(1) The following rules shall be followed, consistent with the Montana Absent Uniformed Services and Overseas Voter Act, Title 13, chapter 21, MCA, in regard to covered voters:

(a) pursuant to 13-21-223, MCA, there is no limit on the earliest date that a covered voter may request an absentee ballot;

(b) covered voters must be given priority to be sent ballots as soon as they are available, if possible before the deadline for making them available;

(c) in elections for which a voter information pamphlet is required, election administrators must notify covered voters that the voter information pamphlet is available online, which can be accomplished through either:

(i) the absentee instructions; or

(ii) a special insert in materials provided to the absentee elector.