42 U.S.C. § 1973ff–2a (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 1973ff–2a. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters
(a) Establishment of procedures
The Presidential designee shall establish procedures for collecting marked absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters in regularly scheduled general elections for Federal office, including absentee ballots prepared by States and the Federal write-in absentee ballot prescribed under section 1973ff–2 of this title, and for delivering such marked absentee ballots to the appropriate election officials.
(b) Delivery to appropriate election officials
(1) In general
Under the procedures established under this section, the Presidential designee shall implement procedures that facilitate the delivery of marked absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters for regularly scheduled general elections for Federal office to the appropriate election officials, in accordance with this section, not later than the date by which an absentee ballot must be received in order to be counted in the election.
(2) Cooperation and coordination with the United States Postal Service
The Presidential designee shall carry out this section in cooperation and coordination with the United States Postal Service, and shall provide expedited mail delivery service for all such marked absentee ballots of absent uniformed services voters that are collected on or before the deadline described in paragraph (3) and then transferred to the United States Postal Service.
(3) Deadline described
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the deadline described in this paragraph is noon (in the location in which the ballot is collected) on the seventh day preceding the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office.
(B) Authority to establish alternative deadline for certain locations
If the Presidential designee determines that the deadline described in subparagraph (A) is not sufficient to ensure timely delivery of the ballot under paragraph (1) with respect to a particular location because of remoteness or other factors, the Presidential designee may establish as an alternative deadline for that location the latest date occurring prior to the deadline described in subparagraph (A) which is sufficient to provide timely delivery of the ballot under paragraph (1).
(4) No postage requirement
In accordance with section 3406 of title 39, such marked absentee ballots and other balloting materials shall be carried free of postage.
(5) Date of mailing
Such marked absentee ballots shall be postmarked with a record of the date on which the ballot is mailed.
(c) Outreach for absent overseas uniformed services voters on procedures
The Presidential designee shall take appropriate actions to inform individuals who are anticipated to be absent overseas uniformed services voters in a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office to which this section applies of the procedures for the collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots established pursuant to this section, including the manner in which such voters may utilize such procedures for the submittal of marked absentee ballots pursuant to this section.
(d) Absent overseas uniformed services voter defined
In this section, the term “absent overseas uniformed services voter” means an overseas voter described in section 1973ff–6(5)(A) of this title.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Presidential designee such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(Pub. L. 99–410, title I, § 103A, as added Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 580(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2324.)
heading: Effective Date
text: Section applicable with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2010 and each succeeding election for Federal office, see section 580(f) of Pub. L. 111–84, set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under section 1973ff of this title.