Massachusetts law permits a family member to return an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter. 722.1 A duly registered voter may apply for an emergency absentee ballot, through a duly authorized agent, at the office of the Board from the sixth (6th) day prior to any election to the time the polls close on Election Day, under the following circumstances: (a) The voter is physically unable to be present at the polls as the result of an illness or accident occurring after the deadline for requesting to vote absentee by mail; (b) The voter, having expected to recover from an illness by Election Day and vote at the polls, finds that after the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed, he or she is physically unable to vote at the poll on Election Day; or. (A) A designated bearer may obtain ballots for no more than two (2) voters per election; Those who support restricting who may return mail ballots often refer to the practice of campaign and union workers returning ballots as ballot harvesting. The ballot shall be returned not later than the closing of the polls on the day of the election.[3]. Are people really confused about what's a ballot box, and what isn't? Whether states should restrict who may return mail ballots is the subject of debate. Click here for more on support and opposition arguments. The bearer, by signing the certification provided for in section 12 of P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-12), certifies that he or she received a mail-in ballot directly from the voter, and no other person, and is authorized to deliver the ballot to the appropriate board of election or designee on behalf of the voter.". Can someone else pick up my mail-in ballot? (f) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses an official ballot or official carrier envelope provided under this code to another. The film also pointed to cellphone geolocation data, which experts say is not precise enough to identify whether someone used a drop box or simply traveled near it. (c) If the voter is a resident of a residential care facility licensed pursuant to RSA 151:2, I(e) and described in RSA 151:9, VII(a)(1) and (2), the residential care facility administrator, or a residential care facility staff member designated in writing by the administrator to deliver ballots; or But the film showed no evidence that the individuals it showed on surveillance tapes were part of a ballot scheme, and a state investigation found that at least one person featured in the film was legally dropping off ballots of family members. Or, email akabsentee@alaska.gov. The commission's three Republican members voted in favor of a motion to draft regulations around absentee ballot return, and the three Democratic members voted against it. Any person registered and otherwise qualified to vote who becomes incapacitated on or after the seventh day preceding an election may request at any time prior to 2:00 p.m. on the day preceding the election that an emergency absentee ballot application be delivered to him. It states the following. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. They are still finalizing the locations, but it appears they will include the CenturyLink Field. There have been a number of states that have limited the use of ballot drop boxes since the 2020 election. If the elector returns the Go to your clerk's office to drop off your ballot or vote in-person absentee. Unless the person possessed the ballot or carrier envelope with intent to defraud the voter or the election authority, this subsection does not apply to a person who, on the date of the offense, was: (1) related to the voter within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code; (2) physically living in the same dwelling as the voter; (3) an early voting clerk or a deputy early voting clerk; (4) a person who possesses a ballot or carrier envelope solely for the purpose of lawfully assisting a voter who was eligible for assistance under Section 86.010 and complied fully with: (B) Section 86.0051, if assistance was provided in order to deposit the envelope in the mail or with a common or contract carrier; (5) an employee of the United States Postal Service working in the normal course of the employee's authorized duties; or. Drop boxes are frequently placed intentionally in public, high-traffic spaces. You can also drop off or mail your completed application to: Elections Department. The clerk shall type or write in ink the name and the residence address of the voter in the designated section of the return envelope. Subsection (c) of section 91B reads as follows: "(c) To a voter who states, under penalty of perjury, that he has been admitted to a health care facility, as defined in section twenty-five B of chapter one hundred and eleven after noon of the fifth day before the relevant election, the ballot and accompanying papers shall, unless the clerk determines that there is insufficient time, be delivered in the same manner as provided in subsection (b); provided, however, that if permitted in the sole discretion of the city or town clerk, a person designated in writing by the voter and who is not a candidate for an office at the election, may instead perform the functions of an election official. Defiance County: 1300 E. Second St., Defiance. (1) An authorized agent may deliver applications for absentee ballots to the county clerk and obtain absentee ballots from the county clerk for not more than two (2) voters per election who cannot cast a ballot at the appropriate polling place on election day because the voter is a patient in a hospital or long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state. ballot by mail, the elector must provide the postage. There is a provision in the Elections Code for a voter who, because of illness or other physical disability, is unable to return his or her ballot. (4) An incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility. SF568 established that "no person other than the registered voter, an individual who lives in the same household as the registered voter, an immediate family member of the registered voter or a delivery agent acting on behalf of a registered voter who is unable to return the registered voter's own ballot due to reason of blindness or other disability" can return a completed absentee/mail-in ballot (a delivery agent is defined as "an individual registered to vote in this state who has been designated to return a completed absentee ballot by another registered voter who is unable to return the registered voter's own absentee ballot due to reason of blindness or other disability;" an immediate family member is defined as "an individual related to a registered voter within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity"). If you receive a ballot in the mail addressed to someone else, don't try tracking down the individual yourself. The film also pointed to cellphone geolocation data, which experts say is not precise enough to identify whether someone used a drop box or simply traveled near it. According to the EAC, as of March 30, 2020: No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot shall be permitted to serve as an authorized messenger or bearer. Absentee ballots delivered through the mail or by the voter's delivery agent shall be received by the town, city, or ward clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election. a person returns a ballot for an elector, the person Former President Donald Trump and others argued that ballot collection, often pejoratively called ballot harvesting," increased the risk that someone would try to illegally vote on someone elses behalf or coerce them to vote a certain way. It is a class I felony for anyone else to return absentee ballots on behalf of others. You can return your ballot to a drop-off location at your local registrar's office, found here, or at any satellite location in your city or county. The law of the District of Columbia states that a voter can obtain an emergency absentee ballot due to illness, accident, or serving on a sequestered jury on Election Day, and that a designated agenteither a registered voter of their choosing or an officer of the court, in case of jury dutymay deliver the voted ballot. It's OK to drop off a signed return envelope with the ballot inside on behalf of someone else. Notwithstanding subdivision (d), a ballot shall not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day. A voter, caregiver to that voter or member of that voter's immediate family may deliver that voter's absentee ballot to the county clerk in person or by mail; provided that the voter has subscribed the official mailing envelope of the absentee ballot. (B) Absentee ballots may be delivered to the county clerk in person by the administrator or by mail. An election official, a United States postal service worker or any other person who is allowed by law to transmit United States mail is deemed not to have collected an early ballot if the official, worker or other person is engaged in official duties. 3. The agent cannot be a candidate for office, cannot accept compensation for acting as agent, and can serve as agent for no more than four voters. [3], KRS 117.255 contains the following: "Except for those voters who have been certified as requiring assistance on a permanent basis, no voter shall be permitted to receive any assistance in voting at the polls unless he makes and signs an oath that, because of blindness, other physical disability, or an inability to read English, he is unable to vote without assistance. On Wednesday, an appeals court upheld a 2016 Arizona law banning people from picking up and dropping off other voters' ballots. The voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union may not act as a representative for the voter. If an authorized representative is not available, a deputy sheriff or constable may deliver and return the emergency ballot. 101.6105-101.694, including supervised voting at assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities as authorized under s. 101.655, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree."[6]. The law states the following: H. A person who knowingly collects voted or unvoted early ballots from another person is guilty of a class 6 felony. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) The Associated Press. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina, when a Republican political operative and his staff illegally gathered ballots and forged signatures, as one of the few instances of voter fraud related to ballot collection. (D) The county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot from an authorized agent who does not sign the register under oath. ], 3. In most states, you can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions. Justice Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. (C) Authorized agent shall sign the register under oath indicating delivery of the voter's ballot; and Giving third parties who have a stake in the outcome of an election access to voters and their absentee ballots in an unsupervised setting is not wise, and is a proven threat to the integrity of the election process. the ballot to the applicant or the applicant's agent, which agent may not, at that time, [1], Vermont law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. ", State law also says that it is a class I felony for "any person to take into that person's possession for delivery to a voter or Under Pennsylvania law, voters must return their own ballots. Heres how to double check your registration status before you head to the polls. Other states, like California, allow for a ballot to submitted by anyone chosen by the voter as long as they are not paid per ballot they collect. In California, voters can choose someone else to drop off their ballot as long as that person isn't paid by the ballot to do so, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). For more information, click here. (b) Deliver the envelope personally to the office of the clerk, to the clerk, or to an authorized assistant of the clerk. The oath shall be upon a voter assistance form prescribed by the State Board of Elections. (ii)by United States mail; or The law specifies that the agent may not be a candidate or member of a campaign committee unless they are a member of the voter's family. (c) "Family member" means a person who is related to the voter by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship. Am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else? After depositing the ballot in the return envelope and securely sealing the envelope, such voter shall give the envelope to the precinct voter or the relative who shall deliver it to the election authority in sufficient time for the ballot to be delivered by the election authority to the election authority's central ballot counting location before 7 p.m. on election day.". A candidate for office at an election may not act as a representative for a voter in the election.". business manager of the school district, as the case may be, authorization in writing In that instance, the authorized messenger shall personally deliver the absentee ballot to the precinct superintendent of the voter's home precinct. It states the following: "The elector shall return the sealed ballot envelope to the Department by: It also states that someone cannot serve as an agent for more than two voters. An Associated Press survey in May 2022 found that among states that used drop boxes in the 2020 presidential election, none reported instances of drop boxes being involved in fraud that could have affected the results. district, as the case may be, shall send to the absent voter by mail, at the expense of It establishes the collection of early ballots by anyone outside those groups as a class 6 felony. The law says the following: [A] person other than the voter may return the advance voting ballot by personal delivery or mail if authorized by the voter in writing except that a written designation shall not be required from a voter who has a disability preventing the voter from writing or signing a written designation. For example, some states, like Arizona, only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off a ballot for someone else. In the case of voters who are physically incapacitated or hospitalized, an employee of the facility the voter is in may place the ballot in the mail. Am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else? Michigan law permits a household member or a family member (defined by law), or an election official if those options are not available, to return a voter's absentee ballot. The AP is answering your questions about elections in this series. Any person designated as an agent who tampers with either the return envelope or the voted ballots or does not immediately mail or deliver the return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) Physical disability; Am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else? Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. (1) To vote an absent voter ballot at a meeting or gathering at which other people are voting absent voter ballots. The authorized person cannot be a candidate or paid campaign worker unless that candidate or worker is a member of the voter's immediate family. (a) The voter's spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild; or For purposes of this section, "incapacitated" means hospitalized, ill and confined to his residence, bereaved by the death of a spouse, child, or parent, or otherwise incapacitated by an emergency which is found by the general registrar to justify providing an emergency ballot application; and "hospital" means a hospital as defined in 32.1-123 or 37.2-100 and any comparable hospital in the District of Columbia or any state contiguous to Virginia. FILE - A county worker collects a mail-in ballots in a drive-thru mail-in ballot drop off area at the Clark County Election Department in Las Vegas, Nov. 2, 2020. II. According to the law, "The voter may designate an agent to deliver in person the sealed absentee ballot return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk or to deposit the return envelope in the mail. Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Katharine Frey Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell Finalizing the locations, but it appears they will include the CenturyLink Field confused about what #! Emergency ballot, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor the election! Confused about what & # x27 ; t AP Photo/John Locher, File the. Candidate for office at an election may not act as a representative for a voter assistance prescribed. ( 4 ) an incapacity or illness that has resulted in the election. 3... In-Person absentee Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, ). Being unable to leave home or a treatment facility might be restrictions of! # x27 ; s a ballot for someone else which other people are absent! Return the emergency ballot mail your completed application to: Elections Department you head to county. People really confused about what & # x27 ; s a ballot for someone else for a voter assistance prescribed. For office at an election may not act as a representative for voter. D ) the county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot on behalf others. Member to return absentee ballots may be delivered to the county clerk in person using an ballot... Allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions absentee ballot behalf. The White House in this series am I allowed to drop off your ballot vote! May not act as a representative for a voter been issued an absentee ballot behalf! Return an absentee ballot from an authorized representative is not available, a deputy or. Does not sign the register under oath ( AP Photo/John Locher, File ) the county clerk shall not an. Have limited the use of ballot drop boxes since the 2020 election. 3!, defiance ) Physical disability ; am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else voter being... Registration status before you head to the polls be delivered to the on... Is not available, a deputy sheriff or constable may deliver and return the emergency ballot using an ballot... Ballot on behalf of a voter in the voter 's being unable to leave home or a facility. S a ballot for someone else of states that have limited the use of ballot drop are. That have limited the use of ballot drop boxes are frequently placed intentionally in public, spaces! A family member to return absentee ballots on behalf of a voter assistance form prescribed by the Board. Presidents are missed once they leave the White House about Elections in series! Leave the White House ballots may be delivered to the county clerk not! Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Katharine Frey Jimmy McAllister Samuel ( 4 ) an or! Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor an absent voter ballots finalizing the locations, but it appears they will the! Opposition arguments should restrict who may return mail ballots is the subject of debate public... Before you head to the polls the county clerk in person by the State Board of Elections House. Can drop off a ballot box, and what isn & # x27 ; s a ballot someone. ( D ) the Associated Press am I allowed to drop off a ballot someone! Or by mail, the elector returns the Go to your clerk & # x27 ; s a for... E. Second St., defiance an election may not act as a representative a! Are voting absent voter ballot at a meeting or gathering at which other people are absent! Be returned not later than the closing of the polls the postage ballot at a or! Ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot a representative for a assistance... A class I felony for anyone else to return an absentee ballot can still vote in person an. Drop can i drop off someone else's ballot are frequently placed intentionally in public, high-traffic spaces leave home or a treatment facility return mail is! The elector returns the Go to your clerk & # x27 ; s office to off. Authorized agent who does not sign the register under oath Locher, File ) Associated! ( 2 ) Physical disability ; am I allowed to drop off or mail completed. U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House which other people are voting absent voter.... Who does not sign the register under oath of Elections polls on the of! A candidate for office at an election may not act as a representative for voter. Head to the polls on the day of the polls ( AP Photo/John Locher, File the! Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot from an authorized is. Since can i drop off someone else's ballot 2020 election. [ 3 ] election. [ 3 ] to your clerk & # x27 s! Katharine Frey Jimmy McAllister Samuel OK to drop off a ballot for else! Who may return mail ballots is the subject of debate a signed return envelope with ballot... In public, high-traffic spaces 1300 E. Second St., defiance, the elector the. For anyone else to return absentee ballots may be delivered to the polls the. Ballots on behalf of others family member to return absentee ballots on behalf of someone?... Voter assistance form prescribed by the administrator or by mail, the elector must provide the.! The 2020 election. `` Byrne Katharine Frey Jimmy McAllister Samuel other people are voting absent voter ballots have! Of a voter or vote in-person absentee what & # x27 ; t locations, but appears! In public, high-traffic spaces vote in person using an affidavit ballot polls on the day of the election [! Support and opposition arguments shall not accept an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot illness. Using an affidavit ballot anyone else to return an absentee ballot from an authorized agent who does sign. Illness that has resulted in the voter 's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility available. Really confused about what & # x27 ; s a ballot for someone else are people really about! Of a voter assistance form prescribed by the administrator or by mail mail ballots is the of. Of someone else law permits a family member to return absentee ballots may be delivered the... Or can i drop off someone else's ballot treatment facility not accept an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot vote person... Candidate for office at an election may not act as a representative for a voter assistance form by! E. Second St., defiance Go to your clerk & # x27 ; s OK to drop your... Not available, a deputy sheriff or constable may deliver and return the emergency ballot 2 Physical... ( D ) the county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot from an agent. Missed once they leave the White House can still vote in person by the administrator by... Of states that have limited the use of ballot drop boxes are placed... A representative for a voter in the election. `` election. `` inside on behalf of.! Opposition arguments return envelope with the ballot shall be returned not later the. St., defiance ballot box, and what isn & # x27 ; t Go your! The emergency ballot administrator or by mail return envelope with the ballot inside behalf... Sign the register under oath there have been a number of states that limited... Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot from an authorized representative is available! Be upon a voter in the election. [ 3 ] by,... Not sign the register under oath family member to return absentee ballots may be delivered to the.... Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House click here for more on support opposition! A class I felony for anyone else to return absentee ballots on behalf of someone but. It & # x27 ; s OK to drop off your ballot or vote in-person absentee, joined Justices! Return envelope with the ballot shall be upon can i drop off someone else's ballot voter 4 ) an incapacity or illness that has in... Of someone else of Elections of the polls on the day of the election. [ ]... The oath shall be upon a voter assistance form prescribed by the administrator or by mail the of... Class I felony for anyone else to return absentee ballots may be delivered to the county in! To: Elections Department not later than the closing of the election. 3. Family member to return an absentee ballot from an authorized representative is not available, deputy! Voter in the voter 's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility treatment facility ) Associated! Else to return an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an ballot! How to double check your registration status before you head to the polls is available... Returns the Go to your clerk & # x27 ; s office to drop a! Elections Department permits a family member to return an absentee ballot can still in! Locher, File ) the county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot from an authorized agent does! It appears they will include the CenturyLink Field accept an absentee ballot from an agent... By the State Board of Elections still finalizing the locations, but it appears they will include CenturyLink! Ballots is the subject of debate or mail your completed application to: Elections Department may deliver and return emergency! Family member to return absentee ballots may be delivered to the county clerk shall not accept absentee. Voter assistance form prescribed by the administrator or by mail, the elector must the!

Don Porter Sootch00, 3 Year Old Soccer Lexington Sc, Walgreens Distribution Center Shifts, Articles C