United States. “United States” means the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. “United States” does not include American Samoa, the Canal Zone, Guam, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, any other territory or possession of the United States, an Army Post Office address, or a Fleet Post Office address. In General. An absentee ballot is considered to have been timely received only if: The ballot is received by the local board office before the polls close on election day; The ballot is received by a polling place before the polls close at that polling place on election day; The ballot is deposited into a ballot drop box before the polls close on election day; The ballot: Is received by the local board office from the United States Postal Service or a private mail carrier on or before 10 a.m. on the second Friday after an election; and Was mailed on or before election day, as verified: By a postmark of the United States Postal Service, an Army Post Office, a Fleet Post Office, or the postal service of any other country; or By the voter’s affidavit that the ballot was completed and mailed on or before election day, if the return envelope does not contain a postmark or the postmark is illegible; or The ballot is received by an early voting center before the polls close at that polling place on the last day of early voting. Untimely Ballots. A ballot that is not timely received as provided in this regulation shall: Be retained separately from timely ballots; and Not be counted. A ballot that is received after the local board certifies the election may not be: Presented for rejection to the board of canvassers; Presented to the local board of elections; or Counted.