GUIDELINES FOR ABSENTEE VOTING

For the February 5th, 2008 Presidential Preference Primary Election
Jackson County, Alabama

Ken Ferrell, Circuit Clerk/Absentee Election Manager
Jackson County Courthouse, Rm 302
Scottsboro, AL 35768
(256) 574-9320

 

 

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Applications for absentee ballots must be filed in the office of the Absentee 
Election Manager/Circuit Clerk not less than five (5) days prior to the Election. 
The deadline to apply is January 31st , 2008 at 4:30 p.m. 
The deadline to apply for Medical and Business emergencies 
is no later than the close of business on Monday, February 4th, 2008.

Any qualified elector of this State may vote an Absentee ballot, 
provided they meet the requirements (17-10-1 et seq, 
Code of Alabama), as contained in the application.

   * Out of the county or the state on election day. 

   * Physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day.

   * Work a required workplace shift which has at least ten (10)

      hours that coincide with the polling hours at regular polling place.

   * A student at an educational institution located outside the county

     of permanent residence and therefore unable to vote at usual 

     polling place on election day.

   * Member of, or a spouse of a member of, the armed forces of the 

      United States or otherwise entitled to vote by absentee pursuant to 

      the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.

   * An election officer at a polling place which is not regular polling place.

Unless you are a member of the armed forces or you are a United States citizen 
residing overseas, or a spouse or dependent of such person, 
please note that for elections to be held more than thirty (30) days apart, 
you must submit a separate application for absentee voting for each election. 
For example, you may apply for an absentee ballot for the primary 
election and primary runoff election on one application.  
However, to vote by absentee in the primary and 
the general election requires two applications.

After completing and signing the application, the voter may hand 
the application to the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk 
or forward it by U.S. Mail.  
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BRING IN AN 
APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER PERSON 
(not even a family member), the only exception being a 
Designee for a Medical Emergency.  
By law, the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk can only 
accept one application per envelope received through the U.S. Mail. 
The application must provide the Alabama residence 
address 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. 

   Please mail completed Application for 
Absentee Ballot Form to the following address:

Ken Ferrell, Circuit Clerk

Absentee Election Manager

PO Box 459

Scottsboro,  AL  35768

 Any person desiring to vote Absentee in person, 
may come to the Office of the Absentee Election Manager

2nd Floor, Room 302

  Jackson County Courthouse

 Scottsboro, AL 35768

           Office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., 
Monday - Friday, except for  legal holidays.

(256) 574-9320 

The Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk may hand the ballot to the voter, 
or forward it by U.S. Mail to the voter's residence address. 
Upon written request, the ballot may be mailed to an 
address where the applicant/voter regularly receives mail.  
NO ONE CAN RECEIVE OR RETURN A BALLOT FOR ANY OTHER PERSON 
(not even a family member), with the exception of the Designee for a Medical Emergency.  

INSTRUCTIONS WILL ACCOMPANY EACH BALLOT 
AND MUST BE FOLLOWED CAREFULLY 
TO INSURE THAT YOUR BALLOT IS COUNTED.  
A copy of identification (Code of Alabama, Sections 17-11A-1) 
MUST accompany the application or the ballot. 
Your ballot may not be counted if identification is not returned as instructed.  
Valid identification may include a driver's license or 
other governmentally produced photo identification, 
photo identification cards produced by employers for employees 
or by a public or private college, university of technical school. 
Other valid documents which may satisfy the identification requirement consist of:  
a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, 
paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. 
Other valid documents include, but are not limited to, a valid Social Security card, 
a certified copy of birth certificate, a valid U.S. military identification card; 
valid passport, valid Alabama hunting or fishing license,  
a valid Medicaid card or Medicare card, or an Electronic Benefits Transfer Card. 
Voters entitled to vote by absentee ballot pursuant to the 
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act,
Section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, 
or any other federal law, shall not be required to 
produce identification along with their ballot.

Ballots must be returned by the voter in person to the 
Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk's office 
no later than 4:30pm on February 4th, 2008.  
If mailed, the ballot must be postmarked 
no later than one day prior to the election 
and received by the Absentee Election Manager in the mail 
no later than noon on February 5th, 2008. 

Business emergency ballots must be voted in person 
and handed to the Absentee Election Manager. 
The law does not provide for mailing business emergency ballots 
because the short period of time prior to election makes this almost impossible. 
Medical emergency ballots must be returned no later than noon on Election Day.

The law provides for a Provisional Ballot where 
1) identification is not properly provided; or 
2) the voter is not identified as appearing in the 
precinct in which the voter seeks a ballot;  or 
3) an absentee precinct inspector or clerk has knowledge 
that the individual is not entitled to vote at the precinct applicable 
to the voter's ballot and challenges the voter's right to vote a particular ballot. 
The law provides ways for voters to correct deficiencies 
so that provisional ballots can be counted. (Code of Alabama, Section 17-10A-2)

If you have moved since you registered to vote, 
please contact the Jackson County Board of Registrars 
to update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot.