Those interested in using an absentee ballot for June’s primary election have 29 days to apply.
Primary elections are June 3. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 29. Voters who qualify for absentee ballots will have until June 2 to return the completed ballots. If not hand delivered or postmarked by that date, the ballot will not be counted.
Jamie Scarbrough, absentee election manager, said many voters confuse early voting with absentee voting.
“There is no early voting in Alabama,” she said. “To vote absentee, you have to meet one of the requirements.”
She listed six requirements that would qualify a voter for absentee voting. Anyone who will be out of the country on Election Day, attending school outside of the county or an election officer at a polling place can vote absentee.
Military families usually qualify to vote absentee and those who are ill and physically unable to visit a poll may apply for absentee ballots.
A person who works a shift with at least 10 hours that coincide with the hours the polls are open may also vote absentee.
Emergency absentee ballots are also available. Any registered voter who “requires emergency treatment of a licensed physician within five days of an election” may apply for and return the emergency ballot by noon the day of the election, said Scarbrough.
Emergency absentee ballots are also available for last-minute emergency business trips. Voters who qualify must apply for the emergency ballots by June 2 at noon.
Completed applications are returned in a sealed envelope and accompanying affidavit.
“The affidavits are right on the envelope,” Scarbrough said.
Voters must sign the affidavits in the presence of a notary public.
Scarborough takes each ballot and locks them away unopened until Election Day. If there is a primary run-off, absentee voters will have to submit another application for the ballot.
For more information regarding absentee voting, contact Jamie Scarbrough at 566-5113 or jamie.scarbrough@alacourt.gov. Applications are available at www.sos.state.al.us/elections/default and at www.pike.alacourt.gov.