1.

1. (a) Ballots for absentee voters shall be, as nearly as practicable, in the same form as those to be voted in the district on election day, if any, except that ballots for primary elections shall omit the party position of ward, town, city or county committee and except further that such ballots need not have a stub, and shall have the words "Absentee Ballot", endorsed thereon.
2. (b) The names of candidates upon the ballot shall be printed in appropriate sections, with titles of offices, section numbers, emblems, voting squares, names of parties and political organizations and blank spaces for writing in names of persons not printed on the ballot. Except as to the spacing, such ballot shall be printed wherever applicable substantially as follows: (Form in chap. 381/79)
3. (c) The indorsement shall be printed and properly filled in: Official Absentee Ballot for (General, Primary or Special, as applicable) Election County of...................... (Assembly or Legislative, as applicable) District................ (Ward and City or town, as applicable)........................... (Insert date of election) (Insert names of election commissioners providing the ballot)
4. (d) On the front of the ballot prepared for counting by hand, shall be printed in heavy black type the following instructions: INSTRUCTIONS
5. 1. Mark in pen or pencil.
6. 2. To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot, make a single cross X mark or a single check, V mark in the voting square above the name of the candidate.
7. 3. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on this ballot write or stamp his or her name in the space that appears at the bottom of the column or the end of the row (indicate where on the ballot the write-in space appears) containing the title of the office.
8. 4. To vote on a proposal make a cross X mark or a check V mark in one of the squares contained in the box setting forth such proposal.
9. 5. Any other mark or writing, or any erasure made on this ballot outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void this entire ballot.
10. 6. Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot will be void for that public office, party position or proposal.
11. 7. If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, call the board of elections at (insert phone number here) for instructions on how to obtain a new ballot. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make a mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot.

2. The following provisions shall apply to all absentee ballots prepared for counting by a ballot scanner and all other provisions of this chapter not inconsistent with this subdivision shall be applicable to such ballots:

1. (a) The party emblem need not be printed next to the name of each candidate.
2. (b) The ballot proposals may be on the back of the ballot, or on a separate ballot.
3. (c) The printed instructions to the voter shall read as follows: INSTRUCTIONS
4. 1. Mark only with a pen or pencil.
5. 2. To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot, fill in the (insert oval or square, as applicable) above or next to the name of the candidate.
6. 3. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on this ballot, write or stamp his or her name in the space labeled "write-in" that appears (insert at the bottom of the column or the end of the row, as applicable) containing the title of the office and, if required by the voting system in use at such election, the instructions shall also include "and fill in the (insert oval or square, as applicable) corresponding with the write-in space in which the voter has written a name."
7. 4. To vote yes or no on a proposal, if any, that appears on the (indicate where on the ballot the proposal may appear) fill in the (insert oval or square, as applicable) that corresponds to your vote.
8. 5. Any other mark or writing, or any erasure made on this ballot outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void this entire ballot.
9. 6. Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot will be void for that public office, party position or proposal.
10. 7. If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, call the board of elections at (insert phone number here) for instructions on how to obtain a new ballot. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make a mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot.
11. (d) Such instructions may be printed on the front or back of the ballot or on a separate sheet or card. If such instructions are not printed on the front of the ballot, there shall be printed on the ballot, in the largest size type for which there is room, the following legend: "See instructions on other side" or "See enclosed instructions", whichever is appropriate.
12. (e) Such ballots which are to be counted by a ballot scanner may consist of two or more sheets, which are divided into perforated sections which can be separated at the time of canvassing.