Absentee ballots now available for February primary

By Staff
Jason Cannon
Franklin County Times
Ballots are now available for local voters who plant to cast absentee ballots in the upcoming February primary.
Any registered and qualified voter may vote on an absentee ballot as long as they submit an application no less than five days before the election and will not be physically able to be at the polling place on Election Day, due to an ailment, physical limitation or scheduling conflict.
Franklin County Circuit Clerk Anita Scott said the number of absentee applications have been fairly stead this month, however, only two voters have returned their ballots
"What I'm afraid of is a lot of voters haven't realized the primary has been moved from June to February this year," she said.
Last year, the state legislature voted to move the primary from June to February, hoping the state's votes would carry more weight on the national scale. In years past, primary candidates had been long decided before Alabama's elections, often to the point that the state's votes had no impact on Democratic and Republican nominations.
Absentee ballots must be turned back into the clerk's office no later than Feb. 4. Those who mail their ballots in must have them postmarked by Feb. 4, also.
The Franklin County Circuit Clerk's office is located in the county courthouse and ballots may be picked up between 8 and 5 p.m.
For more information on absentee voting, call Scott at 332-8861.