When does absentee voting start?
The Probate Judge is required by law to provide ballots and supplies to the Absentee Election Manager 55 days before an election.
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What are the qualifications for obtaining an absentee ballot?
QUALIFICATIONS FOR A TRADITIONAL ABSENTEE BALLOT §17-10-3, Code of Alabama
- The voter will be out of the county or state on Election Day.
- The voter is physically incapacitated and will not be able to vote in person on Election Day.
- The voter works a shift which has at least (10) hours that coincide with the polling hours at their regular polling place.
- The voter is a student at and educational institution located outside the county of their permanent residence; and are, therefore, unable to vote at their usual polling place on Election Day.
- The voter is a member of, or the spouse of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or are otherwise entitled to vote by absentee pursuant the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42, U.S.C. 1973ff.
- The voter has been appointed as an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.
- The voter is a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship or consanguinity and the family member is confined to his or her home.
- The voter is currently incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
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Am I eligible to vote absentee?
If you are registered to vote in Lawrence County and meet one of the above requirements, then you are eligible. If you are not registered to vote in Lawrence County, you will need to contact the Board of Registrars at (256) 974-2460 to register. By law the cut-off date to register to be eligible to vote in an upcoming election is 10 days before the election. You can download a voter registration form here. It should be mailed to the Board of Registrars at 14451 Market St., Suite 340, Moulton, Alabama 35650.
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How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
You may call Sandra Ligon, Absentee Election Manager at (256) 974-2438 or go to the Circuit Clerk's Office at the County Courthouse. You may also download the form available in the alabamavotes.gov. Absentee Voting Files PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILL OUT AND MAIL IN YOUR APPLICATION.
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Where do I mail the application?
The application must be mailed to: Sandra Ligon, Absentee Election Manager, 14451 Market St. Suite 300, Moulton, Alabama 35650. By law (AG Opinion 82-551), each application must be mailed in a separate envelope. Multiple applications (even for husband and wife) which are mailed in the same envelope will be returned to the voter. Applications cannot be faxed to the Absentee Election Manager. For voter applications and absentee applications visit: AlabamaVotes.gov.
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What is the deadline for voting absentee?
Hand delivered applications must be received at least five (5) days before the election. Since elections are typically held on a Tuesday, this would be on the preceding Thursday. You may vote in person at the office of the Absentee Election Manager through Thursday.
Mailed applications must be received at least seven (7) days prior to the election.
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What if my application is postmarked Thursday?
Your application must physically be in the Absentee Election Manager's office on Thursday. That is the cut-off date for mailing a ballot.
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Can I vote absentee in person?
Yes, you can come by the Absentee Election Manager's office Monday through Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM (except on holidays) and make application and vote while you are in the office. The cut-off date is Thursday (five days before an election). The address is 14451 Market St. Suite 300, Moulton, Alabama 35650 at the Lawrence County Courthouse.
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Do I need an ID to vote absentee?
Yes, you will need to present one of the following forms of ID before you can vote:
- Current, Valid Photo Identification:
- Employee identification for employee with photo of employee produced by the employer.
- Photo identification card issued by Alabama college or university.
- Photo identification issued from Alabama technical or professional school (current and valid).
OR
- ATTENTION: Pursuant to Code of Alabama, Section 17-9-30(a), one of the following forms of identification is required in order for you to vote.
- a valid Alabama driver's license which was properly issued by the appropriate state or county department or agency;
- a valid Alabama non-driver identification card which was properly issued by the appropriate state or county department or agency;
- a valid Alabama photo voter identification card;
- a valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Alabama, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the elector;
- a valid U.S. passport
- a valid employee identification card containing the photograph of the elector and issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, the State of Alabama, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
- a valid student or employee identification card issued by a public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the State of Alabama, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the elector;
- a valid U.S. military identification card, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the elector; or
- a valid tribal identification card containing a photograph of the elector.
A copy of any of the above forms of identification must be submitted with the ballot when voting by mail, 17-9-30(c), except that voters entitled to vote by absentee ballot pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff; the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, or any other federal law are not required to produce identification prior to voting. 17-9-30(d). See also, 17-17-28 (explaining the penalties for false identification).
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If I am voting absentee by mail, when do I send in the copy of my ID?
After you make application, you will receive your ballot and supplies. You will need to send a copy of your ID at that time. Please read your instructions carefully as to how it is to be returned. Do not seal up your ID in either one of the white envelopes. Your ID should be placed inside the brown return envelope.
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How do I find out where my voting precinct is?
You can call the Lawrence County Board of Registrars at (256) 974-2460 for information on your voting precinct. A general precinct map is also available on the website. This map is without landmarks and labeled roads. If you are unsure which precinct you are in, call the Lawrence County Board of Registrars.
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Does my absentee ballot have to be witnessed or notarized?
Yes, by law, your ballot must either be notarized OR witnessed by two people 18 years of age or older. These may be other family members. If your ballot has not been notarized or witnessed by 2 people, it will not be counted.
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I have a relative serving in the military, how can they vote absentee?
They need to contact the military voting assistance officer and request Standard Form 76-A which is a Federal Post Card Absentee Ballot Request. It is postage pre-paid. These applications are good for 2 federal election cycles, so once this application is received, the applicant will automatically be mailed a ballot for upcoming elections they are eligible to vote in. For more information, go to fvap.gov. You can also download an Absentee Ballot Application from this website. The Absentee Election Manager should be notified if there is a change of address of military voter between elections. Since Form 76-A is good for 4 years, this is important in getting their ballot to the correct address. Unless we are otherwise notified, ballots will be mailed to the same address for 4 years. At this time, Alabama law, AG Opinion 04-209, does not allow voting by either fax or e-mail by military personnel.
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I have power-of-attorney for a relative, can I vote for him/her?
No, the law does not allow a person to vote for someone else (AG Opinion 84-359).
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I have moved since the last election, how will this affect my ability to vote absentee?
You need to get in touch with the Board of Registrars at (256) 974-2460 and update your address. If I receive your application and the residence address is different than what is on file with the Board of Registrars, you will have to vote a Provisional Ballot.
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Do I have to file a new application for every election?
The law states that any elections which are 45 days apart must have a new application (except military absentee applications).
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What if I find out after the Thursday afternoon deadline that I have to go out of the county for employment reasons?
The law provides for a voter to vote business emergency if you find out after the Thursday deadline that you have to go out of the county or state for business reasons. You can go to the Absentee Election Manager's Office and vote in person on Thursday and Monday before the Tuesday election (unless either of these two days is a federal/state holiday).
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Must I declare a particular party to vote?
To vote in the Primary Election, you must designate the party which you wish to receive a ballot for. You cannot vote a Republican and a Democrat ballot. In the General Election in November, you can vote for candidates from any of the parties on the ballot.
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Who do I contact to vote absentee in city elections?
You need to call your city clerk at the city hall in the municipality you live in.
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