1. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 17-11-3, 17-11-4, and 17-11-5, a qualified voter who has a permanent disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls may vote by absentee ballot in accordance with this section.

2. (b) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules that provide a process for a voter who has a permanent disability to be placed on an absentee voter list and have a ballot automatically mailed to him or her before each election. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

   1. (1) An application procedure for permanently disabled voters to vote by absentee ballot on an on-going basis. The procedure shall require that the application form be signed and notarized by the disabled voter’s primary physician.
   2. (2) A procedure for verifying the identity of a voter and determining that the voter has a permanent disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls.
   3. (3) A procedure for the voter to apply to the absentee ballot manager on an annual basis.
   4. (4) A procedure for automatically mailing absentee ballots before each election in a timely manner to permanently disabled voters who have been placed on the absentee voter list.

(Act 2019-359, §1.)