(a) Subject to Subsection (b), a qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail if the voter expects to be absent from the county of the voter's residence on election day and during the regular hours for conducting early voting at the main early voting polling place for that part of the period for early voting by personal appearance remaining after the voter's early voting ballot application is submitted to the early voting clerk.
(b) If a voter's early voting ballot application is submitted on or after the first day of the period for early voting by personal appearance, the voter is ineligible for early voting by mail unless the voter is absent from the county when the application is submitted and satisfies the requirements prescribed by Subsection (a).