If there is any nursing facility, assisted living center, or hospital, as defined in § 34-12-1.1, within any county from which there might reasonably be expected to be five or more absentee applications, the county auditor shall notify the person in charge of that facility and the chair of the county central committee of each party and any other person who has filed a request to be notified of the date and time at which representatives of the auditor’s office will be present to assist the residents of that facility to vote, utilizing the absentee procedure. Any political party, independent candidate, and nonpolitical candidate may assign a person to accompany the county auditor’s representatives. At the date and time announced, the county auditor’s representative shall deliver ballots to and assist all persons at that facility who desire assistance to vote. This section applies only to a primary or general election.

If a person in charge of an election conducts absentee voting at a nursing facility, assisted living center, or hospital, as defined in § 34-12-1.1, the voter shall complete a combined absentee ballot application form and return envelope, and the identification and affidavit requirements provided in § 12-19-2.1 are waived. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, prescribing the procedures by which the county auditor will conduct absentee voting, collect completed ballots, and secure completed ballots at a nursing facility, assisted living center, or hospital, as defined in § 34-12-1.1.

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Source: SL 1972, ch 89; SL 1981, ch 125; SL 1997, ch 82, § 1; SL 2003, ch 82, § 5; SL 2006, ch 72, § 5; SL 2017, ch 2, § 6; SL 2023, ch 51, § 10.