Absentee voting applications accepted for Senate District 9 special primary election

HUNTSVILLE — Applications for absentee voting are now being accepted for the Jan. 9 Senate District 9  special primary election, Madison County Circuit Clerk and Absentee Election Manager Debra Kizer announced.

The office was held by Clay Scofield, who resigned last month to accept a position with the Business Council of Alabama. Senate District 9 represents portions of Blount, Madison and Marshall counties.

State Reps. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) and Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) have announced their candidacy for the seat.

Applications are available at www.madisoncountyvotes.com. Voters may request a ballot by mail. Voters may also request an application, present I.D., vote, and return the ballot  in person at the absentee office at the Madison County Service Center between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail for this election is Jan. 2 or in person Jan. 4.  

There is no provision in Alabama for early voting. Qualified voters may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person, if they apply in writing and meet one of the following requirements: 

• Expects to be out of the county on election day. 
• Is physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day. 
• Is physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day and unable to access the assigned polling place due to a neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory (including speech  organs), cardiovascular, or other life-altering disorder that affects my ability to perform manual tasks, stand for any length of time, walk unassisted, see, hear, or speak and either an elderly  voter aged 65 or older; or is a voter with a disability. 
• Works a shift, 10 hours or more, that coincides with polling hours. 
• Is a student at an educational institution located outside the county of permanent residence.
• Is a member of, or a spouse or dependent of, a member of the Armed Forces of the United  States or a U.S. citizen living outside the United States qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20302. 
• Is an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.
• Is a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship by affinity or consanguinity and the family member is confined to his or her home. 
• Is currently incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felon involving moral turpitude. 

The law requires that election officials only take applications and give ballots to the voter in person. All others must be mailed. Multiple voter applications cannot be mailed in the same envelope, even if from  the same address.

To be counted, ballots must be hand-delivered to the absentee election manager by close of business Jan. 8 or, if returned by mail, must be received by noon on election day, Jan. 9.

Voter registration and address updates must be completed with the Board of Registrars by Dec. 25 for this election.

Questions concerning voter registration status should be directed to the Board of Registrars at 1918 North Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville 35801, or call 256-532-3510. 

Absentee voting questions may be directed to the office of the Madison County Circuit Clerk  and Absentee Election Manager at 256-532-3684.