Chapter 2.28
ABSENTEE VOTING
Sections:
2.28.020 Emergency application for absentee ballot.
2.28.040 Rejecting absentee ballots.
2.28.050 Questioning absentee votes.
2.28.010 Absentee voter.
Any qualified voter of the municipality who is absent or expects to be absent from the municipality on the day of any municipal election may vote at any such election by the method given in this chapter.
(Ord. 08-14, Amended, 04/17/2008; Ord. 84-13 § 4 (part), Repealed & Replaced, 09/13/1984)
2.28.020 Emergency application for absentee ballot.
Any qualified voter who is a patient under the care of a physician in a hospital or a private home or who is held in jail or other place of detention on the day of election and is unable to go to the polling place of his precinct to vote may request delivery of absentee voting materials to him. Such request may be by telephone or by a third party on the voter’s behalf. If, in the opinion of the clerk, there is time for the voted ballots to be returned before the closing of the polls, a duly appointed and sworn election clerk shall take the ballot to the voter. The voter shall cast his ballot in the same manner provided herein for absentee voting in the clerk’s office. If there is doubt of the voter’s qualification, he may be required to comply with the questioned ballot procedure, except that in this case the challenge may be stated on the return envelope and the affidavit printed thereon is adequate.
(Ord. 84-13 § 4 (part), Repealed & Replaced, 09/13/1984)
2.28.030 Absentee ballot.
A. At any election a qualified voter may vote an absentee ballot for any reason.
B. Before delivering any ballot, the clerk shall verify the applicant’s right to vote in the subject election and may require the applicant to comply with the questioned ballot procedure. Thereafter the clerk shall deliver to such applicant voter personally, or by mail, an official ballot to be voted on by the voter. The clerk shall record the number of the ballot issued and the date of delivery or mailing. Before the election, the clerk shall furnish to the election board a list of voters in the precinct who have been issued absentee ballots.
C. The clerk shall prescribe the form of and prepare the voter’s certificate, envelopes, and other material used in absentee voting. The voter’s certificate shall include a declaration, for use when required, that the voter is a qualified voter in all respects, a blank for the voter’s signature, a certification that the affiant properly executed the marking of the ballot and gave the voter’s identity, blanks for the attesting official or witnesses, and a place for recording the date the envelope was sealed and witnessed.
D. The clerk shall also, personally or by separate notation or memorandum or by notation printed upon the back of the official envelope, advise the absentee voter that a new ballot will be furnished upon request if time permits, if a voter loses, improperly marks or otherwise damages a ballot, but replacement ballots may be requested no more than three (3) times.
E. Upon completion the voter shall either personally deliver the envelope to the clerk or the election board by 8:00 p.m. the day of the election or mail it to the borough clerk postmarked on or before the day of the election.
F. On receipt of such absentee ballots, the borough clerk shall secure in a safe location until the canvass board meeting.
(Ord. 08-14, Amended, 04/17/2008; Ord. 03-03, Amended, 06/01/2003; Ord. 84-13 § 4 (part), Repealed & Replaced, 09/13/1984)
2.28.040 Rejecting absentee ballots.
The canvass board shall reject any ballot which does not substantially conform to the requirements of Section 030 above, or in case the ballot envelope has been opened or contains more than one (1) ballot. Rejected ballots shall be endorsed "Rejected" with the reason written on or fastened to the ballot envelope. All rejected ballots shall be enclosed and securely sealed in an envelope upon which the canvass board members shall sign, and the same shall be delivered to the election supervisor.
(Ord. 08-14, Amended, 04/17/2008; Ord. 84-13 § 4 (part), Repealed & Replaced, 09/13/1984)
2.28.050 Questioning absentee votes.
The vote of any absentee voter may be questioned as though he were present. The election supervisor shall deliver the official envelopes containing the ballot envelope of all questioned absentee ballots to the canvass board, which shall rule upon the legality of each such questioned absentee ballot.
(Ord. 08-14, Amended, 04/17/2008; Ord. 84-13 § 4 (part), Repealed & Replaced, 09/13/1984)