Any qualified elector may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person at the DeKalb County Courthouse if they are out of the county or state on election day; or, has any physical illnesses or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls, whether he or she is within or without the county on the day of election, or who works a shift which has at least ten (10) hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place; or who is enrolled as a student at an educational institute located outside the county of his or her personal residence; or who is a member of or spouse or dependent of a member of the U.S. Armed forces, or is similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the federal uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act, 42 U.S.C.1973ff; or who has been appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his, or her, regular polling place.

In order to vote in the General Election, you must apply 5 days prior to the election date.

Applications are available in the Absentee Election Office in the DeKalb Courthouse, as well as a PDF download, but all completed applications must be returned in person or mailed to the Absentee Election Manager at the following address:

ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGER
Todd Greeson
P.O. Box 681149
Fort Payne, Alabama 35968
todd.greeson@alacourt.gov
(256) 845-8525

They can also be downloaded from this website, in PDF format, and from the secretary of state’s web page: http://www.sos.state.al.us/.

Absentee Ballot Application
Emergency Absentee Ballot Application

Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Closed all state/federal holidays.

Medical emergency absentee voting: any registered elector who requires emergency treatment of a licensed physician within five days of an election may apply for an emergency absentee ballot for the election and when issued the ballot may vote and have his or her designee return the absentee ballot to the Absentee Election Manager, no later than noon, on the day the election is held.  If the ballot is returned by U.S. Mail it must be postmarked no later than one day prior to the election, and be received no later than noon on Election Day.  The attendant physician shall describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency on a special form designed by the secretary of state and provided by his or office to the local absentee managers.  The special form shall be attached to the application.

Business emergency absentee voting: any registered elector whose name appears on the poll list of qualified voters may vote by an emergency absentee ballot if he or she is required by his or her employer under unforeseen circumstances to be out of the county on an emergency business trip on Election Day.  Under such circumstances, the applicant shall apply for an emergency absentee ballot at the office of the Absentee Election Manager.  The applicant shall complete and file an application form designed by the secretary of state for emergency absentee voters.  The form shall contain an affidavit which the applicant shall sign and swear acknowledging that he or she was not aware of the out of county business requirement prior to five days before the election.  An applicant who meets the requirements of this subsection may vote by an emergency absentee ballot.  After voting the ballot, the voter shall hand the ballot to the absentee election manager.

Completed absentee applications must be returned by the voter in person to the Absentee Election Manager or be received by U.S. Mail.

Multiple applications may not be mailed in the same envelope.

Each application must provide the Alabama residences where the voter is registered to vote, even if the ballot is to be mailed to another address where the applicant/voter regularly receives mail.

If you have moved and have not updated your polling place, you should contact the DeKalb County board of registrars to update your address prior to applying for an absentee ballot.  The address and phone number is:

Board of Registrars
105 Grand Avenue SW
Fort Payne, Alabama 35968
Phone: 256-845-8598

Voter ID instructions will accompany each mailed absentee ballot and must be carefully followed to ensure that your ballot will be counted.

Military/Overseas citizens are not required to submit voter ID and may apply on one application for all elections to be held during the calendar year.  The applicant must specify his or her political party preference to be issued a primary ballot.  The application will be valid for the next two general election cycles.

Voted absentee ballots must be handed from the voter in person to the absentee election manager, except medical emergency ballots which may be returned by the named designee, or be received by U.S. Mail.