Absentee ballot mail out under way

While it is still September, voting in the 2008 election has already begun for some in Alleghany County. The official Election Day in this presidential election year is Nov. 4.

The Alleghany Board of Elections started mailing out ballots on Tuesday and had already sent out about 65 by that afternoon, said Director Kate Cosner.

Absentee ballots by mail may be voted ‘no-excuse' meaning that any registered voter may use that option for any reason. Absentee ballot requests were accepted beginning on Monday, Cosner noted, adding that those requests must be made in writing. "If they wish to call the office, we have a request form that we can mail out to them so all they have to do is fill it out," Cosner said.

Those wishing to fill out their own forms need to send a document to the office requesting a ballot and include their residential address and the address to which they wish the ballot to be mailed.

In addition, close relatives may request absentee ballots for a family members. Those who may make such a request include spouses, parents, children, siblings, mother- or father-in-law, grandparents, powers of attorney and legal guardians. Oct. 28 is the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail. Nov. 3 is the deadline for all ballots to be received by the Alleghany Board of Elections.

Deadlines and Changes

A few changes are planned for this year, including additional Saturday hours for the Alleghany Board of Elections. "Usually we're open only the one Saturday, which is the last day of One Stop voting," said Cosner.

 

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