(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), not later than the ninth day before election day, the jacket envelopes containing early voting ballots voted by mail shall be delivered to the board.
(a-1) Any jacket envelopes of early voting ballots voted by mail returned after delivery of the ballots under Subsection (a) may be delivered to the presiding judge of the early voting ballot board between the end of the ninth day before election day and the closing of the polls on election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time or times specified by the presiding judge.
(b) The early voting clerk shall post notice of each delivery of balloting materials under this section that is to be made before the time for opening the polls on election day. The notice shall be posted at the main early voting polling place continuously for at least 24 hours immediately preceding the delivery.
(c) At least 24 hours before each delivery made before the time for opening the polls on election day, the early voting clerk shall notify the county chair of each political party having a nominee on the ballot of the time the delivery is to be made.