Absentee voting is now ongoing for the November general election.

Escambia County Circuit Clerk John Robert Fountain said any qualified elector may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person at the absentee election manager’s office, if he or she makes an application in writing not less than five days prior to the election and meets one of the following requirements:

• the person will be out of the county or the state on Election Day;

• the person has any physical illness or infirmity which prevents their attendance at the polls;

• because of work obligations;

• the person is a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the Armed Forces of the United States or is otherwise similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff; or,

• the person has been appointed as an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.

Fountain said 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 may vote by returning the absentee ballot no later than noon on the day the election is held. The attendant physician shall describe and certify the circumstance as constituting an emergency.

Applications for absentee voting are available at the clerk’s office or the Secretary of State’s web page at www.alabamavotes.gov.

Those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including spouse, should contact their commanding officer for an application.

A completed application must be returned by the voter in person or sent by U.S. Mail.

“No one, not even a family member, can return another person’s application,” Fountain reminded voters. “Multiple applications cannot be mailed in the same envelope.”

Voter identification instructions will accompany each absentee ballot and must be carefully followed to ensure that the ballot meets the requirement of the law.

Thursday, Nov. 3, is the last day voters may apply for a regular absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election.

Monday, Nov. 7, is the last day before the election a voter can return in person his or her regular absentee ballot. This is the last day to vote a business emergency ballot. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 7 and received in the clerk’s office by noon on Election Day.