Posted in Alabama Law,Governments on August 11, 2020

Do you know how to vote by absentee ballot? As the November election approaches, Alabama registered voters have to decide how they are going to make their voice heard. Many are willing and able to go to polling locations and vote in person, but many are not. For those that find themselves newly unable to vote in person, here are the steps you must follow in order to cast your absentee ballot.

1) Make sure you are registered to vote according to your current residence address. If you need to update address, go to this link – https://www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration/voterRegistrationWelcome.action

2) If all your information is updated, fill out the Application for Absentee Ballot. The link for that form is https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/absentee-ballot-applications. Select your county and complete the form and it can be delivered in hand or by mail to the Absentee Election Manager for your county. Absentee ballot applications must be received in the office of the Absentee Election Manager for your county no later than the 5th day prior to the election.

3) Once your application is received and approved, you will receive your absentee ballot in the mail. The absentee ballot comes with three envelopes — one plain (the secrecy envelope), one with an affidavit, or oath, printed on the outside, and one plain envelope, pre-addressed (the outer envelope). Once the voter casts the ballot, the procedure is as follows:

  • Seal the ballot in the plain envelope
  • Place the plain envelope inside the accompanying affidavit envelope
  • Seal the affidavit envelope and complete the affidavit that is on the outside of the envelope
  • Sign the affidavit and have the signature witnessed by either a notary public or two witnesses 18 years of age or older.

4) An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election.