Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §756, sub-§2, ķA, as amended by PL 1985, c. 357, §§13 and 19, is further amended to read:

A. If the signatures do not appear to have been made by the same person, but this discrepancy is apparently the result of the voter's having properly obtained assistance under either section 753 753-A, subsection 4 5, or section 754-A, subsection 3, or both, then the clerk shall note the discrepancy on the return envelope, but shall also write "OK" and his the clerk's initials on the return envelope.

Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §759, sub-§3, ķA, as amended by PL 1985, c. 357, §§17 and 19, is further amended to read:

A. The signatures do not appear to have been made by the same person and the discrepancy is not the result of the voter's having obtained assistance under section 753 753-A, subsection 4 5 or section 754-A, subsection 3, in cases where an application is required;

Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §759, sub-§8, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §114, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

8.__Inspection of absentee envelopes before processing.__If a candidate or the candidate's representative notifies the clerk before 5 p.m. on the day before election day that the candidate or the candidate's representative wishes to inspect absentee ballot applications and envelopes before they are processed, the warden or clerk shall allow the candidate or representative to inspect the applications and envelopes of ballots before they are processed or for 30 minutes after the time specified in the notice for processing on election day.__The warden may immediately proceed to process the ballots after the candidate or representative has completed the review.

If the municipality processes absentee ballots only after the polls close on election day, then the candidate or the candidate's representative must notify the warden by 5 p.m. on election day that the candidate or the candidate's representative wishes to inspect absentee ballot applications and envelopes after the polls close.__The warden shall allow the candidate or representative to inspect the applications and envelopes for 30 minutes after the polls close.__The warden may immediately proceed to process the ballots after the candidate or representative has completed the review.