Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 1.djvu/124

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60 STAT. 79TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 142-APR . 19, 1946 when, and at the place where, registration is required, to vote at the election next ensuing after their discharge. "SEC. 203. (a) It is recommended that the secretary of state of each of the several States, upon receipt of any such post-card applica- tion, promptly forward it to the proper county, city, or other election official or officials in order that the request for an absentee ballot may be acted upon as expeditiously as possible. "(b) It is recommended that the several States cooperate, to the end that county, city, or other election officials be authorized and instructed, upon receipt of an application made upon such a post card, to mail promptly to the voter making the application, if legally permissible under the laws of the State, a suitable absentee ballot, including therewith a self-addressed envelope for the use of the voter in returning the ballot and any instructions to govern the use of such ballot and envelope. "SEC. 204. (a) It is recommended, so that the envelope in which the ballot is sent to a person to whom this title is applicable, and the envelope supplied for the return of the ballot, may be identified by the Post Office Department and other authorities as carrying an election ballot, that there be printed across the face of each such envelope two parallel horizontal red bars, each one-quarter inch wide, extending from one side of the envelope to the other side, with an intervening space of one-quarter inch, the top bar to be one and one-quarter inches from the top of the envelope, and with the words 'Official Election Balloting Material-Via Air Mail', or similar language as prescribed in State law, between the bars; that there be printed in the upper right corner of each such envelope, in a box, the words 'Free of U. S . Postage, Including Air Mail'; and that all printing on the face of each such envelope be in red. It is also recommended that there be printed in red in the upper left corner of each State ballot envelope an appropriate inscription or blanks for return address of sender (State or local election officials, or voter, as the case may be). "(b) It is recommended, in order to minimize the possibility of physical adhesion of State balloting material, that the gummed flap of the State envelope supplied for the return of the ballot be sepa- rated by a wax paper or other appropriate protective insert from the remaining balloting material, and, because such inserts may not prove completely effective, that there also be included in State voting instructions a procedure to be followed by absentee voters in instances of such adhesion of the balloting material, such as a notation of the facts on the back of any such envelope, duly signed by the voter and witnessing officer. "(c) It is recommended, in order to minimize action necessary to be taken by the voter and to assure legible and proper address, that each envelope supplied for the return of a State absentee ballot be preaddressed by State or local election officials insofar as possible. "(d) It is recommended that the several States, in order to save postage and to assist in the air transport of absentee voting material being sent to persons to whom this title is applicable, reduce in size and weight of paper, as much as possible, envelopes, ballots, and instructions for voting procedure so that such State balloting unit will not exceed in weight the total of one ounce and in dimension four and one-eighth inches by nine and one-half inches. "SEC. 205. (a) It is recommended that, in the case of States in which no provision is made, either on the envelope or separately, for sending with the absentee ballots a printed form to be used by a voter for the purpose of establishing his legal right to vote, appro- 80634° - 4 7 -PT. -- 7 97 Forwarding of ap- plication to election officials. Prompt mailing of ballots, etc. Identification on en- velopes. Separation of gummed flap of State envelope. Preaddressing of re- turn envelopes. Weight and size of State balloting unit. Form for establish- ment of legal right to vote.