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.

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.

Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §756, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

When the clerk receives a return envelope by mail or in person apparently containing an absentee ballot, he the clerk shall observe the following procedures.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a person requesting an absentee ballot to request it in person or to request it by mail. It also clarifies that the completed ballot may be returned in person or by mail. This bill eliminates 3rd-person involvement in the absentee ballot process.