Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an electronic application to request an absentee ballot.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Elections to mail an absentee ballot to every qualified voter otherwise eligible for such a ballot, when such voter requests an absentee ballot from the board of elections in writing in a letter, telefax indicating the address, phone number and the telefax number from which the writing is sent or other written instrument, or an electronic application submitted by the voter by electronic mail or through an electronic transmittal system or web portal established by the state board of elections or city or county board of elections (Sec. 1.d).

• Authorizes a military ballot or voter registration application or an absentee ballot application in a letter (Sec. 1.d).

• Authorizes a special federal voter to request a special federal ballot or voter registration application or an absentee ballot application in a letter (Sec. 1.d).

• Specifies if a federal write-in absentee ballot is received after election day, the envelope in which it is received must contain the following, including (Sec. § 3.iii): 

• A cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country's postal service;

• A dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; and

• If cast by a military voter, the signature and date of the voter and one witness thereto with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day of the election.

• Requires all ballots received by the Board of Elections and all federal write-in ballots received from special federal voters not later than 7 days following the day of a primary election or 13 days following the day of a general or special election, shall be retained at the board and shall be cast and canvassed in the same manner as other ballots retained by such board (Sec. § 11-212).

Full Bill Text