Sec. 33.11.03.06. Return of Ballot

A. Date Stamp Return Envelope. Whenever an absentee ballot is received by a local board office, the election director shall stamp the return envelope with the date received.

B. Ballots Returned Without Return Envelope. If an absentee ballot is returned in an envelope other than the envelope provided by the local board and the envelope was opened during the normal process of opening mail, the election director shall immediately:

(1) Tape the envelope closed;

(2) Initial the tape and write "Absentee" on the envelope; and

(3) Stamp the envelope with the date received.

C. Ballots Returned to Wrong Election Office.

(1) If an absentee ballot is received by the wrong election office, that office shall immediately:

(a) Stamp the envelope with the date received; and

(b) Send the ballot to the appropriate local board office, with the ballot envelope unopened and, except for the date stamp, unmarked and unchanged in any way.

(2) The date stamped on the envelope under §C(1)(a) of this regulation is the official date of receipt of that ballot.

D. Ballots in Return Envelope with Request for Personal Identification Information. A return envelope marked with a request for personal identification information shall be considered a provisional ballot and canvassed under COMAR 33.16.05.

E. Ballots Returned at an Early Voting Center or Polling Place. Whenever an absentee ballot is received at an early voting center or polling place, a chief judge or designee shall:

(1) Instruct the voter to put the voted absentee ballot into the absentee ballot bag;

(2) Ensure the security of the absentee ballot bag; and

(3) Return the absentee ballot bag to the local board of elections at the end of voting hours each day of early voting and on election day.