Cherokee County Circuit Clerk Duane Amos has announced that Absentee (NOT Early) Voting – is now underway.
The last day to register to vote in the Primary Election is Friday, May 23rd; that’s at the Board of Registrars Office
The last day to apply to vote Absentee is Thursday, May 29th.
For additional information contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office at (256) 927-3637.
ABSENTEE VOTING INFORMATION
JUNE 3, 2014 ELECTION DAY
PRIMARY ELECTION
17-11-2 The Circuit Clerk of the county shall, at his or her option be the absentee election manager. If the circuit clerk declines the duties of absentee election manager, the appointing board shall thereupon appoint an absentee election manager, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience, who is a qualified elector of the county. The county commission shall designate the place or office where such duties shall be performed. Such place or office shall be open on the days and during the hours as that of the circuit clerk prior to each election.
17-11-3(a) Any qualified elector may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person at the absentee election manager’s office, if he or she makes application in writing not less than five days prior to the election and meets one of the following requirements:
(1) The person will be out of the county or state on Election Day.
(2) The person has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls whether or not he or she is within the county on election day.
(3) The person works a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place.
(4) The person is enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence (attendance) at which prevents his or her attendance at the polls.
(5) The person is a member of, or spouse or dependant of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.
(6) The person has been appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place.
(b) An applicant for an absentee ballot who is a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the Alabama National Guard, the United States Naval Reserves, the United States Air Force Reserves, and the United States Army Reserve on active duty or active duty for training or an applicant who is the spouse of any member of the armed forces or any other applicant qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, may make application for an absentee ballot by filling out the federal postcard application form, authorized and provided for under the provisions of the Federal Voting Assistance Act.
NOTE: Attorney General Opinion # 2008-107. Applicants listed in section (b) above who wish to vote in municipal elections must submit the application to the absentee manager designated for municipal elections.
17-11-3(c) Any registered elector who requires emergency treatment of a licensed physician within five days of an election may apply for an emergency absentee ballot for the election and may vote by returning the absentee ballot no later than noon on the day the election is held. The attendant physician shall describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency on a special form designed by the Secretary of State and provided by his or her office to local absentee election managers. The special form shall be attached to the application.
17-11-3(d) Any registered elector whose name appears on the poll list of qualified voters may vote by an emergency absentee ballot if he or she is required by his or her employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on an emergency business trip on election day. Under such circumstances, the applicant shall apply for an emergency absentee ballot at the office of the absentee election manager no later than the close of the business day one day prior to the election. The applicant shall complete and file an application form designed by the Secretary of State for emergency absentee voters. The form shall contain an affidavit which the applicant shall sign or swear acknowledging that he or she was not aware of the out-of-county business requirement prior to five days before the election. An applicant who meets the requirements of this subsection may vote by an emergency absentee ballot. After voting the ballot, the voter shall hand the ballot to the absentee election manager.
17-11-5c The absentee election manager shall enroll the name, residence, and voting place of the applicant, and the date the application was received and post it each day on the regular bulletin board or other public place in the courthouse.
Attorney General Opinion (1984-208): The absentee election manager may not give a person access to completed and filed applications for absentee ballots. This information is not a matter of public record. It should be considered privileged information just the same as voter registration applications.
Completed absentee applications must provide the Alabama residence where the voter is registered to vote, even if the ballot is to be mailed to another address where the applicant/voter regularly receives mail. If you have moved and have not updated your polling place you should contact the local board of registrars and update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot.
Voter ID instructions will accompany each mailed absentee ballot and must be followed carefully to insure that your ballot is counted.
17-10-2(c) Voting a provisional absentee ballot:
(1) Upon receipt of an absentee ballot from an individual (required to provide identification), the absentee election manager shall determine whether such identification has been properly provided. If the identification has not been properly provided, the absentee election manager shall notify the voter in writing of the following:
(a) That unless such identification is provided to the absentee election manager by 5:00 pm on the Friday before the election, the voter’s absentee ballot will become a provisional ballot.
(b) That in the event the voter’s ballot becomes a provisional ballot due to lack of identification, such identification must be provided to the board of registrars no later than 5:00 pm on the Friday following the election and shall include the address and telephone information for the board of registrars.
(c) That in the event the voter fails to provide identification to the board of registrars by 5:00 pm on the Friday following the election, the voter’s ballot will not be counted.
(2) Upon receipt of an application for an absentee ballot where the voter is not identified as appearing in the precinct, or does not provide identification, for which the voter seeks a ballot, the absentee election manager shall:
(a) Mark the word “Provisional” on the second or affidavit envelope prior to transmittal of the absentee ballot.
(b) Enclose the following information with the transmittal of the absentee ballot:
1. A written explanation as to why the ballot is a provisional ballot; how to complete the voter re-identification form and affirmation of provisional voter form; and the procedure followed by the board of registrars in verifying and certifying provisional votes.
2. A voter re-identification form and an affirmation of provisional voter form.
3. (d) Upon the closing of the polls, the sealed ballot box containing the provisional ballots shall be returned unopened to the sheriff who shall keep it securely until such time as the provisional ballots are counted in accordance with subsection (f).
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is the close of business
Thursday, May 29, 2014. Applications for absentee voting are available at
the absentee election manager’s office, and the Secretary of State’s web page (www.alabamavotes.gov).
Any completed application must be returned by the voter in person or be sent by
US mail.
Multiple applications can not be mailed in the same envelope (Attorney General Opinion number 82-00551).
17-11-5 (a) The absentee election manager shall forward absentee ballots by US mail to the applicants residence address or upon written request of the voter, to the address where the voter regularly receives mail or by handing the ballot to the voter in person or, in the case of medical emergency voting, to his or her designee in person.
17-11-5(b) APRIL 9, 2014: (No later than this date) Judge of Probate or other person preparing the official list of qualified voters for the June 3, 2014 Primary Election must furnish the list of electors to the absentee election manager at least 55 days before the election per Federal court order.
17-11-12. APRIL 9, 2014: (No later than this date) Absentee ballots and supplies for the JUNE 3, 2014 Primary Election must be delivered to the absentee election manager, not less than 55 days prior to the election by Federal court order.
APRIL 19, 2014: UOCAVA BALLOTS MUST BE SENT BY THIS DATE.
APRIL 28, 2014: State Holiday
17-8-1. MAY 14, 2014: First day the appointing board or a majority of them may appoint absentee and regular poll workers for the Election (not more than 20 days before the election).
17-8-1. MAY 19, 2014: Last day the appointing board may appoint absentee and regular poll workers for the Election (not less than 15 days before the election).
17-3-50(a) Friday, MAY 23, 2014: LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR PRIMARY ELECTION.
MAY 26, 2014: State Holiday
17-11-3(a) Thursday, MAY 29, 2014: This is the last day voters may apply for a regular absentee ballot for the Primary Election.
JUNE 2, 2014: State Holiday
Mailing Address to mail in applications:
Absentee Election Manager
Dwayne Amos
100 Main Street Room 203
Centre, Al 35960
Website for more information and applications for Absentee voting: www.alabamavotes.gov
17-11-5(c) Friday, MAY 30, 2014: Absentee election manager shall effectuate the delivery of a list of names of those voting absentee for the Election, to the election officers at each polling place.
Monday, JUNE 2, 2014: Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than this date. This is the last business day before the election and is the last day to vote business emergency. Last day voter can return in person, his or her regular absentee ballot. THIS IS A STATE HOLIDAY SO YOU MAY NEED TO USE MAY 30, 2014
JUNE 3, 2014: ELECTION DAY.
17-11-18. Voted absentee ballots returned by U.S. mail must be received by the absentee election manager no later than noon election day. Medical emergency absentee ballots delivered by the voter’s designee, must be received no later than noon election day. 17-11-10. For absentee ballots received by noon on the day of the election, the absentee election manager shall, beginning at noon, deliver the sealed affidavit envelopes containing absentee ballots to the absentee election officials.
17-11-5(c) JUNE 4, 2014: The absentee election manager in all elections shall deliver to the board of registrars the day following the election, a copy of the list of all absentee voters.
17-13-17 JUNE 10, 2014: Commencing at noon Tuesday, seven days after the election, the canvassing board(county executive committee) shall tabulate provisional ballots which have been certified by the board of registrars.
17-11-19. The absentee election manager shall upon the conclusion of each election, return to the Secretary of State, all unused absentee ballots and affidavit envelopes, along with an itemized signed statement showing the description and quantity of material received, used and returned.
Return to:
Secretary of State
Warehouse
1409 Highland Ave.
Montgomery AL 36104
17-11-5(c) Saturday, AUGUST 2, 2014: Absentee election manager must file the list of absentee ballot applications for the Primary Election with the Judge of probate (60) days after the election.
Maintaining records: Alabama Election Handbook Fifteenth Edition Page 254: The Sheriff must keep ballots six months provided that there is no federal office on the ballot and if no election contest is underway. If a federal office is on the ballot all records must be kept 22 months. Every General election held every two years in November always includes offices for Congress which is a federal office. The A.E.M. can use these same requirements when destroying absentee ballot applications, poll list, and any other items.
This information is only a suggested review for Circuit Clerk’s/Absentee Election Managers. The election law that everyone must comply with is in the Code of Alabama, Volume 13a, Title 17. The Secretary of State is the chief election officer. Contact that office for any questions about the election law at: 1-800-274-8683.