From Staff Reports

 

Absentee ballots for the Special Primary Election Aug. 15 are available at the Chilton County Circuit Clerk’s/Absentee Election Manager’s Office in Room 304 Courthouse.

Qualified electors may vote by mail or in person at the Absentee Election Manager’s office if they (1) apply in writing at least five days prior to the election, and (2) meet one of the following requirements:

1. The voter will be out of the county or state on Election Day.
2. The voter has a physical illness or infirmity that prevents polls attendance.
3. The voter works a shift of at least 10 hours which overlaps with the hours his or her regular polling place is open.
4. The voter is a student enrolled at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence, preventing the voter’s attendance at the polls.
5. The voter is a member, spouse or dependant of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 USC., 1973ff.
   1. An applicant who is a member of the Armed Forces may apply for an absentee ballot by filling out the federal postcard application form, which is authorized and provided for under the provisions of the Federal Voting Assistance Act.

Emergency ballots may be applied for by registered electors requiring emergency treatment from a licensed physician within five days of an election. Such absentee ballots must be returned by noon of Election Day, attached to the attending physician’s special form detailing and certifying circumstances as constituting an emergency. This form is designed by the Secretary of State and provided by his office to local absentee election managers.

Registered electors whose employers under unforeseen circumstances require them to be out of the county for an emergency business trip on Election Day, may vote by an emergency absentee ballot. Emergency absentee ballots can be applied for via an application form at the office of the absentee election manager, no later than the close of the business day one day prior to the election. Signing or swearing on the form to having no prior awareness of the out-of-county business requirement five days prior to the election will be required.
After voting, voters must hand the ballot to the absentee election manager.

For more information regarding these qualifiers, call the Chilton County Circuit Court Clerk office at 205-755-4275.

The Alabama residence where the elector is registered to vote, even if the ballot is to be mailed to another address, must be provided on the completed absentee application. If the voter has moved and has not yet updated his or her polling place, then the voter should contact the Chilton County Board of Registrars to update the address prior to applying for an absentee ballot. The Chilton County Board of Registrars address is P.O. Box 640, Clanton, Alabama 35046. The Board of Registrars’ phone number is 205-755-3820.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Aug. 10 at the close of the business day. Absentee voting applications are available at the Absentee Election Manager’s Office, Room 204 Courthouse and the Secretary of State’s web page at http://www.sis.state.al.us. Completed applications must be returned in person by the voter or be sent by the U.S. Mail. Multiple applications must have separate envelopes, according to Attorney General Opinion Number 82-00551.

Absentee ballots will be forwarded to the applicant’s residence or preferred address, if indicated by writing, by the absentee election manager via U.S. Mail. Ballots may also be handed to the voter in person, or in the case of medical emergency voting, to his or her designee in person.

Other deadlines for absentee voting are:

Aug. 10: Last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot for the General Election Aug. 15.

Aug. 14: Last business day before the election, and therefore the last day voters can return, in person, their absentee ballots.

All absentee voters are required to present a photo ID, unless they are:

• Armed Forces voters
• Voters with a physical disability preventing attendance at the polls
• Elderly voters (65 years old or older) who are physically unable to go vote at their regular polling place

Absentee voting office hours at the Chilton County Absentee Election Manager’s office are Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and noon, and 1-4:30 p.m.