Part 7 Absentee Voting

Any voter who is unable or unwilling to vote at their polling place on Election Day may request and return an absentee ballot. Special absentee voting procedures exist for certain voter types, including indefinitely confined voters, military and overseas voters, and those who vote with the assistance of Special Voting Deputies (SVDs). Voters can return their absentee ballots by mail, in person, or by drop box. Absentee ballots are enclosed in certificate envelopes, which is where the witness will enter their information (where required). Municipal clerks can work with voters to help them correct errors or insufficiencies in the certificate envelope. In certain circumstances, absentee voters can receive a replacement ballot if theirs is spoiled or damaged. Municipal clerks are responsible for managing and transporting ballots either to their polling places or to a “central count” location. Some jurisdictions choose to count all of their absentee ballots at one location, instead of having each polling place do it.