Voting by absentee ballot? Follow these instructions

Published 2:52 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2020

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Escambia County Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain said applications for absentee ballots must be filled in the office of the absentee election manager/circuit clerk not less than five days prior to the General Election, which is Tues., Nov. 3, 2020.

The deadline to apply is Thurs., Oct. 29, 2020, by 4 p.m.

The deadline to apply for Medical and Business Emergencies is no later than noon on Thurs., Oct. 29, 2020.

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Any qualified voter of the state may vote an absentee ballot, provided he/she meets the requirements as contained in the application, which is available in Fountain’s office, located in Room 215 of the Escambia County Courthouse, 314 Belleville Ave., Brewton, AL 36427.

Applications are also available for download at www.sos.state.al.us, Fountain said.

After completing and signing the application, the voter may hand the application to the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk (Fountain) or forward it by U.S. Mail.

Fountain said no one is allowed to bring in an application for another person, not even a family member. The only exception is being a designee for a medical emergency. By law, the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk can only accept one application per envelope that is received by mail.

The application must provide the Escambia County, Ala. resident’s physical address, not a post office box, 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.

The Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk may hand the ballot to the applicant/voter, or forward it by US Mail or any other carrier(s), to the applicant/voter’s residence address or upon written request, to the 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 an exception being for a Designee for Medical Emergency.

Voter Identification is now required by Alabama’s Voting Laws. Identification compliance instructions will be provided with the absentee application.

 

Ballots

Ballots must be returned by the voter in person to the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk’s office no later than 4 p.m. on Nov 2, 2020, or if mailed, must be postmarked no later than one day prior to the election. Business emergency ballots must be voted in the office in person and handed to the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk. Medical emergency ballots must be returned no later than noon on Election Day.

Any person desiring to vote absentee may come by the Circuit Clerk’s office, Room 215 at the Escambia County Courthouse, 314 Belleville. Ave., Brewton, AL 36426. Office hours are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information about voting absentee, FOUNTAIN at the cllerk’s office at 251-867-0225, ext . 225 or online at www.sos.state.al.us.