June 14 is the last day circuit clerk can receive applications by mail for June 21 runoffs
Absentee voting in Escambia County (Ala.) for the June 21 runoffs in Democratic and Republican races is now on, but Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain said there are some dates people wanting to vote absentee need to know.
June 14 is the last day the circuit clerk’s office can receive an absentee ballot application by mail. June 16 is the last day people can receive one by hand at the office. He said people can receive applications through the secretary of state’s website or visit his office at the courthouse in Brewton or the satellite courthouse in Atmore.
Once applications are received and ballots are mailed, the last day for those ballots to be returned to the circuit clerk’s office by mail or in person, is 12 noon on June 21. Ballots received the following day, whether post marked early or not, will not be counted.
In the May 24 primary elections, Fountain said 145 ballots were mailed out and 133 were returned. He did note that three ballots arrived to his office after the election and were not counted.
Fountain also said on the primary absentee ballot application there was a box to check if that voter wanted to vote absentee in the runoff. He said 12 of the 145 sent out checked that box.
Those who checked the box to receive an absentee ballot for the runoff will automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail. If that box was not checked, the voter will have to reapply for an absentee ballot.
He did note applications for the primaries and primary runoffs do not carry over to the November General Election.
“If people will call and leave me a name and address I will mail them an application,” Fountain said. “But they need to leave a name and address and telephone number in case I have questions.”
To request an absentee application by telephone, call 251-867-0225, extension 225. Fountain said if someone is leaving a message they need to leave their name, address, which party they want to vote in and a telephone number in case he has any questions.
Fountain also noted state law says he can only give applications or receive ballots from the voter themselves if they are delivered by hand.
He also noted that people who voted in the May 24 Democratic primary can only vote in the June 21 Democratic runoffs and vice versa for people who voted in the Republican Primary.
“If someone voted in one party’s primary in May they can only vote in that party’s runoff on June 21,” Fountain said.
He also said if someone did not vote in the May 24 primary they can still vote in the runoff, but again have to designate which party they will be voting in.
“I urge people wanting to cast an absentee ballot to apply early and don’t wait until the last minute,” he said.
