election Commission shall mail absentee ballots to those who have properly requested absentee ballots at least twenty-one (21) calendar days prior to the general election.
d. All absentee ballots must be mailed and delivered by USPS to the Election Commission post office box no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before the general election.
2. Runoff or Special Election.
a. Eligible voters must submit a request for an absentee ballot to the Election Commission in writing by the date and time established by the Election Commission prior to the election using their date of birth and name as it appears on records from the Office of Enrollment. Request of an absentee ballot may be submitted via facsimile, electronic mail, or any other option that the Election Commission deems appropriate. The Election Commission shall not accept a completed absentee ballot from any person who has not submitted a written request for an absentee ballot by the deadline.
b. The Election Commission will confirm receipt of all requests for absentee ballots.
c. The Election Commission shall mail absentee ballots to those who have properly requested absentee ballots prior to the election.
d. All absentee ballots must be mailed and delivered to the Election Commission no later than noticed before the election.
3. Amendment Election.
a. Eligible voters must submit a request for an absentee ballot to the Election Commission in writing by 5:00 p.m. at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the amendment election using their date of birth and name as it appears on records from the Office of Enrollment. Request of an absentee ballot may be submitted via facsimile, electronic mail, or any other option that the Election Commission deems appropriate. The Election Commission shall not accept a completed absentee ballot from any person who has not submitted a written request for an absentee ballot by the above deadline.
b. The Election Commission will confirm receipt of all requests for absentee ballots.
c. The Election Commission shall mail absentee ballots to those who have properly requested absentee ballots at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the general election.
d. All absentee ballots must be mailed and delivered by USPS to the Election Commission post office box no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.
e. If an absentee ballot is unable to be returned by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election, then the absentee voter may request a replacement ballot pursuant to Section 4-308 and upon verification by the Election Commission that an eligible voter has not already voted.
C. The Election Commission shall not be held responsible for absentee ballots that are returned beyond the deadline.
D. The Election Commission will mail absentee ballots to the address on file with the Office of Enrollment, unless an alternate address is provided.
E. In the event of death prior to the election, an absentee vote by the deceased will be removed during vote tallying.
F. Voting Procedures for Absentee Ballots.
1. The Election Commission shall mail out an absentee voter packet to each eligible absentee voter who has properly requested an absentee ballot. The Election Commission shall use an approved absentee voter packet, which shall contain the following items:
a. An official absentee ballot.
b. An inner envelope marked “Absentee Ballot
.”
c. A prepaid postage outer envelope addressed to the Election Commission with the name of the eligible voter as it appears with the Office of Enrollment.
d. A certificate for notarization for all nonelder voters. Notarization shall be paid at the eligible voter’s expense.
e. An instruction page for completing the absentee ballot.
f. General Election. A notice that voters who vote by absentee ballot will be provided runoff ballots, if applicable, by mail. All eligible voters will be able to vote in any necessary runoff elections held in conjunction with the general election.
2. The voter shall vote by marking the absentee ballot. The voter shall seal the ballot in the envelope marked “Absentee Ballot
,” which, in turn, must be sealed in the outer envelope. The voter’s signature on the notarization form provided by the Election Commission must be notarized for the vote to be valid. Elders are not required to have the absentee ballot notarized.
3. It is the responsibility of the voter to ensure a completed absentee ballot is returned to the Election Commission by the deadline.
4. The Election Commission will collect all mailed absentee ballots from the post office box at 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the election. All envelopes are to be secured in a lock box or bag, and be immediately transported to a secure location under twenty-four (24) hour surveillance.
5. The Election Commission shall keep a list of persons who have requested an absentee ballot. Eligible voters that request absentee ballots may still vote on election day. In the event an absentee ballot was submitted by the eligible voter, the absentee ballot will be discarded during vote tallying and the in-person ballot will be counted.
6. No later than fourteen (14) calendar days before the general election and seven (7) calendar days before any other election, the Election Commission shall issue another absentee ballot to an individual who has lost, spoiled, or mutilated his or her absentee ballot.
7. At least two (2) members of the Election Commission shall be present to pick up the mail from the post office after the absentee ballots have been sent to voters, with the last Election Commission mail pickup occurring at 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election. The Election Commission shall keep all of the absentee ballots in a lock box or bag, and be immediately transported to a secure location under twenty-four (24) hour surveillance until voter authentication, counting, and opening of the absentee ballots begin on election day.
G. Any absentee vote-by-mail envelope not properly filled out or notarized as required will not be counted and will be recorded as a spoiled ballot. (Res. 2021-54; Res. 2020-14; Res. 2015-24; Res. 2014-41; Res. 2013-60; Res. 2013-57)