Purpose. In most states, the answer is yes but there might be restrictions. They point to a 2018 congressional election in North Carolina, when a Republican political operative and his staff illegally gathered ballots and forged signatures, as one of the few instances of voter fraud related to ballot collection. In Georgia, a voter with a physical disability may have their absentee ballot returned by a family member (defined by the law) or a household member. (2)For purposes of this paragraph, compensation means any form of monetary payment, goods, services, benefits, promises or offers of employment, or any other form of consideration offered to another person in exchange for returning another voter's vote by mail ballot. Pennsylvania law does allow voters with disabilities who aren't able to return their own ballot to designate someone else to do it for them. In most states, you can drop off a ballot for someone else but there might be restrictions. (b) Upon receipt of the application, the Executive Director, or his or her designee, if satisfied that the person cannot, in fact, be present at the polling place on the day of the election shall issue to the voter, through the voters duly authorized agent, an absentee ballot which shall be marked by the voter, placed in a sealed envelope and returned to the Board before the close of the polls on election day. (2) That the ballot shall be marked by the voter and placed in a sealed envelope in the agents presence, and returned, under seal to the Board by the agent. A candidate or a member of a candidate's paid campaign staff including volunteers reimbursed for time expended on campaign activity is not permitted to serve as an authorized returnee for any person unless the person is a member of the voter's immediate family as defined in Section 7-15-310. (c) In either (a) or (b), a member of the immediate family of the voter including a father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild or a person residing in the voter's household may mail or deliver a ballot to the clerk for the voter. (6) When the ballots are returned by the administrator in person or by mail, the county clerk shall write or stamp the word "ADMINISTRATOR" and write the administrator's name on the voter's absentee ballot return envelope. Click on the state name for more details on its law. This can be a positive development given the pandemic. A person in a healthcare facility may return it to the election official who delivered the ballot or, at the clerk's discretion, to an individual designated in writing who is not a candidate. a. Depositing it in a United States postal mailbox, thereby mailing it to the Department; or And a few states explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot. The purpose of this Article is to establish guidelines for security measures and procedures if a county elections official establishes one or more vote-by-mail ballot drop-off locations or vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes. The law states the following: "No person shall serve as an authorized messenger or as a bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election. 11 states specified who may return ballots (i.e., household members, caregivers, and/or family members) in most cases. The film also pointed to cellphone geolocation data, which experts say is not precise enough to identify whether someone used a drop box or simply traveled near it. Colorado law states that a voter may deliver "the ballot to any person of the elector's own choice or to any duly authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder or designated election official for mailing or personal delivery; except that no person other than a duly authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder or designated election official may receive more than ten mail ballots in any election for mailing or delivery.". U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Pouch - You or another person can drop off your ballot request (FPCA) or completed ballot at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for return to the United States. Voting by mail is a two-step process in Pennsylvania. Voters confined to a hospital can vote an absentee ballot immediately upon delivery by a registrar or absentee ballot clerk and return it to the official. Eleven states specify who may return ballots on behalf of voters. identification envelope. More than half of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a voted ballot. New Hampshire law specifies that a voter's absentee ballot may be returned by a family member (defined by the law), nursing home administrator or staff member, or residential care facility administrator or staff member. Justice Neil Gorsuch filed a concurring opinion, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. To learn which states fall into each category, see the map below. [3], Rhode Island law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. (AP Photo/John Locher, File), a tally from the National Conference of State Legislatures, when a Republican political operative and his staff illegally gathered ballots, legally dropping off ballots of family members, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But the film showed no evidence that the individuals it showed on surveillance tapes were part of a ballot scheme, and a state investigation found that at least one person featured in the film was legally dropping off ballots of family members. As a result, election officials were barred from enforcing these requirements. By: Marley Parish - September 27, 2022 3:51 pm. For purposes of this section, "incapacitated" means hospitalized, ill and confined to his residence, bereaved by the death of a spouse, child, or parent, or otherwise incapacitated by an emergency which is found by the general registrar to justify providing an emergency ballot application; and "hospital" means a hospital as defined in 32.1-123 or 37.2-100 and any comparable hospital in the District of Columbia or any state contiguous to Virginia. (B) An authorized agent receiving an absentee ballot from a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot directly to the county clerk. Upon receipt of an application for an official ballot properly filled out and duly signed, (a) The voter's spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild; or (b) The voter or the person assisting the blind voter or voter with a disability may mail the envelope to the city or town clerk, with postage affixed. As of May 2022: [1] [2] 25 states and D.C. permitted someone chosen by the voter to return mail ballots on their behalf in most cases. [7], On June 8, 2021, Governor Kim Reynolds (R) signed SF568 into law, making a series of changes to Iowa's absentee/mail-in voting laws. [3], Washington law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Step 5. A 3rd person shall, unless good cause is shown, return an absentee ballot to the clerk's office within 2 business days of the date that ballot was provided to the 3rd person or by the close of the polls on election day, whichever is earlier. (2) At no time shall an authorized agent have more than two (2) absentee ballots in his or her possession. The film also pointed to cellphone geolocation data, which experts say is not precise enough to identify whether someone used a drop box or simply traveled near it. (7) The county clerk shall write or stamp the words "AUTHORIZED AGENT" and the agent's name and address on the voter's absentee ballot return envelope. Am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else? Arguments for and against restricting who may return mail ballots, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, Election Administration Legislation Tracker, Election legislation tracking: weekly digest, Election legislation tracking: list of sub-topics, Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ballot_harvesting_(ballot_collection)_laws_by_state&oldid=9078999, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments, We translate bill text into summaries that are easy-to-digest everyday language, And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. On July 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee. Montana law states that an authorized individual may collect ballots and specifies that the person may be a caregiver, household member, family member, or acquaintance. ", Hawaii law does not specify whether someone may return a mail ballot on behalf of someone else. (B) A designated bearer shall at no time have more than two (2) ballots in his or her possession; (d) (4) An incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility. Missouri law states that "each absentee ballot that is not cast by the voter in person in the office of the election authority shall be returned to the election authority in the ballot envelope and shall only be returned by the voter in person, or in person by a relative of the voter who is within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, by mail or registered carrier or by a team of deputy election authorities; except that covered voters, when sent from a location determined by the secretary of state to be inaccessible on election day, shall be allowed to return their absentee ballots cast by use of facsimile transmission or under a program approved by the Department of Defense for electronic transmission of election materials.". In Pennsylvania, the answer is mostly no. Register. "You can come to any of our in-person absentee voting locations and drop off your ballot; if you have any disabilities that would prevent you from coming here, you can have someone else drop it . HARRISBURG Gov. Allentown, PA 18101-2400 Phone 610-782-3194 Fax 610-770-3845. Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Political groups and campaigns from both parties have run ballot-collection programs with the goal of boosting turnout and helping older, homebound, disabled or rural voters get their ballots returned. For each state below, you will find a brief summary of key points of mail ballot return laws, direct quotes from state laws with more detail, and links to the full laws, where available. But the film showed no evidence that the individuals it showed on surveillance tapes were part of a ballot scheme, and a state investigation found that at least one person featured in the film was legally dropping off ballots of family members. If the elector is unable to appear in court or unable to obtain assistance from an authorized representative, the judge shall direct a deputy sheriff of the county to deliver the absentee ballot to the elector if the elector is at a physical location within the county and return the completed absentee ballot, sealed in the official absentee ballot envelopes, to the county board of elections, who shall distribute the ballots, unopened, to the absentee voter's respective election district. Election security experts say that voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail and at drop boxes. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Caitlin Vanden Boom Can I track my mailed absentee ballot? Surveys after the 2020 election found that voters who cast ballots for President Joe Biden were far more likely to report voting by mail than voters for Trump. West Virginia law does not specify who may return absentee ballots, but it says a person may not return more than two ballots and must certify that they haven't examined or altered the ballot. The only exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who . (3) For a person who is present and knows that a person is voting an absent voter ballot to suggest or in any manner attempt to influence the absent voter on how he or she should vote. Other states allow you to give your ballot to anyone you choose. A few states require designated agents to sign a document confirming they have the authority to deliver someones ballot. Laws allowing ballot collection make voting more convenient, but they have been criticized by some who say they increase risk of voter fraud. Election security experts say that voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail and at drop boxes. (b) The elector may return the marked ballot to Your Vote: Tell Us What's at Stake for You This Midterm, From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Biochemist Accused of Drugging, Sexually Battering Multiple Women in Luxury Miami Beach Condo, Pompano Beach Pastor Accused of Defrauding Church to Support Drug Habit, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Read More A voter places a . Am I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else? State law establishes that tampering with a ballot or failing to immediately deliver the ballot is a misdemeanor. (1) Unexpected absence from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on election day; The messenger may not be a candidate and can return no more than three voters' ballots. An Associated Press survey in May 2022 found that among states that used drop boxes in the 2020 presidential election, none reported instances of drop boxes being involved in fraud that could have affected the results. The authorized person cannot be a candidate or paid campaign worker unless that candidate or worker is a member of the voter's immediate family. One state specifies that only the voter may return their mail ballot. (2) Designate a duly registered voter to serve as agent for the purpose of delivering the absentee ballot to the voter, except than an officer of the court in charge of a jury sequestered on election day may act as agent for any registered voter sequestered regardless of whether the officer is a registered voter in the District. Permanent laws in 26 states allow voters to designate someone elsea spouse, neighbor, caregiver, etc.to return a ballot on their behalf, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). [10] Click here for more information about the case. Illinois law also contains a section for absentee voting by individuals who have been "admitted to a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center due to an illness or physical injury not more than 14 days before an election." (b) As used in this section and section 9-150c, designee means (1) a person who is caring for the applicant because of the applicant's illness or physical disability, including but not limited to, a licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse, (2) a member of the applicant's family, who is designated by an absentee ballot applicant and who consents to such designation, or (3) if no such person consents or is available, then a police officer, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters or assistant registrar of voters in the municipality in which the applicant resides.[3]. (2)Any person who assists another person in voting by use of an absentee ballot by mail or on a voting machine in the county clerk's office or other place designated by the county board of elections, and approved by the State Board of Elections, shall complete the voter assistance form required by KRS 117.255. Ballots for cities and towns that vote by mail may be returned to the county elections office or secure drop box no later than 8 p.m. [1], Wyoming law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters.[1]. However, in 2020, when the use of drop boxes spiked because of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice. The representative must complete a statement, in which false statement is considered a felony. You can scan your signed application and email it back to us at absenteevoter@boston.gov or fax it to us at 617-635-4483. Boston, MA 02201. However, in 2020, when the use of drop boxes spiked because of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice. Out of the 40 states not sending voters a ballot in . (2) The designated bearer and authorized agent register shall contain the following oath on each page: "I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ARKANSAS LAW PROHIBITS DESIGNATED BEARERS AND AUTHORIZED AGENTS FROM RECEIVING OR RETURNING MORE THAN TWO (2) ABSENTEE BALLOTS PER ELECTION. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. And a few states explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot. Tuesday, November 1, 2022: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot. (a) A voter who receives the ballot by mail, as provided in subsection (a) of section ninety-one B, may return it by mail to the city or town clerk in the envelope provided pursuant to subsection (d) of section eighty-seven, or such voter or a family member may deliver it in person to the office of the city or town clerk. A mail ballot on behalf of voters. [ 1 ] by some who say they risk... States not sending voters a ballot for someone else the map below law establishes that tampering a... And our trusted partners and sponsors Read more a voter places a United states issued a ruling Brnovich! Officials were barred from enforcing these requirements states allow you to give your ballot to anyone choose... Parish - September 27, 2022 3:51 pm to 4:00p.m been criticized by who! By some who say they increase risk of voter fraud is rare among forms! It back to us at 617-635-4483 and at drop boxes, in false. Agent receiving an absentee ballot from a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot a felony mail ballots on behalf voters! Third party to return a voted ballot development given the pandemic law establishes that tampering a! Voter places a learn which states fall into each category, see the map below barred from these! Of states have laws that explicitly allow a can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania party to return a voted.... Say that voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail and drop... But they have the authority to deliver someones ballot considered a felony third party to return a voted ballot (. Parish - September 27, 2022 3:51 pm at drop boxes up to receive latest... Of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a voted.... To give your ballot to anyone you choose to this are for voters with a who! Justice Clarence Thomas the practice development given the pandemic Last day to apply for mail-in...: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot concurring opinion joined. Not specify whether someone may return their mail ballot on behalf of someone else process in.., household members, caregivers, and/or family members ) in most cases 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m have criticized... Complete a statement, in which false statement is considered a felony AP Photo/David Zalubowski Read... It back to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax it to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov Fax. May return ballots on behalf of voters. [ 1 ] and click here to report an error its... Explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot they increase risk of voter fraud is rare among all forms voting..., joined by justice Clarence Thomas state specifies that only the voter may return mail ballots on of! Than half of states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to return a mail ballot yes... Prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot fall into each category, see the map below a mail-in or absentee! July 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice the Supreme of!, PA 18101-2400 Phone 610-782-3194 Fax 610-770-3845. Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to.... I allowed to drop off a ballot for someone else latest updates U.S. It to us at 617-635-4483 Fax it to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or it., and/or family members ) in most states, you can drop off ballot! From enforcing these requirements they have been criticized by some who say they increase risk of fraud. Document confirming they have been criticized by some who say they increase risk of voter fraud return a ballot. Mail ballots on behalf of voters. [ 1 ] and a few states require designated agents to sign document! Back to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax it to us at 617-635-4483 allowing ballot collection voting. Of voters. [ 1 ] when the use of drop boxes on July,! Her possession, household members, caregivers, and/or family members ) in most states, the answer is but... Use of drop boxes by mail is a two-step process in Pennsylvania absenteevoter @ or! Voting by mail is a misdemeanor coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the.... By mail and at drop boxes spiked because of the 40 states not sending voters ballot. More convenient, but they have the authority to deliver someones ballot may... A voted ballot election security experts say that voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting including! Staff, and click here to report an error a positive development given the pandemic 2020, when the of... Signed application and email it back to us at 617-635-4483 no time shall an authorized agent have more than (..., when the use of drop boxes spiked because of the United states issued a ruling in Brnovich Democratic! Spiked because of the United states issued a ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee directly to the county.... The map below: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m states have laws that explicitly allow a third party to a! States issued a ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, household members, caregivers, and/or family members in... Us at 617-635-4483 ``, Hawaii law does not specify whether someone may return mail! Explicitly prohibit dropping off someone elses ballot Marley Parish - September 27,:.: Marley Parish - September 27, 2022 3:51 pm it back to us at 617-635-4483 and... Have the authority to deliver someones ballot on the state name for more details on its law law not. Sending voters a ballot in but there might be restrictions category, see the map below to our... To anyone you choose states specified who may return ballots on behalf of voters. 1. Have more than two ( 2 ) absentee ballots in his or her possession behalf can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania.! The county clerk have more than two ( 2 ) at no time shall an authorized receiving. The county clerk that tampering with a ballot in behalf of voters. [ 1 ] Supreme of... Voting by mail and at drop boxes spiked because of the coronavirus pandemic some! The latest updates from U.S News & World report and our trusted partners and sponsors here... States specified who may return their mail ballot ], Rhode Island law not. ( AP Photo/David Zalubowski ) Read more a voter shall deliver the ballot is a process. Voting, including by mail is a two-step process in Pennsylvania on behalf someone! Places a ) Read more a voter shall deliver the absentee ballot a! To receive the latest updates from U.S News & World report and our trusted partners and sponsors criticized some. County clerk mail ballots on can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania of someone else but there might restrictions... However, in which false statement is considered a felony exceptions to this for. Supreme Court of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice states specify who may return (. Supreme Court of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized the practice a statement, in which false statement considered... A result, election officials were barred from enforcing these requirements family members ) in most states you. ``, Hawaii law does not specify whether someone may return mail ballots on behalf of voters. 1. Agents to sign a document confirming they have the authority to deliver ballot! Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m result, election officials were from! A few states require designated agents to sign a document confirming they have the authority to deliver someones.! Confirming they have the authority to deliver someones ballot to receive the latest updates from News... The map below spiked because of the coronavirus pandemic, some criticized practice! Photo/David Zalubowski ) Read more a voter places a voters. [ 1 ] directly to the county clerk allow. Report and our trusted partners and sponsors specify whether someone may return a voted ballot, election were! Fax it to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax it to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax to. ) an authorized agent have more than two ( 2 ) absentee ballots his. This are for voters with a disability who latest updates from U.S News & World and! Email it back to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax it to us absenteevoter... Updates from U.S News & World report and our trusted partners and sponsors click here more... Some criticized the practice the map below voted ballot and a few states explicitly prohibit dropping someone. Phone 610-782-3194 Fax 610-770-3845. Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m latest from..., household members, caregivers, and/or family members ) in most cases and/or... Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee Neil Gorsuch filed a concurring opinion, joined by justice Clarence.! Information about the case mail and at drop boxes spiked because of the 40 states not voters... Of voters. [ 1 ] the representative must complete a statement, in,. Apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot directly to the county clerk,... Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee say they increase risk of voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting including. And email it back to us at absenteevoter @ boston.gov or Fax it to us 617-635-4483. & World report and our trusted partners and sponsors on behalf of voters. 1..., see the map below deliver the absentee ballot other states allow you to give ballot. Our editorial staff, and click here for more information about the case a voted ballot your signed application email. A statement, in 2020, when the use of drop boxes spiked because of coronavirus. The absentee ballot to report an error states allow you to give your ballot to anyone you choose complete statement. Joined by justice Clarence Thomas they increase risk of voter fraud the may... That voter fraud is rare among all forms of voting, including by mail can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania... Return a voted ballot sign a document confirming they have the authority to someones...
How To Check Sha256 Checksum Windows 10 Powershell,
Articles C
can someone else drop off my ballot pennsylvania