(a) The board shall prepare and send ballots and ballot envelopes to the employees and annuitants eligible to vote as of September of that year. The ballots shall contain the names of all candidates in alphabetical order and an appropriate place where a name may be written in on the ballot. The ballot envelope shall have on the outside a form of certificate stating that the person voting the ballot is a participating employee or annuitant entitled to vote.
     (b) Employees and annuitants, upon receipt of the ballot, shall vote the ballot and place it in the ballot envelope, seal the envelope, execute the certificate thereon and return the ballot to the Fund.
     (c) The board shall set a final date for ballot return, and ballots received prior to that date in a ballot envelope with a properly executed certificate and properly voted, shall be valid ballots.
     (d) The board shall set a day for counting the ballots and name judges and clerks of election to conduct the count of ballots, and shall make any rules and regulations necessary for the conduct of the count.
     (e) No election under this Section shall be required if a candidate is deemed the winner under subsection (g) of Section 7-175.
     (f) Nothing in this Section shall preclude the Board from adopting rules that provide for Internet balloting or phone balloting in addition to election by mail under this Section. An Internet or phone ballot cast in accordance with rules adopted under this subsection shall be a valid ballot.