Absentee voting in Alabama. Not for the faint of heart.

[trof]

Just sent this letter to the editor of our local paper:

Why Is Absentee Voting So Difficult?

When I lived in another state, my job took me out of town frequently. As often as not, I voted by absentee ballot.
The process was pretty simple.
I'd go to our town hall and request an absentee ballot. The clerk asked for some identification. I showed my driver's license.
I was handed a ballot, marked my choices, and handed it back. It was kept in the locked Absentee Ballots box until election day.
The entire procedure took about five minutes at most.

Now that I'm back in Alabama, I find that the process is somewhat more complicated.
I must first get an Application For Absentee Ballot form from the Baldwin County Probate Judge's office.
If I have a computer, I can download and print the form from either the Baldwin County website or the Alabama Secretary of State's website.
If I don't have a computer I must mail a request for the form to the courthouse in Bay Minette, or pick one up there or at the Fairhope or Foley satellite courthouse.

So...if the car's in the shop, or if I don't have a car, I mail my request, wait for the form, fill that out and mail it in, wait for the ballot, then fill that out and mail it in.
Obviously, if I only find out a day or two before the election that I'll be out of town there's no time to use the mail.
I should have started in April.

From the Baldwin County website, here are all the hoops you must jump through in order to vote by absentee ballot:

"ABSENTEE BALLOTS
The Upcoming Primary Election will be June 6, 2006.
Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at Bay Minette, Fairhope, and Foley Courthouses. However, Absentee Ballots are not processed at the satellite courthouses.
All applications must be received by the absentee manager by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2006.

ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGER: JANE STILL
312 COURTHOUSE SQUARE, SUITE 27
BAY MINETTE, ALABAMA 36507
[phone]

PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

1. An application for a ballot must be submitted before a ballot is mailed or given to a voter.

The application may be submitted to the Absentee Manager one of two ways:
A. U.S. MAIL , 312 COURTHOUSE SQUARE, SUITE 27, BAY MINETTE, AL 36507
(only one application per envelope)
B. HAND DELIVERED to the Absentee Manager
NOTE: (1)FAXED APPLICATION FOR BALLOT CANNOT BE ACCEPTED
(2)NO ONE CAN DELIVER YOUR APPLICATION FOR YOU

If you have any questions concerning an application, you may call the Absentee Election Manager.

2. When you receive the Ballot, mark it and seal in the provided envelope. Fill out the Affidavit on the back of the envelope.

3. Do not enclose ID in ballot envelope or secrecy envelope. Place ID loose in large brown envelope.

Make sure your signature is witnessed by one of the following methods:
A. Notary Public
B. TWO witnesses 18 years of age or older

IF A BALLOT IS NOT SIGNED BY THE VOTER AND WITNESSED (AS STATED ABOVE) YOUR VOTE WILL NOT BE COUNTED!! (THIS IS THE LAW)

3. The Absentee Ballot may be returned by either:
A. U.S. Mail (Must be postmarked no later than June 5, 2006)
B. Hand Delivered (Must be delivered no later than 4:30 p.m., June 5, 2006 by the citizen casting the absentee vote).

NO ONE CAN DELIVER A BALLOT FOR ANOTHER PERSON
(EXCEPT FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY) SEE APPLICATION

THESE PROCEDURES ARE LAW!!! PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS"

So...if I'm leaving town on fairly short notice, my only option is to take at least three hours out of my day, drive the 72 mile round trip from Foley to Bay Minette (at $2.89 a gallon), request the form, fill it out and hand it in, get the ballot, fill it out, get two people (over the age of 18) to witness my signature on it (so much for the 'secret ballot'), and turn that in.

If you live in Ft. Morgan, make that a 130 mile round trip at even more time and expense.

One other thing. If you do have sufficient notice that you and your wife will be out of town on election day so that you can go through this whole mail exchange process, make SURE that you send the ballot requests in SEPARATE envelopes. Only ONE application per envelope! And you thought you might at least save 39 cents. Silly person!

No wonder so many voters just say "The heck with it. Never mind."

I believe that government should encourage people to vote. That's what they're always saying, anyway. Surely we can simplify this process?

[trof]

1. Slow night in GDP, hunh?

Just checkin'.
;-)