MHA Provides Guidance on Hospital Bedside Voting
Posted on October 14, 2020
As the Nov. 3 election approaches, the MHA is reminding hospitals that voters may make an “emergency” request for an absentee ballot if he or she cannot attend the polls because of personal disablement, such as hospitalization.
All emergency requests for absentee ballots must be made between 5 p.m. ET Oct. 30 and 4 p.m. ET Nov. 3. If an emergency absent voter ballot is requested, the patient may authorize in writing, with a signature included, the person delivering the application to pick up and deliver the ballot. Some clerk offices also have a person authorized to handle this task.
If a voter’s signature has changed due to illness, a patient should contact their clerk and update their voter record with a new signature. A voter who is unable to sign may also use a signature stamp. Clerks have been advised in reviewing signatures that voters’ signatures may have changed over time and to contact the voter as soon as possible if there is a mismatched signature. Additionally, a voter who is unable to read print due to a disability is eligible for an accessible absent voter ballot that can be completed electronically, printed and returned, although the ballot envelope must still be signed.
Members with questions may contact Paige Fults at the MHA.
Tags: Election, Paige Fults, Bedside Voting, Absentee Ballot
Posted in: Member News