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A. To be counted in the election:

1. An absentee by mail ballot return envelope shall be postmarked on or before election day and be received by the clerk no later than three calendar days following the election. If no readable postmark appears on the absentee by mail ballot return envelope, the enclosed absentee by mail ballot shall be counted only if the voter’s signature is dated on or before election day. Absentee by mail ballot return envelopes received after the third calendar day following the election shall not be opened, but shall be marked “no count” with the date of receipt noted on the ballot return envelope; or

2. Received in the manner prescribed in WMC 4.20.020(E). Absentee by mail ballot return envelopes delivered to an election official or drop box location designated by the clerk after 8:00 p.m. on election day shall not be opened, but shall be marked “no count” with the date of receipt noted on the ballot return envelope.

B. The clerk shall deliver all absentee by mail ballots to the canvass board for review. The tabulation of absentee by mail ballots may not begin until the canvass board has identified and segregated ballots voted absentee by mail, by voters who also cast ballots in another manner in the election. Absentee by mail ballot envelopes shall be examined by the canvass board who shall determine whether the voter is qualified to vote at the election and whether the ballot has been properly cast. An absentee by mail ballot shall not be counted if the voter’s certification on the return envelope is not signed and attested as required by law. If the voter is qualified and the ballot has been properly cast, the return envelope shall be opened and the secrecy envelope shall be mixed with the other secrecy envelopes. The ballots shall be removed from the secrecy envelopes and shall be mixed with the other ballots for counting.

C. If an absentee by mail voter is not qualified or the voter’s ballot has not been properly cast, the clerk shall notify the voter in writing of the reason the ballot was not counted. The rejected ballot shall be placed in a container which shall be labeled “no count” and shall be preserved and destroyed as provided in WMC 4.28.060. (Ord. 21-10 § 5, 2021; Ord. 12-20 § 44, 2012; Ord. 04-24(SUB) § 13, 2004; Ord. 02-22 § 17, 2002; prior code § 18.35.090)