<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 33.21.03.05" title_num="33" subtitle_num="21" chapter_num="03" heading="Return of Ballot.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Date Stamp Return Envelope. Whenever a vote-by-mail ballot is received by a local board office, the election director shall stamp the return envelope with the date received.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Ballots Returned Without Return Envelope. If a vote-by-mail ballot is returned in an envelope other than the envelope provided by the local board and the envelope was opened during the normal process of opening mail, the election director shall immediately:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Tape the envelope closed;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Initial the tape and write “Vote-by-Mail” on the envelope; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Stamp the envelope with the date received.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Ballots Returned to Wrong Election Office.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a vote-by-mail ballot is received by the wrong election office, that office shall immediately:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Stamp the envelope with the date received; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Send the ballot to the appropriate local board office, with the ballot envelope unopened and, except for the date stamp, unmarked and unchanged in any way.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The date stamped on the envelope under §C(1)(a) of this regulation is the official date of receipt of that ballot.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Ballots in Return Envelope with Request for Personal Identification Information. A return envelope marked with a request for personal identification information shall be considered a provisional ballot and canvassed under COMAR 33.16.05.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>