Roy Moore, left, and Doug Jones are vying for Alabama's U.S Senate seat in the Dec. 12 special election

If you won’t be able to vote Tuesday in the hotly contested special U.S. Senate race at your local polling place, Thursday will be the last day to apply for an absentee ballot.

Eligible voters who will be traveling or can’t make it to the polls Dec. 12 can register to turn in an absentee ballot at the Cullman County Circuit Clerk’s Office. Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones are running for Alabama’s senate seat currently held by former state Attorney General Luther Strange.

Voters can cast absentee ballots if they will be out of the county on election day, have an illness or infirmity that keeps them from going to the polls, have a work shift that includes 10 hours or more coinciding with polling hours on election day, are attending a college outside the county where they vote, or are a member of the military or the spouse or dependent of a member of the military serving overseas.

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Monday and must arrive at the circuit clerk’s office no later than noon Tuesday. Absentee ballots hand-delivered to the county absentee ballot manager’s office must be delivered by close of business Monday.

Absentee ballot applications are available on the Secretary of State’s website here.