(1) Upon receipt of an envelope containing a marked ballot from an absent elector, the clerk shall keep it safely in the office and, before delivering the ballot for counting, shall compare the signature of the absent elector that appears on the ballot envelope with that upon the elector’s registration record.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, ballots for absent electors shall be counted and returns shall be made, as nearly as possible, in the same manner as for other ballots cast at the election. [Amended by 1957 c.641 § 6; 1961 c.92 § 1; 1979 c.190 § 209; 1991 c.107 § 9; 1999 c.410 § 30; 2013 c.520 § 3; 2015 c.169 § 1; 2021 c.551 § 23]

[1999 c.410 § 33; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 8; 1961 c.163 § 1; 1979 c.190 § 210; 1999 c.410 § 34; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 9; 1961 c.92 § 2; 1979 c.190 § 211; 1993 c.493 § 25; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[1979 c.190 § 212; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 10; 1979 c.190 § 213; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 11; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 12; 1979 c.190 § 214; 1991 c.107 § 10; repealed by 2007 c.154 § 67]

[Repealed by 1955 c.332 § 20]

[1979 c.190 § 215; 1993 c.713 § 30; 1995 c.742 § 14; 1999 c.410 § 35; 2007 c.154 § 17; repealed by 2013 c.520 § 23]

[Repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[Repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[1969 c.261 § 3; 1979 c.519 § 25; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[Amended by 1957 c.641 § 13; 1961 c.114 § 14; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[1971 c.27 § 2; 1979 c.190 § 56; renumbered 247.435]

[1971 c.27 § 3; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[1971 c.27 § 4; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

[1971 c.27 § 5; repealed by 1979 c.190 § 431]

MILITARY OR OVERSEAS ELECTORS