A number of jurisdictions subscribe to the view that absentee voting laws should be strictly construed because the absentee voting statutes grant a
privilege and do not confer an absolute
right; and because these statutes are in derogation of the common law. This “strict compliance” construction is based on the premise that statutory requirements for applying for an absentee ballot, marking an absentee ballot, taking the prescribed affidavit, and returning the ballot and affidavit are mandatory and, therefore, that strict compliance with the terms of the statute is required. By that construction, incomplete compliance, or lack of compliance, with any requirement of the statute, technical though it may be, invalidates the ballot. See, e.g.,
Garza v. Salinas, 434 S.W.2d 153 (Tex.Civ.App.1968).