§15-4  Request for absentee ballot. (a)  Any person registered to vote may request an absentee ballot in person orin writing from the clerk not earlier than on the sixtieth day and not laterthan 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day prior to the election.  Any mailed requestsfor an absentee ballot shall be mailed by the person directly to the clerk. The clerk may waive any or all of the foregoing requirements in special casesas provided in the rules adopted by the chief election officer.

The request shall include information such asthe person's social security number, date of birth, and the address under whichthe person is registered to vote.  The request shall also include the addressto which the person wishes the requested ballot forwarded.  The request, whenmade for any primary or special primary election, may include an additionalrequest for an absentee ballot to be voted at any election immediatelyfollowing the primary or special primary; provided the person so indicates inthe person's request.

Subsequent to the closing of registration foreach election, the clerk may mail a request form for an absentee ballot to eachvoter in a remote area who has not already made such a request.  The requestform shall be accompanied by:

(1)  A stamped, self-addressed envelope; and

(2)  Instructions regarding the manner of completingand returning the request form.

(b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a), the clerkshall mail an absentee ballot for each primary, special primary, special,general, and special general election to each registered voter who resides inthe county of Kalawao.  The chief election officer may adopt rules to carry outthis subsection.

(c)  When a registered voter requests anabsentee ballot, the voter also may include an additional request to receiveabsentee ballots permanently.  After receiving a request for permanent absenteevoter status, the clerk shall mail to the voter who requested permanentabsentee voter status an absentee ballot for all subsequent elections conductedin that precinct.

(d)  The chief election officer shall informvoters of the option of applying for permanent absentee voter status and shallprovide any necessary form to request the permanent absentee ballot option toany registered voter requesting an absentee ballot.

(e)  A permanent absentee voter shall beresponsible for informing the clerk of any changes to personal information,including changes to the voter's forwarding address.

(f)  A voter's permanent absentee voter statusshall be terminated if any of the following conditions apply:

(1)  The voter requests in writing that such status beterminated;

(2)  The voter dies, loses voting rights, registers tovote in another jurisdiction, or is otherwise disqualified from voting;

(3)  The voter's absentee ballot, voter notificationpostcard, or any other election mail is returned to the clerk as undeliverablefor any reason; or

(4)  The voter does not return a voter ballot by 6:00p.m. election day in both the primary and general election of an election year.

(g)  If a voter's permanent absentee voterstatus has been terminated due to one or more of the conditions specified insubsection (f), the voter shall be responsible for again requesting permanentabsentee status as specified in subsection (c). [L 1975, c 36, pt of §3; am L1980, c 248, §1(b); am L 1981, c 29, §1(2); gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 305, §5;am L 2004, c 100, §2; am L Sp 2008, c 4, §1]