For statewide elections, absentee ballot applications and completed absentee ballots should be hand delivered or mailed to the Absentee Election Manager in care of the Circuit Clerk.

Military and Overseas Voters

Alabama citizens who are members of the Uniformed Services and their family members, merchant marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Alabama overseas citizens can find additional information on absentee voting.

Absentee Voting Eligibility

A voter may cast an absentee ballot if he or she:

• Will be absent from the county on election day.
• Is ill or has a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling place.
• Is a registered Alabama voter living outside the county, such as a member of the armed forces, a voter employed outside the United States, a college student, or the spouse or child of such a person.
• Is an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place.
• Works a required shift of 10 hours or more that coincides with polling hours.

Business / Medical Emergency Voting

Applications may be submitted after the absentee deadline but no later than 5:00 PM on the day before the election if the voter:

• Is required by an employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on election day for an emergency business trip.
• Has a medical emergency requiring treatment from a licensed physician.

The business emergency application requires an affidavit confirming that the voter was unaware of the out-of-county business trip before the normal absentee ballot deadline. The medical emergency application requires certification from the attending physician.

Absentee Ballot Application

To obtain an absentee ballot, contact the local Absentee Election Manager (usually the Circuit Clerk), request an application, and provide:

• Name and residential address (or information needed to verify voter registration)
• Election for which the ballot is requested
• Reason for absence from polls on election day
• Party choice, if requesting a party primary ballot
• Address where the ballot should be mailed
• Voter signature (or witnessed mark if unable to sign)

The absentee ballot application must be returned by the voter in person, by authorized designee in cases of medical emergency voting, or by U.S. Mail. Applications cannot be mailed in the same envelope as another voter's application.

Absentee ballot applications must be submitted no later than the fifth calendar day before the election.

Ballot Receipt / Return

If approved, the Absentee Election Manager will:

• Forward the absentee ballot by U.S. Mail.
• Personally provide the absentee ballot to the voter or authorized designee for emergency voting.

Ballot Procedure

The absentee ballot package includes three envelopes:

• Plain secrecy envelope
• Affidavit envelope
• Pre-addressed outer envelope

After completing the ballot:

• Seal the ballot inside the plain envelope.
• Place the plain envelope inside the affidavit envelope.
• Complete and seal the affidavit envelope.
• Sign the affidavit and have the signature witnessed by a notary public or two witnesses age 18 or older.
• Place the affidavit envelope and a copy of voter identification inside the outer envelope.
• Do not send the original identification document.

Witnesses or Notarization

An absentee ballot cannot be counted unless the affidavit is notarized or contains the signatures of two witnesses.

Returning Your Absentee Ballot

The absentee ballot may only be returned by:

• U.S. Mail.
• Personal delivery to the Absentee Election Manager (or authorized designee for emergency absentee voting).

Voting Deadline

A mailed absentee ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before the election. Hand-delivered ballots must arrive at the Absentee Election Manager's office by close of business, but no later than 5:00 PM, on the day before the election.