Government Accountability Board, P.O. Box 7984, Madison, WI | | web: gab.wi.gov | Rev Overview of Absentee Voting Rules 18mins Part Two Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies – Eligible Facilities

Overview of Absentee Voting Rules Electors Served at Special Voting Deputies - Eligible Facilities Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies – Eligible Facilities

3 Definition: Definition: Voters residing in certain care facility that are not served by special voting deputies. Also, does not include voters who are indefinitely confined. Care Facilities:  Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF)  Retirement home  Residential care apartment complex  Adult family home Use the indefinitely confined elector procedures for indefinitely confined electors who may reside at an SVD-eligible facility Definition: Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities

4 Application Requirements  Absentee applications must be received by 5pm on Thursday

5  Proof of identification is not required Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities Proof of Identification

6  Proof of identification is not required Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities Proof of Identification  One of the following is required:  An elector may choose to provide a photo ID submitted either with the application or with the returned ballot

7  Proof of identification is not required Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities Proof of Identification  One of the following is required:  An elector may choose to provide a photo ID submitted either with the application or with the returned ballot  The completed Certification of Care Facility Authorized Representative section on the absentee certification envelope. An authorized Representative of the care facility verifies:  The voter’s name and address  That voter lives at the facility This is on the newly-revised certificate envelope (GAB-122). OROR

8 Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities Proof of Identification  The Certification of Voter and Certification of Witness sections on the absentee certification envelope must still be competed  Proof of identification must be provided only once, either with the application or the ballot* *Unless the voter registers with a new name or address  Proof of identification is not required

9 Proof of Identification  If the elector has provided a copy of photo ID with the application or with a previous application or ballot, the clerk initials the certification envelope before it is sent to the elector Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities

 If photo ID is not provided with the absentee ballot or the Certification of Care Facility Authorized Representative section of the certification envelope is not completed, the election inspectors will treat the ballot as a provisional on Election Day 10  If the elector has not met the photo ID require, the clerk completes the Municipal Clerk section of the certification envelope Proof of Identification  The clerk indicates that the elector must provide photo ID with the ballot or complete the Certification of Care Facility Authorized Representative section of the certification envelope Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities

11 Electors Served at Special Voting Deputy - Eligible Facilities Duration of Requests As specified in the absentee ballot application. The ballot must be postmark by election day and received no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Friday following the election. Deadline for Ballot Return

Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies – Eligible Facilities Overview of Absentee Voting Rules Military Voters

13 Definition: Definition: U.S. military service (at home or away), members of the merchant marine, U.S. civilian employees serving abroad, peace corps volunteers, and their spouses or voting-age dependents.  U.S. Military Service  Merchant Marine  U.S. Civilian Employees Serving Abroad  Peace Corp Volunteers  Spouses and Voting-Age Dependents Definition: Military Voters

14 Application Requirements  No voter registration form is required  Must have resided in municipality immediately before entering the military Military Voters

15 Application Requirements  Military electors away from their residence on Election Day may apply for an absentee ballot until 5pm on Election Day for federal elections  Absentee applications must be received no later than 5pm on the Friday preceding the election  The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is a common alternative form that is used by military electors. It counts as both a voter registration and absentee ballot application Military Voters

16 Application Requirements  Eligible to receive an absentee ballot via mail, or fax Ballots cannot be returned electronically.  Absentee ballots must be returned via mail Military Voters

17  EXEMPT Proof of Identification The clerk must initial the absentee certification envelope indicating the voter has met the photo ID requirement before sending the absentee ballot to the military elector. IMPORTANT: Exemption only applies when Military electors are sent an absentee ballot. Military Voters

 For all elections within the calendar year in which the request was made 18 Duration of Requests  For specific elections  Receive ballots for all offices  If a military elector does not return their absentee ballot or the ballot is returned undeliverable, the municipal clerk continues to send absentee ballots through the remainder of the calendar year Military Voters

19 Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)  The FWAB must be accompanied by a completed Declaration/Affirmation  Available at military bases, embassies, and online at (This is not a ballot sent by the clerk.) The Declaration/Affirmation is both a ballot certification and an absentee application. Military Voters

20 Military Voters Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)  The FWAB can be accepted for all elections  The clerk must send an official absentee ballot to the voter if time allows

21 Multiple Ballots - Priority  If more than one ballot is received by Election Day, all ballots are sent to the polling place for processing. Only one ballot is counted and the rest are rejected. The order of priority is:  Count whatever ballot you have received by Election Day 2. FWAB 1. Official Ballot Military Voters

22 Multiple Ballots - Priority  If a ballot comes in after Election Day, but before the deadline, and you have already counted a ballot for that voter on Election Day, do not count the late-arriving ballot Military Voters

23  See manual(s) for further details on the administration and tracking of military ballots Special Procedures  Requests are valid for up to 28 days after the date of discharge from military service Military and Overseas Voting Manual and SVRS manual Military Voters

24  Clerks must track Military Voters Special Procedures  All military voters’ absentee ballots need to be tracked in the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS)  When the ballot was sent  How the ballot was sent (via mail, or fax)  When the ballot was returned to the clerk

25  Clerks who use SVRS must update SVRS within 24 hours of sending and receiving military absentee ballots Military Voters Special Procedures  Clerks who do not use SVRS themselves must communicate the information to their provider within 24 hours of sending and receiving military absentee ballots

Military Voters Overview of Absentee Voting Rules Overseas Voters Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies – Eligible Facilities Overseas Voters

27 Definition: Definition: An elector who is permanently outside of the U.S. with no intent to return to their residence. A person outside the U.S. for a finite period of time (vacation, work, education) with an intent to return is not an overseas voter. May only vote for federal offices ( President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress ). Definition: Overseas Voters

28 Application Requirements  Voter registrations that are postmarked after the 20th day before the election cannot be accepted  Standard “by-mail” rules apply:  Are exempt from Proof of Residency requirements Overseas Voters

29 Application Requirements Voting-age children of an overseas elector are eligible to vote as overseas electors.  Must have lived in the district immediately before moving overseas Home may not be owned by them anymore or not exist anymore.  Votes from last address in the district Overseas Voters

30 Application Requirements May request an absentee ballot via mail, or fax.  Absentee applications must be received by 5pm on Thursday Ballots cannot be returned electronically.  Absentee ballots must be returned via mail Overseas Voters

31 Proof of Identification The clerk must initial the absentee certification envelope indicating the voter has met the photo ID requirement before sending the absentee ballot to the overseas elector  EXEMPT Overseas Voters

32 Duration of Requests One absentee ballot request is valid for all elections within the calendar year in which the request was made. Overseas Voters

33 Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)  The FWAB must be accompanied by a completed Declaration/Affirmation  Available at military bases, embassies, and online at (This is not a ballot sent by the clerk.)  The clerk must send an official federal only absentee ballot to the voter if time allows The Declaration/Affirmation is both a ballot certification and an absentee application. Overseas Voters

34 Multiple Ballots - Priority  If more than one ballot is received by Election Day, all ballots are sent to the polling place for processing. Only one ballot is counted and the rest are rejected. The order of priority is:  Count whatever ballot you have received by Election Day 2. FWAB 1. Official Ballot  Ballots should be sent to the polling place Overseas Voters

35  See manual(s) for further details on the administration and tracking of overseas ballots Special Procedures Military and Overseas Voting Manual and SVRS manual Overseas Voters

36  Clerks must track Overseas Voters Special Procedures  All overseas voters’ absentee ballots need to be tracked in the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS)  When the ballot was sent  How the ballot was sent (via mail, or fax)  When the ballot was returned to the clerk

37  Clerks who use SVRS must update SVRS within 24 hours of sending and receiving overseas absentee ballots Overseas Voters Special Procedures  Clerks who do not use SVRS must communicate the information to their provider within 24 hours of sending and receiving overseas absentee ballots

General Absentee Guidelines Indefinitely Confined Electors Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Electors Served at Special Voting Deputies - Eligible Facilities Military Voters Overseas Voters Regular Absentee Voters - By Mail – Fax and Ballots – Military and Overseas Voters Only In-Person Absentee Voting in Clerk’s Office Provisional Ballots Presidential Only– New & Former Residents Hospitalized Electors Sequestered Jurors Overview of Absentee Voting Rules | Rev Government Accountability Board P.O. Box 7984, Madison, WI | web: gab.wi.gov | End of Part Two General Absentee Guidelines Indefinitely Confined Electors Electors Served by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) Electors Served at Special Voting Deputies - Eligible Facilities Military Voters Overseas Voters