§15-9  Return and receipt of absenteeballots.  (a)  The return envelope shall be:

(1)  Mailed and must be received by the clerk issuingthe absentee ballot not later than the closing of the polls on any electionday;

(2)  Delivered other than by mail to the clerk issuingthe absentee ballot, or another election official designated by the clerk toact on the clerk's behalf, not later than the closing of polls on any electionday; or

(3)  Delivered other than by mail to any polling placewithin the county in which the voter is registered and deposited by a precinctofficial in the ballot box before the closing of the polls on any election day.

(b)  Upon receipt of the return envelope fromany person voting under this chapter, the clerk may prepare the ballots forcounting pursuant to this section and section 15-10.

(c)  Prior to opening the return and ballotenvelopes and counting the ballots, the return envelopes shall be checked forthe following:

(1)  Signature on the affirmation statement;

(2)  Whether the signature corresponds with theabsentee request or register as prescribed in the rules adopted by the chiefelection officer; and

(3)  Whether the person is a registered voter and hascomplied with the requirements of sections 11-15 and 11-16.

(d)  If any of the above requirements is notmet or if the return or ballot envelope appears to be tampered with, the clerkor the absentee ballot team official shall mark across the face of the envelope"invalid" and it shall be kept in the custody of the clerk anddisposed of as prescribed for ballots in section 11-154.

(e)  If an absentee polling place isestablished at the clerk's office prior to election day, the officials of theabsentee polling place shall check the return or ballot envelopes for the aboverequirements prior to depositing them in the correct absentee ballot box. [L1975, c 36, pt of §3; am L 1976, c 106, §4(4); am L 1979, c 133, §8; am L 1980,c 248, §1(f); am L 1983, c 34, §22; am L 1985, c 203, §8; am L 1993, c 304,§10]