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Government Accountability Board, P.O. Box 7984, Madison, WI 53707-7984 | 608-261-2028 | web: gab.wi.gov | email: gab@wi.govRev 2011-09

Overview of Absentee Voting Rules

General Absentee Guidelines Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Indefinitely Confined Electors 17minsPart OneOverview of Absentee Voting Rules1General Absentee Guidelines Overview of Absentee Voting Rules

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Indefinitely Confined Electors General Absentee Guidelines General Absentee Guidelines 2

Voter must be registered before receiving an absentee ballot3The written request may be made by: Mail Email FaxIn-personClerk must receive a written request for an absentee ballot that contains the required informationGeneral Absentee Guidelines

General Absentee Guidelines Voter must be registered before receiving an absentee ballotClerk must receive a written request for an absentee ballot that contains the required informationThe written request may be made by: Mail Email FaxIn-person

34General Absentee Guidelines Clerks must be available to receive absentee ballot requests through the deadlines regardless of official office hoursRequest must be received by the deadlines outlined in this presentationNo ballots may be sent after these deadlines.

Request must be received by the deadlines outlined in this presentationNo ballots may be sent after these deadlines.Clerks must be available to receive absentee ballot requests through the deadlines regardless of official office hours

4Absentee ballots must be available for absentee voting by mail5General Absentee Guidelines Any exceptions to the photo ID requirement only apply to voters who vote absentee by mail (or by email or fax for military and overseas voters)47 days before the partisan primary, general election and presidential preference21 days before all other elections

General Absentee Guidelines Absentee ballots must be available for absentee voting by mail47 days before the partisan primary, general election and presidential preference21 days before all other electionsAny exceptions to the photo ID requirement only apply to voters who vote absentee by mail (or by email or fax for military and overseas voters)

5Absentee ballots must be available for in-person absentee voting beginning the 3rd Monday before each electionThe photo ID exceptions in this presentation do not apply for voters when voting in-person absentee except for confidential electors6General Absentee Guidelines Clerks must check any mail delivered by 4pm on Friday for absentee ballotsVoted absentee ballots can be returned no later than 4pm on the Friday following an election, but must be postmarked by Election Day

General Absentee Guidelines Absentee ballots must be available for in-person absentee voting beginning the 3rd Monday before each electionThe photo ID exceptions in this presentation do not apply for voters when voting in-person absentee except for confidential electorsVoted absentee ballots can be returned no later than 4pm on the Friday following an election, but must be postmarked by Election DayClerks must check any mail delivered by 4pm on Friday for absentee ballots

6General Absentee Guidelines Overview of Absentee Voting RulesElectors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Indefinitely Confined Electors Indefinitely Confined Electors

Indefinitely Confined Electors 78Definition: Voters indefinitely confined due to age, infirmity, disability or illness. Elector must have applied for absentee ballots as an indefinitely-confined elector.Definition:

Indefinitely Confined ElectorsIndefinitely Confined Electors Definition: Voters indefinitely confined due to age, infirmity, disability or illness. Elector must have applied for absentee ballots as an indefinitely-confined elector.

89Application RequirementsAbsentee applications must be received no later than 5pm on the Friday prior to the electionVoter must indicate on the absentee application they are indefinitely confined

Indefinitely Confined ElectorsIndefinitely Confined Electors Absentee applications must be received no later than 5pm on the Friday prior to the electionVoter must indicate on the absentee application they are indefinitely confined9Proof of identification is not required for indefinitely confined voters

10Indefinitely Confined ElectorsProof of Identification

Indefinitely Confined Electors Proof of identification is not required for indefinitely confined voters

1011Indefinitely Confined ElectorsProof of IdentificationBy signing the certificate envelope, the witness is certifying that they have verified the name and address of the voter. This satisfies the ID requirement for indefinitely confined electorsProof of identification is not required for indefinitely confined voters

Indefinitely Confined Electors By signing the certificate envelope, the witness is certifying that they have verified the name and address of the voter. This satisfies the ID requirement for indefinitely confined electors

1112Indefinitely Confined ElectorsProof of IdentificationBy signing the certificate envelope, the witness is certifying that they have verified the name and address of the voter. This satisfies the ID requirement for indefinitely confined electorsProof of identification is not required for indefinitely confined votersThe clerk must initial the absentee certification envelope indicating that the voter has met the photo ID requirement before sending the absentee ballot to the indefinitely confined voter

The clerk must initial the absentee certification envelope indicating that the voter has met the photo ID requirement before sending the absentee ballot to the indefinitely confined voter

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Duration of RequestsIndefinitely Confined electors can receive ballots automatically for as long as the ballots are returned (permanent status)If a ballot is not returned, send 30-day notice Send 30-day notice only after general elections If voter responds to notice, keep on permanent list If voter does not respond to notice, cancel absentee application (remove from permanent list)

Indefinitely Confined ElectorsIndefinitely Confined ElectorsIndefinitely Confined electors can receive ballots automatically for as long as the ballots are returned (permanent status)If a ballot is not returned, send 30-day noticeIf voter responds to notice, keep on permanent list Send 30-day notice only after general elections If voter responds to notice, keep on permanent list If voter does not respond to notice, cancel absentee application (remove from permanent list)13Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) General Absentee Guidelines Overview of Absentee Voting RulesElectors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Indefinitely Confined Electors

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) 14Care Facilities: Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) Retirement home Residential care apartment complex Adult family home15

Definition: Voters residing in nursing homes or certain care facilities that are served by special voting deputies. Definition:Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

1516SVD RequirementsAbsentee voting in nursing homes must be conducted through two SVDs

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

16A clerk may decide to send SVDs to other care facilities but is not required too17SVD RequirementsAbsentee voting in nursing homes must be conducted through two SVDs

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

17A clerk may decide to send SVDs to other care facilities but is not required tooThe clerk appoints two SVDs to conduct absentee voting 18SVD RequirementsAbsentee voting in nursing homes must be conducted through two SVDs

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

1819SVD RequirementsSVDs must be qualified electors of the municipality Notice must be posted of the date and time of the visitSVDs must make two visits to the nursing home (or care facility) before each election

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

1920Time Frame for Conducting Absentee Voting in Qualified Facilities Between the 4th Monday before the election and the Monday before the election

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)2021Time Frame for Conducting Absentee Voting in Qualified Facilities Notice of date and time posted at facility no less than 24 hours before visitBetween the 4th Monday before the election and the Monday before the election Registered voters may request to vote absentee on the day the SVDs visit Registered voters must use an absentee application (GAB-123), and not just a certificate envelope

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)21SVDs may only register nursing home voters if conducting absentee voting at a facility prior to the 20th day before the election and the elector is registering at the nursing home address 22Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Voter Registration RequirementsNursing home electors may be registered at the nursing home address or their previous address

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23Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Voter Registration Requirements

2324Deadline for receiving absentee applications Application RequirementsVoters must indicate on the absentee application if they are indefinitely confined

SVDs may accept written absentee applications from registered electors at the facility, if filed before the applicable deadlineRegular voters Thursday, 5pmIndefinitely confined voters Friday, 5pmElectors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

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25Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Proof of IdentificationThe signatures of both SVDs on the newly-revised certificate envelope (GAB-122) replaces the photo ID requirement

2526Proof of IdentificationThe signatures of both SVDs on the newly-revised certificate envelope (GAB-122) replaces the photo ID requirementIndefinitely confined electors served by SVDs must follow the SVD procedure for satisfying the voter photo ID requirement

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

2627The clerk must review the certificate envelopes after the SVDs return from the nursing home Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Proof of IdentificationIf both SVDs have signed the Certification of Witness section, the clerk initials the envelope indicating that the voter has met the photo ID requirementIf the signature of one or both SVDs is missing, the clerk should contact the SVDs to correct the error

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

2728Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Duration of Requests Specific elections

Calendar year

Permanent (if indefinitely confined) As specified in the request

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

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If an elector on the permanent list does not vote an absentee ballot, the SVDs should ask them to either: Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Duration of RequestsEnclose a blank ballot in the certificate envelope and sign the certificationSign a separate statement indicating they still want to receive ballots,ORIf the elector does not do either, send them a notice via mail that their absentee application will be canceled.

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

2930Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Duration of RequestsNotice:Your absentee application will be canceled. The elector has 30 days to respond Send notice after general elections only If the elector does not respond to the notice, cancel the absentee application

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)

3031Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Special Procedures Only SVDs may witness the absentee certificationNo person other than a SVD or a relative of the elector may assist that person in voting.

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Only SVDs may witness the absentee certification3132Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs)Special Procedures The clerk may mail the ballot to the elector only if an absentee elector is not available to cast their ballot on two separate visits by the SVDs to the facilitySee Manual for details Absentee Voting in Nursing Homes

Must transmit the ballot no later than 5pm on the Friday preceding the election.The clerk may mail the ballot to the elector only if an absentee elector is not available to cast their ballot on two separate visits by the SVDs to the facilityMust transmit the ballot no later than 5pm on the Friday preceding the election.See Manual for details Absentee Voting in Nursing Homes

32General Absentee Guidelines Indefinitely Confined Electors Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Electors Served at Special Voting Deputies - Eligible Facilities Military VotersOverseas Voters Regular Absentee Voters - By Mail Fax and Email Ballots Military and Overseas Voters Only In-Person Absentee Voting in Clerks Office Provisional Ballots Presidential Only New & Former Residents Hospitalized Electors Sequestered Jurors

Overview of Absentee Voting Rules | Rev 2011-09Government Accountability BoardP.O. Box 7984, Madison, WI 53707-7984 608-261-2028 | web: gab.wi.gov | email: gab@wi.gov End of Part OneGeneral Absentee Guidelines Indefinitely Confined Electors Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) 33