By Mynecia Steele

Absentee ballots are available for the upcoming election, which takes place Tuesday, July 17.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is July 12, and the last day to submit is July 16 by closing, said Jamie Scarbrough, Pike County Circuit Clerk.

Mail in ballots are accepted and counted until noon on election day.

Some voters have gotten a head start and have cast their absentee ballots already.

“We’ve actually had a good bit,” Scarbrough said. “I’ve had just over 70 so far, that’s pretty good.”

To ensure that an absentee ballot is received in time, Scarbrough suggest coming by the office to fill it out and submit it in one day, Scarbrough said.

“That is the most sure way to get it here on time,” Scarbrough said. “Or, if you get it in the mail, hand deliver it.”

Only the voter can submit their absentee ballot.

“It takes about five to ten minutes tops,” Scarbrough said. “What takes to most time is just filling out the affidavit envelope on the back.”

Some of the other requirements to qualify for an absentee ballot:

• be out of the county or state on Election Day,
• have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls, whether he or she is within or outside the county on the day of election,
• work a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place,
• be enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence which prevents his or her attendance at the polls,
• be a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or be similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, or
• have been appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place.

Separate applications for absentee ballots are required for elections which are more than 42 days apart, except as to individuals voting pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.

Completed absentee applications must include 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 voter registration, you should contact the Pike County Board of Registrars at 120 W. Church St. Troy, AL  36081 and update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot.  You may contact the registrar’s office at 334-566-1757.

The absentee election manager is required to post each day a list of absentee voters to include names, addresses and voting places of each applicant. This list will be posted on the public bulletin board on the first floor of the courthouse.

“I hope there’s a good turn out,” Scarbrough said. “We have some very important races on the ballot.”

Turn out for runoff elections is typically low, but Scarbrough hopes to change those statistics with this election.

“We hope that the citizens of Pike County take it seriously,” Scarbrough said. “It would be great if we had a really good turnout every election cycle.”