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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 33.11.02.05" title_num="33" subtitle_num="11" chapter_num="02" heading="Processing Applications — In General.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Date Stamp.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §A(2) of this regulation, whenever an application is received by a local board office, the election director shall stamp it with the date received.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An application need not be stamped if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>It is received on or before the Friday before the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail, provided that the election director stores the application in a container labeled with the date the application was received;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>It is received by electronic transmission; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>One of the following conditions is met:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>If received by fax, the receiving fax machine automatically prints the correct date and time received; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>If received by email, the date and time the email was received is included in the printed version of the email.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Review each application for an absentee ballot;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Accept any federal post card application by an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter that is signed using a common access card;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If the election director determines that the voter resides in another county, send by electronic transmission the application to the appropriate local board; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Accept or reject the application as provided in Election Law Article, §9-306, Annotated Code of Maryland, and this subtitle.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If an election director rejects an absentee ballot application, the election director shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the application was submitted by an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter, provide the voter with the reason for the rejection;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the applicant is not registered to vote, provide the applicant with access to a voter registration application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If the applicant submitted an improper application before the application deadline established in Regulation .03 of this chapter, provide the applicant with access to the formal application defined in Regulation .02 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the election director rejects an application, the applicant may appeal that decision to the local board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Priority Processing. Once absentee ballots become available, the election director shall give priority to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Applications or requests submitted by absent uniformed voters and overseas voters; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Issuing and transmitting absentee ballots to absent uniformed voters and overseas voters.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Filing. The election director shall process all applications so that, in the event of a challenge, applications can be matched with the appropriate ballot envelopes.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>