The . FILE - A person drops off a mail-in ballot at an election ballot return box in Willow Grove, Pa., Oct. 25, 2021. In total, more than half of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a completed ballot, according to a tally from the National Conference of State Legislatures. For example, some states, like Arizona, only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off a ballot for someone else. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. The law states the following: "Any elector applying to cast a vote-by-mail ballot in the office of the supervisor, in any election, who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may request the assistance of some person of his or her own choice, other than the electors employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of his or her union, in casting his or her vote-by-mail ballot. If there is no authorized representative and a deputy sheriff is unavailable to deliver an absentee ballot under this section, the judge may direct a constable to make such delivery in accordance with the provisions of this section. (e) Carrier envelopes may not be collected and stored at another location for subsequent delivery to the early voting clerk. Delaware law does not specify whether someone can return an absentee ballot on a voter's behalf. By Associated Press | Oct. 17, 2022, at 12:41 p.m. Surveys after the 2020 election found that voters who cast ballots for President Joe Biden were far more likely to report voting by mail than voters for Trump. All persons authorized to pick up absent voter ballots are required to carry credentials issued by the clerk. 11 states specified who may return ballots (i.e., household members, caregivers, and/or family members) in most cases. Illinois law allows vote-by-mail ballots to be delivered in person by any person the voter authorizes or by a company licensed as a motor carrier of property by the state. State law provides crime classifications for different types of violations. Especially consider how many ballots likely got dropped off, maybe ended up being a messy pile in the collection box, so it then needs to get organized before processing. 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. Ballots for cities and towns that vote by mail may be returned to the county elections office or secure drop box no later than 8 p.m. (1) The county clerk shall keep a register of designated bearers and authorized agents. any place of deposit designated by the county clerk And a few states explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. For example, some states only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off your ballot for you. Most states have laws permitting someone besides a voter to return the voter's mail ballot. from the applicant to receive the ballot or according to requirements set forth for If the voter authorized a person to deliver the ballot to the election authority, the voter and the person authorized to deliver the ballot shall complete the authorization printed on the exterior envelope supplied by an election authority for the return of the vote by mail ballot.[3]. election.[3]. The handling of absentee ballots should be restricted to voters, most immediate family members, or an individual residing in their household. 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. [3], Wisconsin law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. I voted by mail early, so not saying above is true. In the Memo, in paragraph 2 you say: Ballots can be returned to the clerks office, an in-person absentee (or early voting) site or the voters polling on election day. On June 8, 2020, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) submitted a rules petition to the Wisconsin Elections Commission asking it to issue a rule stating that only a voter may return their absentee ballot as opposed to a third party. To learn which states fall into each category, see the map below. Include your in-state ID number or a photocopy of a valid photo ID with your application. Political groups and campaigns from both parties have run ballot-collection programs with the goal of boosting turnout and helping older, homebound, disabled or rural voters get their ballots returned. In most states, the answer is yes but there might be restrictions. Tech: Matt Latourelle Nathan Bingham Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez. Voters may return their mail-in or absentee ballot at their county election board's designated drop box (es) or drop-off location. Your county MAY have a ballot drop box, not all counties do. Other states allow you to give your ballot to anyone you choose. (b)a United States postal service worker or other individual specifically authorized by law to transmit United States mail; (3)An individual authorized to collect a voter's ballot pursuant to subsections (2)(c) through (2)(f) may not collect and convey more than six ballots.[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], Utah law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. The clerk shall inform the 3rd person of the deadline for the return of the ballot.[3]. Florida law allows a person of the voter's choiceexcept for an employer, an agent of the employer, or a union officer or agentto assist in casting mail ballots of voters needing assistance due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. Those who support restricting who may return mail ballots often refer to the practice of campaign and union workers returning ballots as ballot harvesting. WHYY's Billy Penn has a map of drop boxes in Philly . After the 2020 election, a discredited film claimed without evidence that a multistate network of Democrat-aligned ballot mules were paid to illegally collect and drop off ballots in five states. Approximately 22,000 Lehigh County voters used mail . Surveys after the 2020 election found that voters who cast ballots for President Joe Biden were far more likely to report voting by mail than voters for Trump. A family member or another person may also return the ballot on behalf of the voter. The law states the following: "No person shall serve as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. Ballot collection prohibited -- exceptions. (c) "Family member" means a person who is related to the voter by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship. ", Tennessee law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. (6) a common or contract carrier working in the normal course of the carrier's authorized duties if the official ballot is sealed in an official carrier envelope that is accompanied by an individual delivery receipt for that particular carrier envelope. Boston, MA 02201. Ballots must be received by the county board of elections before 8 p.m. on Election Day. See the state-by-state details section below to learn more about your state's mail ballot laws. Take your completed ballot to the ballot box and insert it into the ballot box. In Minnesota, a designated agent can return absentee ballots on behalf of not more than three voters. 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. 100% remote. For example, some states only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off your . [10] Click here for more information about the case. (d) "Household member" means a person who resides at the same residence as the voter. C. To a 3rd person who already has been issued 5 absentee ballots for voters in the municipality, until the 3rd person has returned one of those ballots; or [2011, c. 399, 23 (NEW).] (c) The ballot must be returned in the return 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.". or to take advantage of a ballot drop-off location. An elector who is confined to a hospital on a primary or election day to whom an absentee ballot is delivered by the registrar or absentee ballot clerk shall then and there vote the ballot, seal it properly, and return it to the registrar or absentee ballot clerk. (4) An incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility. In most states, you can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions. provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to a voter's near Illinois law states the voter must do the following after sealing their absentee ballot in the return envelope: The voter shall then endorse his certificate upon the back of the envelope and the envelope shall be mailed in person by such voter, postage prepaid, to the election authority issuing the ballot or, if more convenient, it may be delivered in person, by either the voter or by any person authorized by the voter, or by a company licensed as a motor carrier of property by the Illinois Commerce Commission under the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, which is engaged in the business of making deliveries. (a) Any person who, with the intent to commit fraud, obtains, removes, or disseminates an absent voters ballot, intimidates an absent voter, or completes or alters an absent voters ballot, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000, imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned. For the purposes of this paragraph: (a) "Caregiver" means a person who provides medical or health care assistance to the voter in a residence, nursing care institution, hospice facility, assisted living center, assisted living facility, assisted living home, residential care institution, adult day health care facility or adult foster care home. It depends on your state. Just my interpretation. If the ballot is from a physically incapacitated elector, an employee or person under the direction of the facility in which the voter is located may deliver to the ballot must be authorized on the ballot by the voter to do so. 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. 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. 722.2 A duly registered voter shall apply to vote by emergency absentee ballot according to the following procedure: (a) The registered voter shall, by signed affidavit on a form provided by the Board, set forth: (1) The reason why he or she is unable to be present at the polls on the day of the election; and. (A) Authorized agent shall show some form of current photographic identification to the clerk; 2. Other terms used to reference this practice include ballot collection, community ballot collection, ballot gathering, third-party possession of another's ballot, and ballot return. Once your ballot is in the mail, you may not vote in person at the polls. Laws allowing ballot collection make voting more convenient, but they have been criticized by some who say they increase risk of voter fraud. After the 2020 election, a discredited film claimed without evidence that a multistate network of Democrat-aligned ballot mules were paid to illegally collect and drop off ballots in five states. ballot by mail, the elector must provide the postage. Some states have stricter rules. 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. Allentown, PA 18101-2400 Phone 610-782-3194 Fax 610-770-3845. Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. ; If you are already registered to vote, you do not have to register again in Pennsylvania unless you changed your address, changed your name, or want to change your political party. 1 City Hall Square, Room 241. A designated bearer receiving an absentee ballot from a voter shall obtain the absentee ballot directly from the voter and deliver the absentee ballot directly to the county clerk. Those who support restricting who may return mail ballots often refer to the practice of campaign and union workers returning ballots as ballot harvesting. It does specify that a notary public may not do so. Justice Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. Be Truthful. In total, more than half of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a completed ballot, according to a tally from the National Conference of State Legislatures. (D) The county clerk shall not accept an absentee ballot from an authorized agent who does not sign the register under oath. Drop boxes are frequently placed intentionally in public, high-traffic spaces. Such voters may have anyone registered to vote in the same precinct as them or a legal relative to obtain and return their mail ballot. Ohio law allows a family member (defined by the law) to return a voter's absentee ballot. Operations: Meghann Olshefski Mandy Morris Kelly Rindfleisch For each state below, you will find a brief summary of key points of mail ballot return laws, direct quotes from state laws with more detail, and links to the full laws, where available. 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