Tag: absentee voting
Uncertainty Looms Over Validity of Some Jefferson County Absentee Ballots
There has been confusion and concern among some voters in Jefferson County over whether their absentee ballots would be counted in the November election.
Earlier this month, an unknown number of county residents cast their absentee ballots using a waiver that Jefferson County sent them saying they did not have to have witnesses or a notary sign their absentee ballots. The waivers were sent out after U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon ruled that those requirements could be waived this year for voters who were 65 and older with an underlying medical condition, an action taken to avoid putting them at greater risk during the pandemic.
But two weeks later, on Oct. 13, a higher court overruled Kallon and reinstated the witness requirement.
County officials said in a statement Monday that ballots postmarked on or before Oct. 13 will be counted. But residents who returned ballots with the waiver postmarked after that date were instructed to call the county’s absentee election manager, who is working on a plan to correct deficiencies in the votes. Read more.
Neither Gloom nor Rain Discourages These Voters From Casting Ballots
Rain Saturday did not deter hundreds of voters who lined up to vote their absentee ballot in person at the downtown Jefferson County courthouse. It was the last Saturday the two courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer were to be open for absentee voters before Nov. 3’s election. Read more.
Voting by Absentee Ballot
Alabama voters have until Oct. 29 to apply to vote by absentee ballot. The state already is seeing record-breaking numbers of voters applying to vote without having to go to the polls on Nov. 3. Read more.
Crowds Turn Out for Saturday Absentee Voting in Jefferson County
Hundreds of people lined up in Linn Park on Saturday to cast their absentee ballots in person.
The Jefferson County Commission decided to open the courthouse for in-person absentee voting this Saturday and next because people have been waiting in line for up to three hours to vote during the week.
The Alabama Poor People’s Campaign was among several groups manning tables in the park with absentee ballot applications for voters to fill out before they got in the official line to vote. Volunteers also could make a photo ID in case a voter did not have one, which is required before they cast their ballots.
“At least one step will be done before getting inside the courthouse,” said the Rev. Carolyn Foster, one of the chairs of the state Poor People’s Campaign. Read more.
Jefferson County Commission Opens Courthouses for Saturday Absentee Voting
The courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer will be open for in-person absentee voting the next two Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24.
The move comes in response to long lines and wait times to cast absentee ballots in person in recent weeks. Jefferson County Probate Judge James Naftel said that, as of Wednesday, the county was processing more than 25,000 absentee ballots and ballot applications. That’s compared to about 10,500 absentee ballots cast in the 2016 general election. Read more.
Jefferson County Election Officials Consider Offering Absentee Voting on a Weekend
WBHM
Jefferson County may allow absentee voting on a Saturday later this month, but county Probate Judge James Naftel said any such move would first need to be authorized by county or state officials. Read more.
Absentee Ballot Season Gets Underway
Absentee ballots started showing up in county offices and going out in the mail Wednesday, which was the deadline for absentee election managers to be provided with absentee ballots and supplies.
Usually, Alabama voters must fit into narrowly defined categories to be able to vote by absentee. But for the general election, Secretary of State John Merrill has approved absentee voting for any voter who has concerns about the coronavirus. Read more about voting in the general election and voting by absentee.
