Absentee Voting

The process of voting at other than at a polling place, usually by filling out a ballot and mailing or delivering it to an election authority. "Voting that can occur unsupervised at a location chosen by the voter." VVSG. Some states, such as Oregon, conduct elections completely in this manner. Others, such as Wyoming, allow any voter to vote absentee for any reason. Yet others allow absentee voting only for specific reasons enumerated by statute. Some of these reasons include:  being out of the county or the state on election day  having a physical illness or infirmity which prevents attendance at the polls  working on a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at the voter's regular polling place. Ala. Code §17-10-3(a)(3).  being enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of the voter's residence  being a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to UOCAVA.  being appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place. Ala. Code 17-10-3(a)(6).  being confined while awaiting trial or for having been convicted of a misdemeanor, provided that the trial or release date is scheduled on or after the third day preceding the election. Va. Code §24.2-700(5).  being unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled family member who is confined at home. Va. Code §24.2-700(7).  being unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because of an obligation occasioned by his religion. Va. Code §24.2-700(8).  being 75 or older. Georgia Code Ann. §21-2-380(6).  being "required to remain on duty in his or her place of employment for the protection of the health, life, or safety of the public during the entire time the polls are open." Georgia Code Ann. §21-2-380(5).  by virtue of his employment or occupation expects to be out of his precinct of registration and upon the waters of the state both during the absentee voting period and on election day. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §18:1303(E).  serving on a sequestered jury. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §18:1307.1. To preserve voter privacy, the absentee ballot is placed in a plain envelope. That envelope, and some also a signed affidavit attesting to the fact that the voter is entitled to vote, are placed in another envelope, which is then delivered to the election authority. The voter's eligibility to vote can be determined without opening the plain envelope that contains the ballot. The plain envelopes of eligible voters are segregated and opened only after no connection is possible between the plain envelopes and the outer enclosing envelopes and affidavits.