Absentee votes slow for primary

Published 3:56 am Saturday, May 15, 2010

Absentee ballot requests for the June 1 primary have been light, Escambia County Clerk Ken Taylor said.

“So far the number of requests we’ve had for absentee ballots has been very light,” Taylor said. “Due to the fact there is a very limited number of local races, we have not processed as many requests.”

Taylor said the number of requests for absentee ballots is less than 100 so far for the primary election.

Voters who have not registered have a limited time to act. The time for absentee voting in the same election is also limited.

The deadline for registering to vote in the June 1 primary is 4 p.m. May 21.

“There are several places within the county where individuals may register,” Probate Judge Emilie Mims said.

Registration locations include the Escambia County Courthouse on Belleville Avenue or the satellite courthouse on U.S. 31 in Atmore.

Mims said registration applications are also available at the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Resources and the State Driver’s License Examiner’s locations.

Completed applications may be mailed or delivered to the Board of Registrars office at P.O. Box 557, Brewton, AL 36427, Mims said.

Mims said applications for registration are also available online at the Web site of the Alabama Secretary of State. To receive the form by computer, choose the elections button on the Web site’s homepage and choose download forms.

Taylor, said the deadline to register or receive an absentee ballot is May 27.

Absentee ballots are available for residents who will be unable to get to a local polling location on Election Day, Mims said.

Completed absentee registration forms should be returned to Taylor’s office at the Escambia County Courthouse or by mail at P.O. Box 557, Brewton, AL 36427, Mims said.

Qualified voters may submit an absentee ballot application by mail or in person to the Absentee Election Manager’s office for the following reasons if they meet the following criteria: the voter is out of the county or state on election day; voter has a physical illness or infirmity which prevents the voter from attending the polls; voter works a shift that has at least 10 hours, which coincide with the hours the polls are open at the voter’s regular polling place; voter is a student enrolled in a school outside the county of residence; voter is a member, a spouse or a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, or is similarly qualified to vote absentee according to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Completed ballots must be returned by the voter in person to the Absentee Election Manager no later than 4 p.m. one day prior to the election, or if mailed through the United States Postal Service, must be postmarked no later than one day prior to the election.