Pub. L. 84-296, tit. I, sec. 102

Sec. 102. To afford ample opportunity for persons covered by section 101 of this Act to vote for Federal, State, and local officials and to use the absentee balloting procedures to the greatest extent possible, it is recommended that each of the several States— (1) accept as applications for absentee ballots under such States. absentee balloting laws, as applications for registration under such States’ election laws, and as sources of information to implement State absentee balloting laws, the form of post card (when duly executed by a person covered by section 101 of this Act) provided pursuant to this Act; (2) waive registration of persons covered by section 101 of this Act, who, by reason of their service, have been deprived of an opportunity to register; (3) accept, the post card application provided pursuant to this Act. as a simultaneous application for registration and for ballot; (4) if a special application is required for registration by mail, provide that the necessary forms will be sent with the absentee ballot and may be returned with it; (5) make provision for persons eligible to register and qualified to vote, who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, or have terminated their service or employment, too late to register at the time when, and at the place where, registration is required, to vote at the election next ensuing after such discharge or termination. 69 Stat. 585 (6) authorize and instruct the State or local election officials, upon receipt of the post card application provided pursuant to this Act, to mail immediately to the applicant a ballot, instructions for voting and returning the ballot, and a self-addressed envelope; (7) provide that there be printed across the face of each envelope in which a ballot is sent 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, 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”; that all printing on the face of each such envelope be in red; and 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; (8) provide that the gummed flap of the State envelope supplied for the return of the ballot be separated by a wax paper or other appropriate protective insert from the remaining balloting material and that there be included in,State voting instructions a procedure to be followed by absentee voters, such as notation of the facts on the back of the envelope duly signed by the voter and witnessing officer, in instances of adhesion of the balloting material; (9) reduce in size and weight of paper, as much as possible, envelopes, ballots, and instructions for voting procedure; (10) for the purposes of this Act, authorized oaths required by State law to be administered and attested by any commissioned officer in the active service of the Armed Forces, or any member of the merchant marine of the United States designated for this purpose by the Secretary of Commerce, or any civilian official empowered by State or Federal law to administer oaths; (11) include in State voting instructions express information concerning the type or types of writing instruments which may be used to mark the absentee ballot, preferably pen or indelible pencil; and (12) provide that absentee ballots will be available for mailing to the applicant as soon as practicable before the last date on which such ballot will he counted.