(a) Upon receipt of a statement from an elector pursuant to § 5503 of this title, the Department shall process the same and confirm that the elector qualifies for an absentee ballot pursuant to § 5502 of this title.

(b) Not more than 60 nor less than 4 days prior to an election, and within 3 days after the absentee ballots, envelopes, and instructions therefore become available, the Department shall mail, to each elector who requests and qualifies for an absentee ballot pursuant to § 5502 of this title, the following:

(1) An absentee ballot for the election district in which the elector resides;

(2) Instructions for completing the absentee ballot and returning it to the Department, marked “INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING AND RETURNING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT”; and

(3) An envelope marked “BALLOT ENVELOPE,” which shall be:

a. Of the type known as a security mailing envelope, designed to securely protect the contents thereof from tampering, removal, or substitution without detection;

b. Large enough to carry the ballot envelope containing the completed absentee ballot; and

c. Addressed for return to the Department.

(c) Postage for all mailings made pursuant to this subsection shall be pre-paid by the Department.

(d) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the issuance of an absentee ballot to those lawfully entitled thereto when the request is made less than 4 days prior to the election.

44 Del. Laws, c. 118, §§ 4, 7; 45 Del. Laws, Sp. Sess., c. 5, § 2; 45 Del. Laws, c. 155, §§ 3, 6; 46 Del. Laws, c. 181, § 1; 15 Del. C. 1953, § 5506; 60 Del. Laws, c. 414, § 14; 63 Del. Laws, c. 455, § 3; 75 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 427, §§ 1, 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 275, § 87; 81 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 2.