GUIDELINES FOR ABSENTEE VOTING

 Applications for absentee ballots must be filed in the office of the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk 
 not less than five (5) days prior to the Election. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The deadline 
 to apply for Medical and Business emergencies is no later than the close of business on Friday, May 22, 2009.

 Any qualified elector of this State may vote an Absentee ballot, provided they meet the requirements 
 ( 17-10-1 et seq, Code of Alabama), as contained in the application.

   * Out of the county or the state on election day. 
   
   * Physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day.
   
   * Work a required workplace shift which has at least ten (10)
      hours that coincide with the polling hours at regular polling place.
   
   * A student at an educational institution located outside the county
     of permanent residence and therefore unable to vote at usual 
     polling place on election day.
   
   * Member of, or a spouse of a member of, the armed forces of the 
      United States or otherwise entitled to vote by absentee pursuant to 
      the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.

   * An election officer at a polling place which is not regular polling place.

   Unless you are a member of the armed forces or you are a United States citizen residing overseas, or a spouse 
   or dependent of such person, please note that for elections to be held more than thirty (30) days apart, you 
   must submit a separate application for absentee voting for each election. For example, you may apply for 
   an absentee ballot for the primary election and primary runoff election on one application. However,
   to vote by absentee in the primary and the general election requires two applications.

   After completing and signing the application, the voter may hand the application to the Absentee Election
   Manager/Circuit Clerk or forward it by U.S. Mail. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO BRING IN AN 
   APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER PERSON (not even a family member), the only exception being a 
   Designee for a Medical Emergency.  By law, the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk can only accept 
   one application per envelope received through the U.S. Mail. The application must provide the Alabama
   residence address where the voter is registered to vote, even if the ballot is to be mailed to another address
   where the applicant/voter regularly receives mail. 

 Any person desiring to vote Absentee in person, may come to the Office of the Absentee Election 
  Madison County Courthouse
2nd Floor
100 North Side Square
Huntsville, AL 35801

           Office hours are 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, except for  legal holidays.
(256) 532-3380 

 The Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk may hand the ballot to the voter, or forward it by U.S. Mail 
 to the voter's residence address. Upon written request, the ballot may be mailed to an address where the 
 applicant/voter regularly receives mail. NO ONE CAN RECEIVE OR RETURN A BALLOT FOR ANY 
 OTHER PERSON (not even a family member), with the exception of the Designee for a Medical Emergency.    
 INSTRUCTIONS WILL ACCOMPANY EACH BALLOT AND MUST BE FOLLOWED CAREFULLY
TO INSURE THAT YOUR BALLOT IS COUNTED.

 A copy of identification (Code of Alabama, Sections 17-11A-1) MUST accompany the ballot. Your ballot may 
 not be counted if identification is not returned as instructed.  Valid identification may include a driver's license or 
 other governmentally produced photo identification, photo identification cards produced by employers for employees   
 or by a public or private college, university or technical school. Other valid documents which may satisfy the 
 identification requirement consist of a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or 
 other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Other valid documents include, but are 
 not limited to, a valid Social Security card, a certified copy of birth certificate, a valid U.S. military identification card; 
 valid passport, valid Alabama hunting or fishing license,  a valid Medicaid card or Medicare card, or an Electronic 
 Benefits Transfer Card. Voters entitled to vote by absentee ballot pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Voting Act,Section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, or any other federal
 law, shall not be required to produce identification along with their ballot.

Ballots must be returned by the voter in person to the Absentee Election Manager/Circuit Clerk's office no later 
than 5:00pm on May 22, 2009. If mailed, the ballot must be postmarked no later than one day prior to
the election and received by the Absentee Election Manager in the mail no later than noon on May 26, 2009. 
Business emergency ballots must be voted in person and handed to the Absentee Election Manager. The law does not
provide for mailing business emergency ballots because the short period of time prior to election makes this almost 
impossible. Medical emergency ballots must be returned no later than noon on Election Day.

The law provides for a Provisional Ballot where 1) identification is not properly provided; or 2) the voter is not 
identified as appearing in the precinct in which the voter seeks a ballot;  or 3) an absentee precinct inspector or 
clerk has knowledge that the individual is not entitled to vote at the precinct applicable to the voter's ballot and
challenges the voter's right to vote a particular ballot. The law provides ways for voters to correct deficiencies so
that provisional ballots can be counted. (Code of Alabama, Section 17-10A-2)

If you have moved since you registered to vote, please contact the Madison County Board of Registrars to update
your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot.    They may be reached by telephone at 256.532.3510, by 
mail at Voter Registration, 100 North Side Square, Huntsville, AL 35801, or in person at the Courthouse, 5th Floor, 
100 North Side Square,  Huntsville, AL 35801.