Absentee (ABS) Voting

1. Absentee (ABS) Voting Basic Framework, Deadlines & Process

2. Methods of ABS Voting • Indiana allows for three methods of absentee voting, each have slightly different qualifications: • In Person Early Voting • Clerk’s Office or Satellite Office • Travelling Board • Bi-Partisan team sent to voter’s location • Mail

3. ABS Ballot Prep Deadline • 60 days before election • Each Clerk estimates number of ABS ballots needed* • Afterward CEB orders printing of ballot • IED certifies federal, statewide, and state leg candidates will be on the county ballot *Still applies to counties that print absentee ballots on demand; helps to ensure ballot paper order is correct • 50 days before election • Ballots must be: • printed and delivered OR • a ballot CD provided for counties printing ABS ballots on demand IC 3-11-4-10 | IC 3-11-4-15

4. Essentials for Paper ABS Ballots • Paper ABS ballots must have the following: • Clerk’s official stamp • Signature of clerk • Unless your clerk is a candidate on the ballot • IED will provide an IEC approved generic clerk seal • Initials of the ABS Board • Can also be CEB when permitted • see IC 3-11-10-27 IC 3-11-4-19 | 3-11-10-27

5. ABS Board Appointment • Each absentee voting board is made up of two members (1 R & 1 D) • Nominations made by county party chair • CEB must appoint those nominated by parties • County should have as many boards as necessary to conduct absentee voting • Boards for specific functions • Reviewing ABS applications and voter signatures • Running ABS voting at clerk’s or satellite office • Visiting voters who will are voting by travel board IC 3-11-10-37 | 3-11.5-4-23

6. ABS Board Appointment Dates • For PRECINCT count counties: • CEB must request nominations at least 50 days before the election • Nominations must be made at least 46 days before election • After that date CEB may fill any position the parties did not make nominations for • For CENTRAL count counties: • CEB must request nominations at least 38 days before the election • Nominations must be made at least 31 days before election • After that date CEB may fill any position the parties did not make nominations for IC 3-11-10-37 | 3-11.5-4-23

7. ABS Board Member Qualifications • Absentee board members must: • Be a registered voter in your county; • Read, write, and speak English; • Has no property bet on the result of the election; • Is not a candidate in the election; AND • Unless unopposed for a party office in the primary • Is not a relative by blood or marriage to an opposed candidate at the election • If unopposed the family member may serve IC 3-11-10-36

8. Who Can Vote Absentee • In Person • Any registered voter • By Mail • Voters who meet one of the qualifications under IC 3-11-10-24 • Travelling Board • Voters confined due to illness or injury and their care givers

9. ABS Application • Applications in use: • ABS In Person • ABS Mail • ABS Travel Board • ABS-15 or Federal Postcard (for military/overseas) • ABS Attorney General • ePollbook Counties • Counties using EPB & DRE during In Person ABS voting should use application method they chose last summer because of changes to IC 3-11-10-26(d)(2) • Law now requires use of ABS-7 envelope and no application • Problem because there is no physical ballot to place in envelope

10. ABS Application • What can and can’t be pre-filled by a third party? • CAN be pre-filled • Name • Registration Address • DOB • CANNOT be pre-filled • Reason for voting absentee by mail • Party affiliation (primary) • Type of ballot (public question only) • Mailing address different to the registration address for the voter

11. ABS Application • A person may assist a voter with completing their application • Must fill out the assistance affidavit on the form • If a person is serving as a voter’s attorney in fact they may fill out the application for the voter and submit it along with: • the completed assistance affidavit • a copy of the power of attorney (attached) • When providing assistance it must be done in the presence of the voter requesting to vote absentee IC 3-11-4-2

12. Application Deadlines • Counties must begin receiving ABS applications when voter registration re-opens • For the primary election: • Dec. 1 of the year proceeding the primary • For the general election: • 14 days after the primary • May 17 for 2016 election year ABS applications are NOT kept on file for voters*! Must re-apply for an absentee ballot in each election

13. Application Deadlines • Deadlines • 11:59 pm eight days before election if voting by mail • April 25 for primary election • October 31 for general election • Noon the day before the election if voting in person or by travel board ABS applications must be RECEIVED by the CEB by the deadline date – postmarks don’t count for domestic civilian voters*! Exceptions: any military/overseas voters OR applications timely received by the IED and mailed to the CEB after the deadline date.

14. Receiving ABS Applications • Absentee Board (or CEB) will check • Person is a voter in the precinct where the voter resides according to SVRS • Information provided appears true • Signature conforms to voter’s signature • Conform does not mean exact! • Application completed according to state and federal law IC 3-11-4-17.5

15. Application Challenges • Process to challenge ABS applications: • ABS board member concludes application is defective • ABS board member completes ABS 20 • Transferred to CEB for review • CEB holds a hearing • CEB MUST find one of the following to DENY application: • the person is not a voter of the precinct according to SVRS • the application contains a false statement or • does not comply with federal or state law

16. ABS Application Challenge • In Person Voting • Voter must be allowed to cast an absentee ballot that will be marked as a provisional ballot • Military or Overseas Voters: • Must be notified if application is denied with the reasons why within 48 hours after the denial • Send notice to the address the voter indicated they wanted the ballot sent ABS Applications ask for last four digits of SSN, but voter does NOT have to provide and application CANNOT be rejected for lack of this info

17. ABS Application Challenge • When a challenge is received the CEB • Must hold a public hearing on the challenge • Notice of when and where the hearing should be sent to the voter • Post hearing the CEB should inform the voter of their findings and decision

18. ABS-Mail • Once application is approved • If more than 45 days before the election, CEB mails ballot within 5 days of initial ballot delivery • If 45 days or less, mail ballot within 24-hours Don’t forget! You MUST include with the ballot: instructions, a warning about casting multiple votes for an office, the absentee voting bill of rights, and a PREPAID return security envelope with the ABS-16 printed on one side.

19. ABS-Mail Return • Only these people can return an ABS-Mail ballot: • Voter • USPS • Bonded courier • Member of voter’s household • If hand delivered, must also file ABS-19 with CEB • Voter’s attorney in fact • If hand delivered, must also file ABS-19 with CEB and copy of POA It is a CRIME for any person not listed above to receive or deliver a voted ABS ballot to the CEB.

20. Counting ABS Ballots • For counties using precinct count method • See IC 3-11-10-13 through 23 • For counties using central count method • See IC 3-11.5 • Properly credential watchers can observe the counting of these ballots • New: In central count counties the parties can appoint watchers equal to the number of teams of absentee ballot counters