2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 21-A: ELECTIONS › Chapter 9: CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS › Subchapter 4: ABSENTEE VOTING › Article 1: REGULAR ABSENTEE VOTING › 21-A §754-A. Method of voting

§754-A. Method of voting
Except as provided in section 753‑B, subsection 8 and section 753‑C, the method of voting by absentee ballot is as follows.   [PL 2005, c. 364, §9 (AMD).]
1.  Ballot delivered to voter or immediate family member.
When a voter or an immediate family member of a voter obtains a ballot from the clerk in person or by mail and returns that ballot to the clerk in person or by mail and receives no assistance in marking the ballot, the following procedures apply.
A. The voter shall mark that ballot according to section 691 or 692 so that it is impossible for anyone present at the time to see how the voter voted.   [PL 1997, c. 436, §112 (AMD).]
B. While the voter is marking the ballot, there may be no communication between the voter and any other individual as to the person or question for which the voter is to vote.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
C. After the voter has completed marking the ballot, the voter shall then seal the ballot in its return envelope and complete the affidavit on the envelope. A notary or witness certification is not required unless the voter is assisted pursuant to subsection 3.   [PL 2009, c. 253, §49 (AMD).]
D. The voter or an immediate family member of the voter shall return the sealed envelope containing the voted ballot to the clerk of the municipality where the voter resides by mail, by personal delivery or by depositing it into a secured drop box accessible by only the municipal clerk. The voter shall send a completed voter registration or absentee ballot application, if necessary, in a separate envelope.   [PL 2019, c. 371, §36 (AMD).]
E. If an immediate family member of the voter returns an absentee ballot that was requested by the voter or another immediate family member of the voter, in writing or in person, the clerk shall accept the ballot. The clerk shall have the immediate family member who returned the ballot sign the application or written request and shall indicate that the ballot was returned by that person.   [PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 371, §36 (AMD).]
2.  Ballot delivered by 3rd person or returned by 3rd person.
When a ballot is delivered to the voter by a person other than the clerk or an immediate family member of the voter or is returned to the clerk by a person other than the voter, the clerk or an immediate family member of the voter and the voter receives no assistance in marking the ballot, the following procedures apply.
A. The voter must mark the ballot in the presence of the following witness or witnesses: One notary public, clerk of a municipality or clerk of courts or 2 other individuals. The voter, before marking the ballot, must show it to the witness or witnesses who must examine it to be certain it is unmarked.   [PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
B. While the voter is marking the ballot, there may be no communication between the voter and any other individual as to the person or question for which the voter is to vote.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
C. The voter must mark the ballot according to section 691 or 692 so that it is impossible for anyone present at the time to see how the voter voted. The voter must then seal the ballot in its return envelope and complete the affidavit on the envelope in the presence of the witness or witnesses, who shall sign the witness certification.   [PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
D. The voter must then complete the address on the envelope and mail or deliver it personally or by the 3rd person who was designated in the application to the clerk of the municipality of which the voter is a resident. The voter must send a completed voter registration or absentee ballot application, if necessary, in a separate envelope.   [PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
[PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
3.  Assistance in reading or marking ballot.
A voter who is unable to read or mark the ballot because of the voter's physical disability, illiteracy or religious faith must vote according to the procedures in this subsection instead of the procedures in subsection 1 or 2.
A. A voter who needs assistance may request another person, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union, to assist the voter in reading or marking the ballot.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
B. The voter or the aide must mark the ballot in the presence of one of the following witnesses: Notary public, clerk of a municipality, clerk of courts or another individual.   [PL 1987, c. 736, §42 (AMD).]
C. The voter or the aide, before marking the ballot, must show it to the witness who must examine it to be certain it is unmarked.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
D. While the voter or the aide is marking the ballot, there may be no communication between the voter and any individual, other than the aide who must mark the ballot as the voter indicates, as to the person or question for which the voter is to vote.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
E. The voter or the aide must mark the ballot according to section 691 or 692 so that it is impossible for anyone else present to see how the voter voted, then seal the ballot in its return envelope. The voter, or the aide at the voter's request, shall complete and sign the affidavit in the presence of the witness, who shall sign the witness certification. The aide must complete and sign the certification for aides on the outside of the envelope.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §§12, 19 (NEW).]
F. The voter or the aide must then complete the address on the envelope and mail or deliver it personally or by the 3rd person who was designated in the application to the clerk of the municipality of which the voter is a resident. The voter must send a completed voter registration or absentee ballot application, if necessary, in a separate envelope.   [PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
[PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 357, §§12,19 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 736, §§41,42 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 436, §112 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 645, §7 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 364, §9 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 253, §49 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 371, §36 (AMD).