§ 163-229. Absentee ballots, applications on container-return envelopes, and instruction sheets.
§ 163‑229. Absenteeballots, applications on container‑return envelopes, and instructionsheets.
(a) Absentee BallotForm. In accordance with the provisions of G.S. 163‑230.1, personsentitled to vote by absentee ballot shall be furnished with official ballots.
(b) Application onContainer‑Return Envelope. In time for use not later than 60 daysbefore a statewide general election in an even‑numbered year, and notlater than 50 days before a statewide primary, other general election or countybond election, the county board of elections shall print a sufficient number ofenvelopes in which persons casting absentee ballots may transmit their markedballots to the county board of elections. However, in the case of municipalelections, sufficient container‑return envelopes shall be made availableno later than 30 days before an election. Each container‑return envelopeshall have printed on it an application which shall be designed and prescribedby the State Board of Elections, the voter's certification of eligibility tovote the enclosed ballot and of having voted the enclosed ballot in accordancewith this Article, a space for identification of the envelope with the voter,and a space for approval by the county board of elections. The envelope shallallow reporting of a change of name as provided by G.S. 163‑82.16. Thecontainer‑return envelope shall be printed in accordance with theinstructions of the State Board of Elections.
(c) Instruction Sheets. In time for use not later than 60 days before a statewide general election inan even‑numbered year, and not later than 50 days before a statewideprimary, other general or county bond election, the county board of electionsshall prepare and print a sufficient number of sheets of instructions on howvoters are to prepare absentee ballots and return them to the county board ofelections. However, in the case of municipal elections, instruction sheetsshall be made available no later than 30 days before an election. (1929, c. 164, s. 39; 1939,c. 159, ss. 3, 4; 1943, c. 751, s. 2; 1963, c. 457, ss. 3, 4; 1965, c. 1208;1967, c. 775, s. 1; c. 851, s. 1; c. 952, s. 5; 1973, c. 536, s. 1; 1975, c.844, s. 13; 1977, c. 469, s. 1; 1985, c. 562, ss. 3, 4; 1985 (Reg. Sess.,1986), c. 986, s. 2; 1987, c. 485, ss. 2, 5; c. 509, s. 9; c. 583, s. 3; 1989,c. 635, s. 5; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 561, s. 5; 1999‑455, s. 8; 2009‑537,s. 4.)