13-13-212. Application for absentee ballot -- special provisions -- biennial absentee ballot list. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), an elector may apply for an absentee ballot by using a standard application form provided by rule by the secretary of state pursuant to 13-1-210 or by making a written request, which must include the applicant's birth date and must be signed by the applicant. The request must be submitted to the election administrator of the applicant's county of residence within the time period specified in 13-13-211.
     (b) A person who holds a power of attorney from an absent uniformed services elector [a uniformed-service voter] may apply for an absentee ballot for that election on behalf of the uniformed services elector [uniformed-service voter]. The applicant shall provide a copy of the power of attorney authorizing the request for an absentee ballot along with the application.
     (2) (a) If an elector requests an absentee ballot because of a sudden illness or health emergency, the application for an absentee ballot may be made by written request signed by the elector at the time that the ballot is delivered in person by the absentee election board or by an authorized election official as provided in 13-13-225.
     (b) The elector may request by telephone, facsimile transmission, or other means to have a ballot and application personally delivered by the absentee election board or by an authorized election official at the elector's place of confinement, hospitalization, or residence within the county.
     (c) A request under subsection (2)(a) must be received by the election administrator within the time period specified in 13-13-211(2).
     (3) (a) An elector may at any time request to be mailed an absentee ballot for each subsequent election in which the elector is eligible to vote as long as the elector remains qualified to vote and resides at the address provided in the initial application. The request may be made when the individual applies for voter registration using the standard application form provided for in 13-1-210.
     (b) The election administrator shall biennially mail a forwardable address confirmation form to each elector who has requested an absentee ballot for subsequent elections. The address confirmation form must request the elector's driver's license number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number. The address confirmation form must be mailed in January of every even-numbered year. The address confirmation form is for elections to be held between February 1 following the mailing through January of the next even-numbered year. The elector shall sign the form, indicate the address to which the absentee ballot should be sent, provide the elector's driver's license number or the last four digits of the elector's social security number, and return the form to the election administrator. If the form is not completed and returned, the election administrator shall remove the elector from the biennial absentee ballot list.
     (c) An elector may request to be removed from the biennial absentee ballot list for subsequent elections by notifying the election administrator in writing.
     (d) An elector who has been or who requests to be removed from the biennial absentee ballot list may subsequently request to be mailed an absentee ballot for each subsequent election.
     (4) In a mail ballot election, ballots must be sent under mail ballot procedures rather than under the absentee ballot procedures set forth in subsection (3).

     History: En. Sec. 122, Ch. 368, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 287, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 23-3704; amd. Sec. 119, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 239, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 591, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 85, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 164, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 36, Ch. 414, L. 2003; amd. Secs. 14, 25, Ch. 557, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 284, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 286, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 586, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 221, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 358, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 219, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 297, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 101, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 111, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 182, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 38, Ch. 242, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 255, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 336, L. 2013.