Section 17-11-3.1 Qualified Voter with Permanent Disability Preventing Attendance at Polls

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 17-11-3, 17-11-4, and 17-11-5, a qualified voter who has a permanent disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls may vote by absentee ballot in accordance with this section.

(b) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules that provide a process for a voter who has a permanent disability to be placed on an absentee voter list and have a ballot automatically mailed to him or her before each election. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) An application procedure for permanently disabled voters to vote by absentee ballot on an on-going basis. The procedure shall require that the application form be signed and notarized by the disabled voter’s primary physician.

(2) A procedure for verifying the identity of a voter and determining that the voter has a permanent disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls.

(3) A procedure for the voter to apply to the absentee ballot manager on an annual basis.

(4) A procedure for automatically mailing absentee ballots before each election in a timely manner to permanently disabled voters who have been placed on the absentee voter list.