Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, for each election held in this state, electors shall be provided with a return identification envelope that may be returned by business reply mail. The state shall bear the cost of complying with this subsection.
(2)
The Secretary of State may require that the return identification envelopes provided to electors be returned by mail by using a method other than business reply mail if the secretary determines that an alternative method is more cost effective or efficient. The state shall bear the cost of returning ballots by mail under any method adopted by the secretary under this subsection.
(3)
As used in this section, “business reply mail” means a mailing service allowing a preaddressed return identification envelope to be mailed by an elector without charge, with the state paying the mailing fee for a return identification envelope that is returned by United States mail but not for a return identification envelope that is not returned by United States mail. [2019 c.638 §2]