The absentee ballot comes with three envelopes - one plain (the secrecy envelope), one with an affidavit, or oath, printed on the outside, and one plain envelope, pre-addressed (the outer envelope). Once the voter casts the ballot, the procedure is as follows:

• Seal the ballot in the plain envelope
• Place the plain envelope inside the accompanying affidavit envelope
• Seal the affidavit envelope and complete the affidavit that is on the outside of the envelope
• Sign the affidavit and have the signature witnessed by either a notary public or two witnesses 18 years of age or older
• Place the affidavit envelope and a copy of voter identification inside the outer envelope
• Remember to place a copy of your I.D. (not the original) inside the outer envelope

Witnesses or Notarization
An absentee ballot cannot be counted unless the affidavit is notarized or has the signatures of 2 witnesses.

The voter has only the following legal ways to return the absentee ballot:

• Forwards the absentee ballot by U.S. Mail
• Personally hands the absentee ballot to the absentee election manager (or delivers by a designee in the case of emergency absentee voting)

Voting Deadline
An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election and can only be delivered personally by voter.

Voter Resources

• Military/Overseas Citizens absentee voting information
• Look up your county by city or look up your county election officials