Sec. 33. 21-A MRSA §781, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 34. 21-A MRSA §781-A is enacted to read:

§781-A.__Absentee ballot application; procedure on receipt

Upon receipt of an application, written request or telephone application for an absentee ballot that is accepted pursuant to section 753-A, the clerk shall immediately issue an absentee ballot and return envelope by mail or in person to the applicant or to the immediate family member or to a 3rd person designated in a written application or request made by the voter.__The clerk shall type or write in ink the name and the residence address of the voter in the designated section of the return envelope.__The Secretary of State shall provide a return envelope which moves free of postage under federal law.

Sec. 35. 21-A MRSA §§782 and 783, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, are amended to read:

§782. Absentee ballots; procedure on return

On receipt of a return envelope apparently containing an absentee ballot, the clerk shall note the date and time of delivery on it and deliver it to the registrar follow the procedures for regular absentee voting under this subchapter. The registrar shall certify on the envelope whether the person whose name appears as sender is registered and, in a primary election, enrolled in the municipality. He shall then return the envelope to the clerk.

§783. Authority of Secretary of State

The Secretary of State may act administratively to facilitate voting by members of the Armed Forces uniformed service voters and overseas voters. He The Secretary of State may use federal or other facilities available for this purpose.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.