WEIS Radio News recently spoke with Cherokee County’s Absentee Election Manager, Dwayne Amos, regarding straight party voting options for the November General Election.  Amos said that you can vote straight-party then go down the ballot and vote for a candidate or candidates in another party, should you choose to do so.  He added that voting straight-party can be viewed in some regards as being a “time-saver” but doesn’t preclude you from choosing a candidate from another party.  

Voting straight-party does NOT take that option away.

He also stressed that you can write-in the name of a candidate, however even though it may sound odd – but it does need to be said – it has to be a “real” person, not a fictitious name, or that of a cartoon character.  Don’t waste your time writing in Mickey Mouse.  Remember, poll workers have to hand-count write in votes – so please be mindful if you choose to write in a person for an office.

The General Election is your opportunity to vote for any candidate and any party that you prefer.  This is not a primary election where you must choose one party.

Also, any qualified elector may vote an Absentee Ballot by mail, or in person, at the Election Manager’s Office, provided he or she makes an application in writing not less than five days prior to the election, and meets one of several requirements; those requirements have been posted on our website at weisradio.com  

Thursday, November 3rd, is the final day voters may apply for a regular Absentee Ballot for the November 8th General Election – Monday, November 7th, being the last day that a voter can return in person his or her regular Absentee Ballot.  Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than the 7th – they must be received in the Election Manager’s Office by 12:00 noon Election Day.  Remember, Alabama isn’t an early voting state – so to vote absentee you must sign an affidavit as to why you can’t vote at your polling place on Election day. 

Applications for Absentee Voting are available at the Office of Dwayne Amos – Circuit Clerk /Absentee Manager at the Cherokee County Courthouse 100 Main Street, Room 203 Centre, AL 35960 or the Secretary of State’s web page at www.alabamavotes.gov. 

ABSENTEE VOTING REQUIREMENTS (Must Meet ONE)

1. The person will be out of the county or the state on Election Day.
2. The person has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents their attendance at the polls.
3. The person is unable to access their assigned polling place due to a neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory (including speech organs) cardiovascular or other life-altering disorder that affects their ability to perform manual tasks, stand for any length of time, walk unassisted, see, hear, or speak AND: (a) they are an elderly voter aged 65 or older OR (b) they are a voter with a disability.
4. The person works a shift which has at least ten (10) hours that coincide with the polling hours at their regular polling place.
5. The person is enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of their personal residence, attendance at which prevents their attendance at the polls.
6. The person is a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the Armed Forces of the United States or is otherwise similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.
7. The person has been appointed as an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.

EMERGENCY ABSENTEE BALLOT

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 circumstance as constituting an emergency.

The person 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.

Those serving in the US armed forces, including spouse, should contact their commanding officer for an application.

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 Board of Registrars (256) 927-5336 and update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot or update on line at www.alabamavotes.gov.

• A completed application must be returned BY THE VOTER in person or sent by US Mail.
• NO ONE, NOT EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER, can return another person’s application.
• Multiple applications CANNOT be mailed in the same envelope.

The absentee election manager may not give any 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.

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.

Voter identification instructions will accompany each absentee ballot and must be carefully followed to ensure that the ballot meets the requirement of the law.

VOTERS MUST COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION ON THE AFFIDAVIT OF THE ABSENTEE VOTER ENVELOPE.

IF THE VOTER’S AFFIDAVIT IS  NOT SIGNED (OR MARKED) AND IF THE AFFIDAVIT IS NOT WITNESSED BY TWO WITNESSES 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR NOTARIZED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC PRIOR TO BEING DELIVERED OR MAILED TO THE ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGER, THE BALLOT WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

ONLY THE VOTER MAY HAND DELIVER HIS OR HER BALLOT TO THE ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGER IN PERSON OR IT CAN BE MAILED BY US MAIL.  NO ONE, NOT EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER, CAN RETURN ANOTHER PERSON’S BALLOT.

The first day to vote absentee in person is Thursday September 22, 2016.

Thursday, November 3, 2016 is the last day voters may apply for a regular absentee ballot for the November 8, 2016 General Election.