Absentee ballot applications and absentee ballot return envelopes are public records until the close of voting on election day, or until the ballots have been processed on election day, if the municipality processes absentee ballots before 8:00 p.m. After that time, except as provided in section 759, subsection 8, the applications and envelopes are not public records and may be inspected only in accordance with this Title.   [PL 1997, c. 436, §115 (AMD).]