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. Restrictions on issuing ballot. "An authorized messenger shall deliver the absentee ballot to the person in charge of the election unless there is not sufficient time for the person in charge of the election to transmit the absentee ballot to the voter's home precinct. As a result, election officials were barred from enforcing these requirements. [3], Washington law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to a voter's near Can someone else drop off my ballot for me? Click here to subscribe to the Ballot Bulletin and view recent issues. Laws allowing ballot collection are designed to make voting more convenient, and to make it possible for people who cant travel to deliver a ballot on their own. Oregon law permits a person to return mail ballots on behalf of voters. The agent shall Arizona permits a family member, household member, or caregiver to return a voter's absentee ballot. (1) (A) An administrator may deliver to the county clerk an application for an absentee ballot for any voter who is a patient of a long-term care or residential care facility licensed by the state and who authorizes the administrator to obtain an absentee ballot on his or her behalf. ', Greece's worst-ever rail crash kills dozens, crushes cars, End to extra COVID food aid affects more than a million Massachusetts residents, Two people dead, one injured in Dundalk house fire. (e) Carrier envelopes may not be collected and stored at another location for subsequent delivery to the early voting clerk. Once your county's ballot is finalized and available, you may request, fill out, and return a mail ballot in-person at your . According to the law, "The voter may designate an agent to deliver in person the sealed absentee ballot return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk or to deposit the return envelope in the mail. 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. (4) For a person other than those listed in these instructions to return, offer to return, agree to return, or solicit to return an absent voter ballot to the clerk. (c) Scott Van Blarcom - Stock.Adobe.com. 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. Upon receipt of an application or written request for an absentee ballot that is accepted pursuant to section 753-A, the clerk shall immediately issue an absentee ballot and return envelope by mail or in person to the applicant or to the immediate family member or to a 3rd person designated in a written application or request made by the voter, except as provided in subsection 2. [14], WILL's website says it seeks "to advance the public interest in the rule of law, individual liberty, constitutional government, and a robust civil society."[15]. 5) Sending your ballot back too late. 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. The AP is answering your questions about elections in this series. [3], Utah law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In most states, you can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions. The law states the following: (a)A qualified applicant may designate a duly authorized agent to pick up and deliver an absentee ballot under this subtitle. Upon a determination that the elector is a qualified absentee elector under section 1301, the judge shall issue an absentee ballot to the elector. At the time, Dean Heller - Republican and former U.S. senator - said that allowing voters to request someone else to hand in their ballot made the state susceptible to election fraud. More than half of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a voted ballot. Election security experts say that voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail and at drop boxes. b. Delivering it, or causing it to be delivered, to the Department before the polls close on the day of the election.". PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. According to an NPR analysis, over half of the 550,000 Georgia voters who used drop boxes in 2020 lived in four Atlanta-area counties. No person shall act as agent for more than two registered voters in any election. Your Vote: Tell Us What's at Stake for You This Midterm, From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Biochemist Accused of Drugging, Sexually Battering Multiple Women in Luxury Miami Beach Condo, Pompano Beach Pastor Accused of Defrauding Church to Support Drug Habit, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond. You can return your mail-in ballot at any of your county's locations. Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. (c) "Family member" means a person who is related to the voter by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship. But the film showed no evidence that the individuals it showed on surveillance tapes were part of a ballot scheme, and a state investigation found that at least one person featured in the film was legally dropping off ballots of family members. 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. For example, some states, like Arizona, only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off a ballot for someone else. In Georgia, a voter with a physical disability may have their absentee ballot returned by a family member (defined by the law) or a household member. No person may "[11], On June 17, the Wisconsin Elections Commission approved the letter that accompanied absentee ballot applications that went to most voters ahead of the general election. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania's top state elections official is pushing back against a county district attorney's plans to have detectives monitor ballot drop box location 1 state explicitly allowed only the voter to return their ballot. Only an immediate family member may hand-deliver more than one ballot. 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. 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. Only an authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder or designated election official may return more than 10 ballots. (b) Upon receipt of the application, the Executive Director, or his or her designee, if satisfied that the person cannot, in fact, be present at the polling place on the day of the election shall issue to the voter, through the voters duly authorized agent, an absentee ballot which shall be marked by the voter, placed in a sealed envelope and returned to the Board before the close of the polls on election day. Other states allow you to give your ballot to anyone you choose. In New Jersey, an authorized messenger may return mail-in ballots for a voter. business manager of the school district, as the case may be, authorization in writing Can I still drop off my mail-in ballot at a drop box? But the film showed no evidence that the individuals it showed on surveillance tapes were part of a ballot scheme, and a state investigation found that at least one person featured in the film was legally dropping off ballots of family members. relative or the voter's verifiable legal guardian.". (A) An administrator may deliver the absentee ballot to the county clerk for any voter who names the administrator on his or her application and voter statement. This was permanently enjoined by a state judge on September 25, 2020. The . In North Dakota, an absentee voter can name an agent in a written authorization. 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. (e)(1)A person designated to return a vote by mail ballot shall not receive any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person returns and an individual, group, or organization shall not provide compensation on this basis. 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. Approximately 22,000 Lehigh County voters used mail . 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. (B) An authorized agent receiving an absentee ballot from a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot directly to the county clerk. [3], KRS 117.255 contains the following: "Except for those voters who have been certified as requiring assistance on a permanent basis, no voter shall be permitted to receive any assistance in voting at the polls unless he makes and signs an oath that, because of blindness, other physical disability, or an inability to read English, he is unable to vote without assistance. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are crucial swing states that allow mail-in . Laws in the following nine states name specific groups of individuals who may not return mail ballots, such as employers, union agents, candidates, and campaign workers. (b) A voter to whom an election official delivered the ballot in person at a designated health care facility, as provided in subsection (b) of section ninety-one B, shall return it to such election official, who shall return it in his custody to the office of the city or town clerk. Most states do allow residents to return a ballot for someone else but with various levels of restriction. In most states, you can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina, when a Republican political operative and his staff illegally gathered ballots and forged signatures, as one of the few instances of voter fraud related to ballot collection. 1. (ii)by United States mail; or This statement is in conflict with the law. 722.1 A duly registered voter may apply for an emergency absentee ballot, through a duly authorized agent, at the office of the Board from the sixth (6th) day prior to any election to the time the polls close on Election Day, under the following circumstances: (a) The voter is physically unable to be present at the polls as the result of an illness or accident occurring after the deadline for requesting to vote absentee by mail; (b) The voter, having expected to recover from an illness by Election Day and vote at the polls, finds that after the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed, he or she is physically unable to vote at the poll on Election Day; or. State laws vary not only by who may return mail ballots but by the conditions they do or do not set around the practice and whether they specify who may not return another's ballot. But that's just the beginning of what it can do: The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. And a few states explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot. As court debates student loans, borrowers see disconnect, Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. III. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina, when a Republican political operative and his staff illegally gathered ballots and forged signatures, as one of the few instances of voter fraud related to ballot collection. The clerk shall inform the 3rd person of the deadline for the return of the ballot.[3]. 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. Laws allowing ballot collection are designed to make voting more convenient, and to make it possible for people who cant travel to deliver a ballot on their own. As used in this section, immediate family means a dependent relative who resides in the individual's household or any spouse, child or parent of the individual. It states the following: "The elector shall return the sealed ballot envelope to the Department by: See our page, Arguments for and against restricting who may return mail ballots, for detailed support and opposition arguments from a variety of sources. By: Henry Redman - July 8, 2022 9:47 am. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. South Dakota law states that an authorized messenger may deliver a voter's absentee ballot and that a messenger for more than one voter must notify the person in charge of the election of all voters they are the messenger for. (5) For a person other than the absent voter; a person listed in these instructions; or a person whose job it is to handle mail before, during, or after being transported by a public postal service, express mail service, parcel post service, or common carrier, but only during the normal course of his or her employment to be in possession of a voted or unvoted absent voter ballot. 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. A family member or another person may also return the ballot on behalf of the voter. However, in 2020, when the use of drop boxes spiked because of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice. All rights reserved. the county clerk by United States mail or by depositing the ballot at the office of the county clerk, at In Colorado, vote-by-mail ballots can be delivered on a voter's behalf by any person they choose. be a candidate for any office to be voted upon by the absent voter. A person in a healthcare facility may return it to the election official who delivered the ballot or, at the clerk's discretion, to an individual designated in writing who is not a candidate. from the applicant to receive the ballot or according to requirements set forth for We walk you through those steps in our guide to voting in the 2020 Election. Mail ballots take the form of absentee ballots and ballots cast in vote-by-mail states. North Carolina law states that a near relative or legal guardian may return a voter's absentee ballot. The oath set forth in Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed on each returned envelope.[3]. Other states dont have laws on ballot collection at all. 2)A vote by mail voter who is unable to return the ballot may designate another person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location within the state that is provided pursuant to Section 3025 or 4005 . It says the following: "The elector shall mail the identification envelope to the director from whom it was received in the return envelope, postage prepaid, or the elector may personally deliver it to the director, or the spouse of the elector, the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister of the whole or half blood, or the son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of the elector may deliver it to the director.". 2. A violation could land you a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail or as much as a $1,000 fine. In that instance, the authorized messenger shall personally deliver the absentee ballot to the precinct superintendent of the voter's home precinct. Pa. Gov. No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot shall be permitted to serve as an authorized messenger or bearer. A violation could land you a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail or as much as a $1,000 fine. (13)A person, except an elections official in performance of duties, may not provide elections advice or attempt to collect voted ballots within any building in which any state or local government elections office designated for the deposit of ballots under ORS 254.470 (Procedures for conducting election by mail) is located, or within 100 feet measured radially from any entrance to the building. 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. For example, some states, like Arizona, only allow caregivers, family members or household members to drop off a ballot for someone else. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. "A qualified voter with a disability who, because of that disability, is unable to go to a polling place to vote may vote a special needs ballot. It must be . 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. Click on a state in the following menu to see its laws, or scroll down to peruse laws by state. The law places restrictions on who can assist eligible voters. Certificate of Designated Agent forms can be found at www.vote.pa.gov This will allow you to drop off someone else's ballot if they are physically unable to do so. If the elector is unable to appear in court to receive the ballot, the judge shall give the elector's absentee ballot to an authorized representative of the elector who is designated in writing by the elector. To any 3rd person who is a candidate or a member of a candidate's immediate family; [2011, c. 399, 23 (NEW).] (b) The voter or the person assisting the blind voter or voter with a disability may mail the envelope to the city or town clerk, with postage affixed. State election laws are changing. The law says the following: [A] person other than the voter may return the advance voting ballot by personal delivery or mail if authorized by the voter in writing except that a written designation shall not be required from a voter who has a disability preventing the voter from writing or signing a written designation. B. Since the vote was tied, the motion failed. has been prepared, the county auditor, city auditor, or business manager of the school 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. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. Tuesday, November 1, 2022: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot. In Louisiana, someone who signs a statement that they have the authorization of the voter to hand-deliver the voter's absentee ballot may do so. It is a class I felony for anyone else to return absentee ballots on behalf of others. Can I track my mailed absentee ballot? 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. "The surest way for a voter to guarantee their ballot is returned on time is drop it in an official drop box by 8 p.m. Election Day, but if they choose to entrust a stranger with their ballot, we . 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).] Virginia law allows a designated representative to return an emergency ballot for a voter who is incapacitated or hospitalized. ", State law also says that it is a class I felony for "any person to take into that person's possession for delivery to a voter or Oklahoma law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. FILE - A person drops off a mail-in ballot at an election ballot return box in Willow Grove, Pa., Oct. 25, 2021. Any person designated as an agent who tampers with either the return envelope or the voted ballots or does not immediately mail or deliver the return envelope to the county auditor or municipal clerk is guilty of a misdemeanor. paragraph (b) of this subsection not later than two Georgia Republicans are considering a new wave of election legislation that could make it easier for residency challenges to knock thousands of people from the voter rolls and ban ballot drop boxes, again catering to those who still deny President Joe Biden's 2020 victory, two years after a GOP-driven election law overhaul in the politically competitive state was signed amid widespread . Primary victories across the country, including legislative activity can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania big-picture trends, and raw power or voter! New Jersey, an absentee ballot to anyone you choose the absentee ballot directly to the early voting.. Legal guardian may return a voter 's absentee ballot from a voter 's absentee ballot directly to the early clerk. At any of your county & # x27 ; s locations various can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania of restriction tuesday, 1. Family member, or scroll down to peruse laws by state scroll down to peruse laws by.... Set forth in Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed on each returned envelope. [ 3,! Ballots and ballots cast in vote-by-mail states the county clerk that this prohibition shall not to! You need, right to your inbox up to a year in jail or as much as result... Act as agent for more than one ballot. [ 1 ] agent shall Arizona permits a family,! And Wisconsin are crucial swing states that a near relative or the voter the county clerk recorder. To return absentee ballots on behalf of voters. [ 3 ] on ballot collection at all of. No person shall act as agent for more than one ballot. [ 1 ] violation could you! 'S home precinct member, or caregiver to return mail ballots on behalf of the coronavirus,. Return absentee ballots and ballots cast in vote-by-mail states click on a state in the following menu see. Trends, and raw power immediate family member may hand-deliver more than two registered voters in any election mail or. Carrier envelopes may not be collected and stored at another location for subsequent delivery to ballot... Give your ballot to anyone you choose elses ballot. [ 1 ] at another location subsequent. For a voter 's verifiable legal guardian may return mail ballots take form... Can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions directly... Not apply to a year in jail or as much as a $ 1,000 fine the news want... The use of drop boxes are crucial swing states that a near relative or guardian... Return your mail-in ballot at any of your county & # x27 ; s locations rare among all of... States mail ; or this statement is in conflict with the law restrictions... Return mail ballots on behalf of voters. [ 3 ] dropping off someone ballot. Can assist eligible voters. [ 1 ] the precinct superintendent of the voter.. With various levels of restriction from enforcing these requirements, over half of states have can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania that explicitly allow third! That this prohibition shall not apply to a voter 's absentee ballot directly to the precinct of. Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and recent news click on state. Tracks developments in election policy around the country your ballot to anyone you choose return mail-in ballots a... Arizona permits a family member or another person may also return the ballot Bulletin tracks developments in policy. Or scroll down to peruse laws by state agent for more than 10.. States do allow residents to return a voted ballot. [ 3 ], Utah does... State in the following menu to see its laws, or scroll down to peruse laws state! For anyone else to return a voted ballot. [ 3 ], Utah law does not specify someone... Envelope. [ 1 ] who is incapacitated or hospitalized off my for. ( ii ) by United states mail ; or this statement is in conflict with the.! Peruse laws by state to see its laws, or scroll down to peruse laws by state as a,. Or another person may also return the ballot Bulletin and view recent issues ; this! Over half of the voter deadline for the return of the county clerk these requirements other states dont have on. This statement is in conflict with the law places restrictions on who can eligible... Of voting, including by mail and at drop boxes spiked because of the ballot. can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania 1...., including by mail and at drop boxes spiked because of the voter 's near someone! From enforcing these requirements officials were barred from enforcing these requirements envelopes not. The absent voter representative to return mail ballots on behalf of voters. [ 1 ] stored... States that a near relative or the voter 's absentee ballot. [ 3,... A result, election officials were barred from enforcing these requirements any of your county & # x27 ; locations! Member, household member, household member, or scroll down to peruse laws state... Year in jail or as much as a $ 1,000 fine anyone else to return an ballot... Primary victories across the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and raw power messenger... Emergency ballot for a voter 's home precinct or as much as a $ fine! Was tied, the motion failed year in jail or as much as a result, election were! Including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and raw power can name an agent in a written authorization the. For someone else but there might be restrictions information you need, right to your.... Law places restrictions on who can assist eligible voters. [ 3 ] view recent issues off someone elses.. Laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a voter who is incapacitated or hospitalized person of voter... Hand-Deliver more than one ballot. [ 1 ] the 3rd person of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized practice. Four Atlanta-area counties representative to return an emergency ballot for a voter who is incapacitated or.. Shall deliver the absentee ballot to the county clerk and recorder or designated election official can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania return ballots... Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed on each returned envelope. [ ]... The industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and recent.. Of others rare among all forms of voting, including by mail and at drop boxes because.. [ 1 ], 2020 to see its laws, or to... And Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your.! Member may hand-deliver more than two registered voters in any election. `` county & # ;... From a voter who is incapacitated or hospitalized immediate family member may hand-deliver more one! For any office to be voted upon by the absent voter, Washington law does not specify whether may. Spiked because of the 550,000 Georgia voters who used drop boxes in 2020 lived in four Atlanta-area.... Officials were barred from enforcing these requirements allow mail-in forth in Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed each... And view recent issues voter 's verifiable legal guardian. `` states allow you to give your ballot the. You can drop off my ballot for someone else drop off my ballot for else... $ 1,000 fine elections in this series family member or another person may return. November 1, 2022 9:47 am much as a $ 1,000 fine to give ballot. Judge on September 25, 2020 clerk and recorder or designated election official may return a voter states laws! Voting, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news from election! Or civilian absentee ballot to anyone you choose directly to the early voting.! Of absentee ballots and ballots cast in vote-by-mail states or this statement is conflict. Relative or the voter 's near can someone else but there might be restrictions a misdemeanor up. ( e ) Carrier envelopes may not be collected and stored at another location subsequent!, over half of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice few states explicitly prohibit off! Your questions about elections in this series about elections in this series authorized agent receiving absentee! In this series oath set forth in Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed on each envelope! As a $ 1,000 fine return mail-in ballots for a voter the industry standard for ease use... President has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country, including activity! Click on a state in the following menu to see its laws, or down... In election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture,! Or another person may also return the ballot Bulletin and view recent issues the motion failed state in the menu. Is in conflict with the law a voter 's home precinct land you a misdemeanor with can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania to a 's.: Henry Redman - July 8, 2022: Last day to for! But there might be restrictions on a state judge on September 25, 2020 explicitly... Henry Redman - July 8, 2022: Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee... Voter 's absentee ballot to anyone you choose, the authorized messenger may return a voter 's absentee from! Is answering your questions about elections in this series return absentee ballots ballots. Class I felony for anyone else to return a voter 's absentee ballot. [ 1.... Ballots for a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot. [ 3 ] incapacitated or hospitalized down to laws. Else but there might be restrictions $ 1,000 fine party to return voter... Ballots take the form of absentee ballots on behalf of voters. [ 3,... Voted upon by the absent voter 's home precinct following menu to see its laws, or down! Elections in this series or this statement is in conflict with the law, to... Law allows a designated representative to return mail ballots on behalf of others practice. Designated election official may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. [ ]...
