Absentee ballots for the April 24 primary runoff election will be available beginning today in the Cullman County circuit clerk’s office.

That gives absentee voters a little more than three weeks to get their ballots approved and returned in time for the runoff, which will decide not only two primary Republican candidates for the November general election, but two more outright winners in local races that fielded only Republican candidates.

In the probate judge and circuit clerk’s races, the runoff will determine which Republican will face incumbent probate judge Leah Patterson Lust and Democratic circuit clerk candidate Jerry “Mack” Waters in November.

For the probate race, the runoff will decide whether Tammy Brown or Bridgette Reeling Warner will win the Republican nomination for probate judge. In the circuit clerk’s race, the runoff will decide between Republicans Steve Cummings and Lisa Parker McSwain.

The other two runoffs will determine which Republican will win the circuit judge and county commission chairman’s seats, which do not have Democratic contenders opposing the Republican nominees. For the circuit judge’s seat, the runoff will be won either by Martha Williams or Steve Smith. The county commission chairman’s race will be decided between incumbent James Graves or Kenneth Walker.

Thursday, April 19 will be the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot for the April 24 runoff race. The ballots can be returned to the circuit clerk’s office in person up through election day. Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than April 23 — although, with the circuit clerk’s office closed in honor of a state holiday falling on the same day, absentee voters may find it helpful to get their ballots mailed in earlier.

Alabama law requires that absentee voters voting in elections more than 30 days apart register for a new ballot. That means absentee voters who cast a ballot for the March 13 primary must request a new ballot if they wish to vote absentee again.

Applications for absentee voting are also available at the Alabama Secretary of State’s web page (www.alabamavotes.gov). Those serving in the U.S. armed forces, including spouses, should contact their commanding officers for an application.

Any qualified elector may vote an absentee ballot by mail, or in person at the circuit clerk’s office by making a written application and by meeting one of the following requirements:

• The voter will be out of the country or the state on election day.
• The voter has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents his attendance at the polls.
• The voter works a shift which has at least 10 hours coinciding with the hours polls are open at his polling place.
• The voter is enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the country where he resides and is prevented from attending the polls on election day.
• The voter is a member of — or a spouse or dependent of — the U.S. armed forces, or is similarly qualified to vote absentee under the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
• The voter has been appointed as an elections officer, or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his own.
• Any registered elector who requires emergency treatment from a licensed physician within five days of an election may apply for an emergency absentee ballot for the election and may vote by returning the absentee ballot no later than noon on the day the election is held. The attendant physician must describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency on a special form designed by the Secretary of State; the special form must be attached to the application.

Any registered elector whose name appears on the poll list of qualified voters may cast an emergency absentee ballot, if he is required by his or her employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on an emergency business trip on election day.

In addition to regular absentee requirements, the applicant must file a completed application form designed by the Secretary of State for emergency absentee voters. That form must contain an affidavit acknowledging the voter was not aware of the out-of-county business requirement prior to five days before the election.

Any completed application must be returned by the voter in person or be sent by US Mail. No one — not even a family member — can return another person’s application. Multiple applications cannot be mailed in the same envelope.

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 voter regularly receives mail. Contact the Cullman County board of registrars to update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot, if you have recently moved.

For more information about absentee voting contact the Cullman County circuit clerk’s office:

Robert Bates, Absentee Election Manager

500 2nd Avenue SW

Room 303 Courthouse

Cullman, AL 35055

Phone 256-775-4770

http://32jc.alacourt.gov/clerk

* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 270.