16.1-07-21. Methods of applying for military-overseas ballot

16.1-07-21. Methods of applying for military-overseas ballot

1. A covered voter may apply for a military-overseas ballot using either the absentee

ballot application under this chapter or the federal postcard application, as prescribed

under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act

[42 U.S.C. 1973ff (b) (2)] or the application's electronic equivalent if approved under

guidelines established by the secretary of state.

2. The secretary of state shall ensure that the electronic transmission system described

in section 16.1-07-20 is capable of accepting the submission of both a federal postcard

application and any other approved electronic military-overseas ballot application sent

to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission

system or any other method approved under guidelines established by the secretary of

state to apply for a military-overseas ballot.

3. A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying the federal write-in absentee

ballot, as prescribed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act

[42 U.S.C. 1973ff-2] as an application for a military-overseas ballot simultaneously with

the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by

the appropriate election official by the close of polls on election day.

4. To receive the benefits of sections 16.1-07-18 through 16.1-07-33, a covered voter

must inform the appropriate election official that the voter is a covered voter. Methods

of informing the appropriate election official that a voter is a covered voter include:

a. The use of a federal postcard application or federal write-in absentee ballot;

b. The use of an overseas address on a ballot application; and

c. The inclusion on a ballot application of other information sufficient to identify the

voter as a covered voter.