A vote–by–mail ballot is considered timely and may be counted if the ballot: is returned in person to the office of a local board by the voter or the voter’s duly authorized agent no later than 8 p.m. on the day of a special election; or is received by mail by a local board no later than 10 a.m. on the second Friday after a special election; and was mailed on or before election day, as verified: by a postmark; or if the return envelope does not contain a postmark or the postmark is illegible, by the voter’s affidavit that the ballot was mailed on or before election day. A vote–by–mail ballot that does not meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section is not timely and may not be counted.