Absentee voting underway for Dec. 12 election in Alabama

Absentee voting underway for Dec. 12 election

• By Tom Smith Senior Staff Writer
• Nov 14, 2017 Updated 1 hr ago

Absentee voting requirements

• Being out of the county or the state on Election Day.
• Having a physical illness or infirmity which prevents attendance at the polls.
• Unable to access assigned polling place due to a neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory (including speech organs) cardiovascular or other life-altering disorder that affects the ability to perform manual tasks, stand for any length of time, walk unassisted, see, hear, or speak; voter aged 65 or older; or a voter with a disability.
• Working a shift which has at least 10 hours that coincide with the polling hours at the voter's regular polling place.
• Enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of the voter's personal residence, attendance at which prevents attendance at the polls.
• A member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the Armed Forces of the United States, or is otherwise similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.
• An elected officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.
Source: Alabama Secretary of State Office


Circuit court clerks in the Shoals area say absentee voting is underway for the upcoming General Election to determine one of Alabama's U.S. Senate seats, but it’s too early to tell what kind of turnout there will be.

“It started off a little slow, but last week it started picking up,” said Lauderdale County Circuit Missy Homan.

Franklin County Circuit Clerk Anita Scott said her office hasn’t had a lot of request so far.


“But it’s still early," she said.

Colbert County Circuit Clerk Nancy Hearn said so far she has had about as many absentee ballots and requests as she did in the primary election and primary runoff.

“Hopefully, that’s a good sign and people are going to get out and vote,” she said.

The general election, which will be Dec. 12, features Republican nominee former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones.

Homan said voters have until Dec. 7 to vote absentee.

The last day to register to vote in the election is Nov. 27.

“We’ve had a lot of calls from parents whose children will be 18 on Election Day or a few days before,” Lydia Collins of the Lauderdale County Board of Registrars said. “I hope that’s a good sign that people are interested and are wanting to register to vote.”

She said if someone is going to be 18 after the Nov. 27 deadline, they need to register to vote prior to the deadline. Their registration will be activated on Dec. 12 so they can vote.

Collins said people who will be 18 after Nov. 27, but before Dec. 12, who want to vote in the General Election “must” register and have all the paperwork filled out prior to the Nov. 27 deadline.


Anyone wishing to vote absentee can do so at the clerk’s office, but they must present a photo identification.

Lauderdale County Probate Judge Will Motlow said the state’s new “voter crossover law” will not be in effect during the General Election.

“That was only for the runoff election,” Motlow said.

Scott said the party affiliation has nothing to do with this election.

“They (parties) will not even be
[listed] on the ballot.

Everyone has the same ballot; this is an election between the two candidates,” Scott said. “Everyone can vote for whomever they want.”

Anyone with any questions should contact their local clerks office.

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/elect...6ba6c094b.html