(a) Immediately after the deadline for certification of all candidates whose names are to appear on the ballot, and in sufficient time to begin issuing absentee ballots on the day prescribed by law, the municipal clerk shall prepare the absentee ballots and have them printed. Prior to printing such ballots, the registrars of voters of the municipality may provide comments concerning the content and form of such ballots to the clerk.

(b) A layout model of each different absentee ballot shall be available for public inspection at the clerk's office prior to printing. The model shall indicate the type face to be used, the spelling and placement of names and other information to be printed on the ballots.

(c) Immediately upon receiving the printed absentee ballots, the municipal clerk shall file one with the Secretary of the State or, if there are different ballots for different political subdivisions, one ballot for each subdivision. The clerk shall also file his affidavit with the Secretary, stating the number of ballots printed. The form of affidavit shall be prescribed by the Secretary. If any correction or alteration is subsequently made on any absentee ballot the clerk shall immediately file a corrected or altered ballot and, using the prescribed form, his affidavit stating the number of such ballots printed, with the Secretary.

(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause blank or printed stickers, as the case may be, to be affixed to them so that the name of any candidate who has vacated his candidacy is deleted and the name of any candidate chosen to fill the vacancy as provided in section 9-428 or section 9-460 appears in the same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared except as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s.

(e) The Secretary of the State shall examine each absentee ballot required to be filed pursuant to this section and if a ballot contains an omission or error, the Secretary shall order the municipal clerk to reprint a corrected absentee ballot or to take such other action as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

(P.A. 75-310, S. 2, 11; P.A. 79-363, S. 12, 38; P.A. 86-179, S. 5, 53; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 33.)

History: P.A. 79-363 substituted municipal clerk for town clerk; P.A. 86-179 changed time limit for preparation and printing of ballot by municipal clerk, added requirements that layout models of ballots be available for public inspection and that ballots and affidavits be filed with the secretary of the state, changed reference to vacancy in nomination to vacancy in candidacy, added new Subsec. re examination and correction of ballots and deleted provisions re votes cast for candidates who have vacated their candidacies and counting of straight ticket votes; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “ballot label” with “ballot” and by adding language re comments by registrars, effective July 13, 2011.