When does absentee voting start?
The Probate Judge is required by law to provide ballots and supplies to the Absentee Election Manager 55 days before an election.[17-11-12].
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What are the qualifications for obtaining an absentee ballot?
QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT §17-10-3, Code of Alabama
- The voter expects be out of the county or state on Election Day.
- The voter 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.
- The voter expects to work a shift which has at least ten (10) hours which coincide with the polls are open at his or her regular polling place.
- The voter is enrolled as a student in an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence, which prevents his or her presence at the polls.
- The voter is a member of, or the spouse/dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or is otherwise similarly qualified to vote pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. 20302.
- The voter is appointed as an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.
- The voter is a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship by affinity or consanguinity and the family member is confined to his or her home.
- The voter is currently incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
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Am I eligible to vote absentee?
If you are registered to vote in Cherokee County, AL and meet one of the above requirements, then you are eligible. You can check your voter registration here. If you are not registered to vote in Cherokee County, you will need to contact the Board of Registrars at (256) 927-5336 to register. By law, the cut-off date to register to be eligible to vote in an upcoming election is 14 days before the election.[17-3-50]
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How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
You can download the application for absentee ballot form here. PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILL OUT AND MAIL IN YOUR APPLICATION.
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Where do I mail the application?
The application must be mailed to: Dwayne Amos, Absentee Election Manager, 100 Main Street, Room 203, Centre, AL 35960. By law (AG Opinion 82-551), each application must be mailed in a separate envelope. Multiple applications (even for husband and wife) which are mailed in the same envelope will be returned to the voter.
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What is the deadline for voting absentee?
The cut-off date for regular in person absentee voting is 5 days before an election. Since elections are typically held on a Tuesday, this would be on the preceding Thursday.
Mailed application must be received 7 days prior to the election (17A-011-003(b), this would be the preceding Tuesday.
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What if my mailed application is postmarked Tuesday?
Your application must physically be in the Absentee Election Manager's office on Tuesday prior to the election per 17A-011-003(b).
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Can I vote absentee in person?
Yes, you can come by the Absentee Election Manager's office Monday through Friday 8:00AM-12:00PM and 1:00PM - 4:00PM (except on holidays) and make application and vote while you are in the office. The cut-off date is normally the Thursday before an election.
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Do I need an ID to vote absentee?
Yes, please visit the following link to see the new, approved forms of Identification: www.alabamavoterid.com/
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If I am voting absentee by mail, when do I send in the copy of my ID?
Under Act 2019-507, absentee ballot applications must now be accompanied by a copy of current, valid photo identification, unless you are exempt from this requirement.
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How do I find out my polling place?
You can look up your polling place here or call the Cherokee County Board of Registrars at (256) 927-5336. A general precinct map is also available on the website. This map is without landmarks and labeled roads.
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Does my absentee ballot have to be witnessed or notarized?
Yes, by law, your ballot must either be notarized OR witnessed by two people 18 years of age or older. These may be other family members. If your ballot has not been notarized or witnessed by 2 people, it will not be counted.
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I have a relative serving in the military, how can they vote absentee?
They need to contact the military voting assistance officer and request Standard Form 76-A which is a Federal Post Card Absentee Ballot Request. It is postage pre-paid. These applications are good for 2 federal election cycles, so once this application is received, the applicant will automatically be mailed a ballot for upcoming elections they are eligible to vote in. For more information, go to fvap.gov. You can also download a UOCAVA absentee application here. The Absentee Election Manager should be notified if there is a change of address of military voter between elections. Since Form 76-A is good for 4 years, this is important in getting their ballot to the correct address. Unless we are otherwise notified, ballots will be mailed to the same address for 4 years. At this time, Alabama law, AG Opinion 04-209, does not allow voting by either fax or e-mail by military personnel, but military and overseas voters can request to receive their ballots electronically. Once the ballot is received, it should be mailed to the Absentee Election Manager.
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I have power-of-attorney for a relative, can I vote for them?
No, at this time the law (AG Opinion 84-359) does not allow a person to vote for someone else.
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I have moved since the last election, how will this affect my being able to vote absentee?
You need to get in touch with the Board of Registrars at (256) 927-5336 and update your address. If I receive your application and the residence address is different than what is on file with the Board of Registrars, you will have to vote a Provisional Ballot.
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Do I have to file a new application for every election?
The law states that any elections which are 42 days apart must have a new application (except military absentee applications) or voters who are considered “permanently disabled” may vote by absentee ballot on an on-going basis. Voters who are permanently disabled must have their absentee ballot application signed and notarized by the disabled voter’s primary physician. Upon successful application, the voter will receive an absentee ballot for all county, state, and federal elections held during the calendar year in which the application was filed. For election cycles that span multiple years, the application will be valid for the entire election cycle.
Please note that voters who are permanently disabled and who wish to continue receiving absentee ballots must renew their application on an annual basis
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What if I find out after the Thursday afternoon deadline that I have to go out of the county for employment reasons?
The law provides for a voter to vote business emergency if you find out after the Thursday deadline that you have to go out of the county or state for business reasons. You can go to the Absentee Election Manager's Office and vote in person on Thursday and Monday before the Tuesday election. (Unless either of these two days is a federal/state holiday).
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Must I declare a particular party to vote?
To vote in the Primary Election, you must designate the party which you wish to receive a ballot. You cannot vote a Republican and a Democrat ballot. In the General Election in November, you can vote for candidates from any of the parties on the ballot.
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Who do I contact to vote absentee in city elections?
You need to call your city clerk at the city hall in the municipality you live in.
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