Chapter 7.120
ELECTIONS BY MAIL

Sections:

7.120.010    Voting by mail – Ballots – Ballot review – Ballot envelopes.

7.120.020    Casting ballot.

7.120.030    Notice of election – Election date – Public notice.

7.120.040    Storing ballots.

7.120.010 Voting by mail – Ballots – Ballot review – Ballot envelopes.

A. The clerk may conduct a special election by mail.

B. When the clerk conducts a special election by mail, the clerk shall send a ballot to each person whose name appears on the official voter registration list prepared under AS 15.07.125 for that election. The ballot shall be sent to the address stated on the official registration list unless the voter has notified the clerk in writing of a different address to which the ballot should be sent. The clerk shall send ballots by first (1st) class, nonforwardable mail on or before the twenty-second (22nd) day before the election.

C. The clerk shall review ballots voted under this section under procedures established for the review of absentee ballots.

D. There shall be a small blank envelope and a return envelope supplied to each by-mail voter. The return envelope shall have printed upon it an affidavit by which the voter shall declare his qualification to vote, followed by provision for attestation by one (1) attesting witness who is at least eighteen (18) years of age. Specific instructions for voting a by-mail ballot will be mailed to each voter with the ballot. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.120.020 Casting ballot.

A. Upon receipt of a mail-in ballot, the voter shall cast his ballot in the manner specified in BMC 7.80.060. If the ballot is cast in the clerk’s office, the clerk shall retain it for delivery to the canvass board. If the ballot is cast in another location, the voter shall return it by mail to the clerk immediately for delivery to the canvass board.

B. A voter who does not receive a mail-in ballot may cast his ballot in person as specified in BMC 7.80.050.

C. A voter may deliver his mail-in ballot to the city clerk. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.120.030 Notice of election – Election date – Public notice.

The notice of election calling for the election must state that the election is to be conducted by mail and that there will be no polling place open for regular in-person voting on election day. In a by-mail election, election day is the deadline by which a voter’s ballot must be received by the city clerk. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.120.040 Storing ballots.

The clerk shall provide for the secure storage of the mail-in ballots received from the voters until the date set by the clerk for the counting of the ballots. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]