By By Lisa Tindell
While all eyes are on the presidential candidates campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire, Escambia County and other Alabama voters will join the primary season Feb. 5.
"(The presidential preference primary) will be the only thing on the ballot in February," county administrator Tony Sanks said. "All polling locations will be fully operational for that election. As always, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m."
For those not registered to vote in Escambia County, a deadline has been set for Jan. 25, said Odessa Williams with the Board of Registrar's office.
"The deadline to register to vote in any election is 10 days prior to election day," Williams said. "That is the state law. The tenth day this time would have fallen on Jan. 26, so the deadline will be Friday, Jan. 25."
The qualifying deadline for potential candidates who plan to run for election in June has not been set at this time, circuit clerk Kenneth Taylor said.
"There is no specific deadline for qualifying to run for office," Taylor said. "For the county election, parties set the deadlines for qualification and we have not received word from them regarding a specific date. Deadlines for qualifying for state elections have not been set."
Absentee ballots require an application by the voter, Taylor said.
"Applications for absentee ballots can be taken as early as Jan. 27 for the February primary," Taylor said. "The deadline to apply for absentee voting is Jan. 31 for the Feb. 5 primary."
County and municipal elections will be held in June with several county seats up for election in 2008, Sanks said.
"I know there will be two commission seats up for election this year," Sanks said. "Seats 2 and 4, currently held by Todd Williamson and William Brown, respectively, will be up for election. Other offices included in the June election will be the tax assessor and tax collector."
The probate judge, circuit clerk and sheriff are the election officials for Escambia County, Sanks said.
For information regarding voter registration, contact the registrar's office by calling 867-0243.