Absentee Voting underway for 2018 General Election

Absentee voting for the Nov. 6, 2018, General Election is underway at county elections offices throughout the state. As of Friday morning, approximately 45,000 voters had applied for absentee ballots statewide. At this point in the process in 2014, the last gubernatorial election, approximately 30,000 voters had applied for absentee ballots statewide. Voters who are age 65 and older, who will be on vacation, or who can’t go to the polls due to their job are all qualified to vote absentee. If you meet one of these or any of the other qualifying reasons, you can vote early by absentee ballot. The State Election Commission wants you to know how to vote absentee and the deadlines for doing so. To vote Absentee In-Person, visit your county elections office, complete an application, and cast your ballot. It is available until 5pm on Monday, Nov. 5. Voters qualified to vote by absentee ballot: Students attending school outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents. Members of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marine serving outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them. Persons serving with the American Red Cross or United Service Organizations (USO) serving with the Armed Forces outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents. Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on Election Day. Physically disabled persons. Government employees serving outside their county of residence on Election Day and their spouses and dependents residing with them. Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election. Persons who plan to be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election Day. Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day. Overseas citizens. Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons. Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on Election Day or within a four-day period before the election. Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day. Persons 65 years of age or older. Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial.