9. Absentee votes may be cast on paper ballots or ballot cards, or both methods may be used, provided that, following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C. 19:61-1 et al.), absentee votes shall not be cast in any election in this State by means of ballot cards that require the voter to punch out a hole in the card as a means of recording the voter’s vote.

Such ballots may be counted by automatic tabulating equipment or by special canvassing boards appointed by and under the direction of the county board of elections. A true copy of absentee paper ballots may be made on ballot cards, which after being duly verified, shall forthwith be counted in the same manner as other ballot cards, except that, following the effective date of P.L.2004, c.88 (C. 19:61-1 et al.), ballot cards that require a hole to be punched out in the card to record a vote shall not be used in any election in this State. Such paper ballots and ballot cards shall be forthwith marked with corresponding numbers, which numbering shall be done in such manner as not to identify any voter and such marking shall not be considered to be a marked ballot. Such paper ballots and corresponding ballot cards shall both be preserved in the same manner as other ballot cards are required to be preserved hereunder.

L.1973,c.82,s.9; amended 2004, c.88, s.20.