The absentee ballot comes with three envelopes - one 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 secrecy envelope
• Place in the secrecy 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 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 or commercial carrier
• Personally hands the absentee ballot to the absentee election manager (or delivers by a designee in the case of of medical 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