(a) Not later than the 45th day before the election to each military or overseas elector; and

(b) Not sooner than the 29th day before the election to each absent elector with a mailing address outside this state who is not a military or overseas elector.

(2) The clerk shall deliver with the ballot instructions for marking and returning the ballot, a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope. The back of the envelope shall include a statement to be signed by the absent elector, stating that the elector:

(a) Is qualified to vote;

(b) Unless prevented by physical disability, has personally marked the ballot; and

(c) Has not unnecessarily exhibited the marked ballot to any other person.

(3) An absent elector may obtain a replacement ballot if the ballot delivered under this section is destroyed, spoiled, lost or not received by the elector. The county clerk shall keep a record of each replacement ballot provided under this subsection.

(4) A replacement ballot provided under subsection (3) of this section may be mailed or shall be made available in the office of the county clerk.

(5) If the county clerk determines that an absent elector to whom a replacement ballot has been issued at the request of the elector has voted more than once, the county clerk shall count only the first ballot received by the clerk and provide the elector’s name to the Secretary of State for further review. If the county clerk is required to reissue ballots due to a change on the ballot for any reason, that ballot shall be counted in lieu of any previous ballot issued unless:

(a) Only the original ballot was voted and returned; or

(b) The county clerk issued a supplemental ballot that is not a complete replacement of the original ballot. [1979 c.190 §207; 1981 c.485 §1; 1989 c.923 §22; 1991 c.719 §50; 1995 c.607 §34; 1999 c.318 §33; 1999 c.1002 §7; 2011 c.607 §4; 2013 c.520 §1]