Each absentee ballot applicant shall sign the form on the inner envelope provided for in section 9-137, which shall constitute a statement under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting. Any absentee ballot applicant who is unable to write may cause his name to be signed on the form by an authorized agent who shall, in the space provided for the signature, write the name of the applicant followed by the word “by” and his own signature. The failure of the applicant or authorized agent to date the form shall not invalidate the ballot. The ballot shall be inserted in the inner envelope, and the inner envelope shall be inserted in the outer envelope, prior to the return of the ballot to the municipal clerk. If an applicant is required to return identification with the ballot pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, such identification shall be inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be viewed without opening the inner envelope.

(1955, S. 625d; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 70; P.A. 74-96, S. 3, 9; P.A. 78-79, S. 3, 4; P.A. 79-363, S. 14, 38; P.A. 86-179, S. 12, 53; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 95.)

History: 1971 act changed penalties of “perjury” to “false statement”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 78-79 removed provisions for dating where appearing and further added that failure of applicant or agent to date form would not invalidate the application; P.A. 79-363 substituted “ballot” for “application”; P.A. 86-179 amended section to allow agent to sign form on envelope for applicant who is unable to write for any reason; Sec. 9-138 transferred to Sec. 9-140a in 1987; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 added provision re procedure to be followed when applicant is required to return identification with ballot pursuant to Help America Vote Act, effective January 1, 2004.

Cited. 231 C. 602.