General Election absentees increase

If absentee voting is any indication, Escambia County (Ala.) should have a heavy voter turnout for Tuesday's General Election with Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain saying the number could top 500.

As of Tuesday morning, Fountain said he had sent out 401 applications and has seen a steady stream of absentee voters.

He said in the presidential election year the number of absentees can reach close to 1,000. When there's a governor's race, such as this year, the number is normally around 250 to 300.

“We should have a good turnout Nov. 6 compared to past elections,” Fountain said. “We gave out 62 applications alone on Monday.”

Fountain said the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Nov. 1 (today). They can either be picked up at the clerk's offices in Atmore and Brewton or by going on line to the Alabama Secretary of State's website.

He added that the ballots must be returned to his office at the courthouse in Brewton no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5. Ballots mailed back in must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5 to be counted. If ballots are brought in person back to the courthouse they must be delivered by the person voting.

Fountain said people can come to his office today, apply for a ballot, receive a ballot and vote immediately.

Due to county commission races, school board races and the Alabama House of Representatives, there are 17 different ballot styles for Escambia County.

The only local county-wide race on Tuesday's ballot will be the race between Heath Jackson and Mike Lambert. Susan Smith is challenging incumbent District 66 State Rep. Alan Baker. Only voters in District 66 will receive a ballot for that race. State Rep. Mike Jones of Andalusia, who represents the eastern end of Escambia County, is running unopposed.

Voters in Escambia County Commission District 3 will vote between Scottie Stewart and incumbent Commissioner Larry White.

The only other contested local race is for the District 7 seat on the Escambia County School Board between incumbent Coleman Wallace and Amanda Thompson.

Tuesday's ballot in Escambia County includes 34 races with 20 of those races having no opposition other than the possibility of a write-in vote. There are also four amendments to the Alabama Constitution on the ballot.

Polls across Escambia County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The governor's race sits atop the ballot with Walt Maddox challenging incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey.

See the sample ballot on Page 12A.