CERA Absentee and Mail Voting Administration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), how many days before an election must states transmit requested absentee ballots to military and overseas voters?
- 30 days
- 45 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
- 15 days
Correct answer: 45 days
UOCAVA requires states to transmit ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days before a federal election.
Question 2: Which federal law created the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a backup for military and overseas voters?
- NVRA
- HAVA
- UOCAVA (Correct answer)
- VRA
Correct answer: UOCAVA
UOCAVA established the FWAB so military and overseas voters can cast a backup ballot if their regular absentee ballot does not arrive in time.
Question 3: What is a 'cure' process in the context of absentee ballot administration?
- Sanitizing ballots before counting
- Allowing voters to correct deficiencies such as a missing signature before the deadline (Correct answer)
- Shredding rejected ballots
- Forwarding ballots to a new address
Correct answer: Allowing voters to correct deficiencies such as a missing signature before the deadline
A cure process gives voters the opportunity to fix deficiencies — such as a missing or mismatched signature — so their ballot can be counted.
Question 4: When an absentee ballot is returned in an envelope that lacks the required voter signature, what is the most appropriate first action for an election official?
- Count the ballot as-is
- Reject the ballot immediately without contacting the voter
- Attempt to notify the voter so they can cure the deficiency if state law permits (Correct answer)
- Forward the ballot to the county auditor
Correct answer: Attempt to notify the voter so they can cure the deficiency if state law permits
Best practice and many state laws require officials to notify the voter of the deficiency and allow a cure period before final rejection.
Question 5: What does 'ballot tracking' technology allow absentee voters to do?
- Vote multiple times
- Monitor the status of their mailed ballot from issuance through acceptance (Correct answer)
- Access real-time election results
- Change their party registration online
Correct answer: Monitor the status of their mailed ballot from issuance through acceptance
Ballot tracking systems let voters check when their ballot was mailed, received, and accepted or if action is required.
Question 6: Which best describes 'no-excuse absentee voting'?
- A state policy requiring voters to provide a valid reason to vote absentee
- A state policy allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without stating a reason (Correct answer)
- A federal mandate for all states
- A process for rejected ballots to be reconsidered
Correct answer: A state policy allowing any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without stating a reason
No-excuse absentee voting allows any registered voter to request a mail ballot without providing a qualifying reason.
CERA Absentee and Mail Voting Administration 1
Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), how many days before an election must states transmit requested absentee ballots to military and overseas voters?