Chilton County Circuit Clerk and Absentee Election Manager Glenn McGriff announced that absentee ballots are available at his office, Room 304 Courthouse for the Nov. 4 General Election.

Any qualified elector may vote by mail or in person at the Absentee Election Manager’s office if he or she makes application in writing not less that five days prior to the election and meets one of the following requirements:

1. The person will be out of the county or state on Election Day.

2. The person has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls.

3. The person works a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place.

4. The person is enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence which prevents his/her attendance at the polls.

5. The person is a member of, or spouse or dependant of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42, U.S.C., 1973ff.

6. An applicant for an absentee ballot who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the Alabama National Guard, the United States Naval Reserves, the United States Air Force Reserves, and the United States Army Reserve on active duty, or active duty training, or an applicant who is the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces or any other applicant qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, may make application for an absentee ballot by filling out the federal postcard application form, authorized and provided for under the provisions of the Federal Voting Assistance Act.

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 an may vote by returning the absentee ballot no later than noon the day the election is held. The attending physician shall describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency on a special form designed by the Secretary of State and provided by his/her office to local absentee election managers. The special form shall be attached to the application.

Any registered elector whose name appears on the poll list of qualified voters may vote by an emergency absentee ballot if he or she required by his/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 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.

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 Chilton County Board of Registrars to update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot. The address is Chilton County Board of Registrars, P.O. Box 640, Clanton, AL 35046; Phone 205-755-3820.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is the close of business day Thursday, Oct. 30, Applications for absentee voting are available at the Absentee Election Manager’s Office, Room 304 Courthouse and the Secretary of State’s web page at http://www.sis.state.al.us. Any completed application must be returned by the voter in person or be sent by the U.S. Mail. Multiple applications cannot be mailed in the same envelope: (Attorney General Opinion Number 82-00551).

The Absentee Election Manager shall forward absentee ballots by U.S. Mail to the applicant’s 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.

Oct. 30, 2008: This is the last day voters may apply for a regular absentee ballot for the Nov. 4, 2008 General Election.

Nov. 3, 2008: Last business day before the election and is the last day a voter can return, in person, his or her regular absentee ballot. This is the last day to vote absentee (medical and business emergency ballots only).

Voter ID instructions will accompany each mailed absentee ballot and must be followed carefully to insure that your ballot is counted.

Office hours for absentee voting at the Chilton County Absentee Election Manager’s office are from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed on state and federal holidays).