Staff report

It&8217;s time to begin filing applications for absentee ballots for the June 3 primary.

The deadline to apply is by 4:30 p.m. May 29. The deadline to apply for medical and business emergencies is no later than the close of business June 2.

Dallas County Circuit Clerk Cheryl Strong said any qualified elector of Alabama may vote an absentee ballot, provided they meet the requirements contained in the application.

The application is available in the circuit clerk&8217;s office at the Dallas County Courthouse, 105 Lauderdale St., Room 204 in Selma. Applications also may be downloaded at www.sos.state.al.us.

After an applicant has completed and signed the application, the voter may hand the application to the circuit clerk or forward it by mail.

Nobody is allowed to bring in an application for another person, not even a family member, said Strong. The only exception is a designee for a medical emergency.

The law says only one application per envelope may be accepted by the circuit clerk by 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

application regularly receives mail.

Anyone who has moved since they registered to vote should contact the Dallas County Board of Registrars to update their address no later than May 23 and prior to applying for an absentee ballot.

The circuit clerk may hand the ballot to the voter or forward it by mail to the residence address or, if a request is received in writing, to the address where the voter regularly receives mail.

Instructions will accompany each ballot and must be followed carefully to ensure the ballot is counted, Strong said.

A copy of identification must accompany the ballot.

Ballots must be returned to the circuit clerk no later than 4:30 p.m. June 2 or , if mailed, it must be postmarked no later than a day prior to the election and received in the mail no later than noon June 3.

Business emergency ballots must be voted in the office in person and handed to the circuit clerk no later than the close of business June 2.

Medical emergency ballots must be returned no later than noon on election day.

Office hours at the circuit clerks office are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The address is Dallas County Absentee Election Manager, P.O. Box 327, Selma, AL 36702.

If any further assistance is needed, call Strong at 874-2525 or go online to www.sos.state.al.us