§ 163-258.8. Timeliness and scope of application for military-overseas ballot.
Overview of Statute
Section mandates timeliness requirement for an application of a military-overseas ballot.
Statute
An application for a military-overseas ballot is timely if received by the appropriate election official by 5:00 P.M. of the day before the election or primary. An application from a covered voter for a military-overseas ballot shall be considered a valid absentee ballot request for any election covered under G.S. 163-258.3 held during the calendar year in which the application was received.
(2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
1. Definition for Covered voter
“Covered voter” means any of the following:
a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to vote in this State.
b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision (7) of this section whose voting residence is in this State and who otherwise satisfies this State’s voter eligibility requirements.
c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this State and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State’s voter eligibility
requirements.
d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this State had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State’s voter eligibility requirements.
e. An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in sub-subdivision c. or d. of this subdivision, and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State’s voter eligibility requirements, if:
1. The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter was, or under this Part would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this State; and
2. The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other state.
2. Definition for Military-overseas ballot
“Military-overseas ballot” means any of the following:
a. A federal write-in absentee ballot described in the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 103, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-2.
b. A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this Part.
c. A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this Part.
3. Definition for day
The term “day” means calendar day.
4. Definition for Ballot
(Effective until January 1, 2018 or September 1, 2019 – see note) “Ballot” means an instrument on which a voter indicates that voter’s choice for a ballot item so that it may be recorded as a vote for or against a certain candidate or referendum proposal. The term “ballot” may include a paper ballot to be counted by hand, a paper ballot to be counted on an electronic
scanner, the face of a lever voting machine, the image on a direct record electronic unit, or a ballot used on any other voting system.
(Effective January 1, 2018 or September 1, 2019 – see note) “Ballot” means an instrument on which a voter indicates that voter’s choice for a ballot item so that it may be recorded as a vote for or against a certain candidate or referendum proposal, and is evidenced by an individual paper document that bears marks made by the voter by hand or through electronic
means, whether preprinted or printed in the voting enclosure.
5. Definition for election
The term “election” means any general or special election, a first or second primary, a run-off election, or an election to fill a vacancy. The term “election” shall not include any local or statewide referendum.
6. Definition for Election
“Election” means the event in which voters cast votes in ballot items concerning proposals or candidates for office in this State or the United States. The term includes primaries, general elections, referenda, and special elections.