Early Voting in Madison County  

By Sheila McNeil, Chair of the Madison County Democratic Executive Committee

Huntsville, AL) Alabama has a long and tumultuous voting rights history rooted in the white supremacy of the state’s century-old Constitution, and it continues to have policy disputes over voting within the halls of power in Montgomery. While the racist poll taxes and literacy tests that haunt the history books have been removed, critics of how Alabama administers its elections in the 21st Century feel the State still suppresses its voters. Even after record 2020 turnouts for in-person absentee voting during COVID before the Nov. 3 election, restrictions still make it harder to vote.  Also in 2020, Alabama set a record of having 318,000 residents cast absentee ballots – many who filled them out in person at courthouses – before November election day, representing roughly 14 percent of the nearly 2.3 million votes cast. This is indicative of the desire for early voting and proves that changes must be made to allow easier ballot access before Election Day. One way to allow easier access to the ballot is the implementation of early voting.

Alabama is one of three states in the U.S. that does not offer early in-person voting. While Alabama does not have early voting, it does allow early absentee voting, but you must have an excuse, a restriction that adds to the element of suppression. The excuses include being out of the county during the times the polls are open, being physically ill or infirmed, having a work conflict, being a student outside of your home county, being a caregiver for a family member, or being incarcerated.  The declaration of these excuses also must be notarized or signed by two witnesses, making them hurdles that are unnecessary and should be dismantled. 

Currently, the two options for early absentee voting are in-person, where voters can cast their ballot in person at their county’s absentee election manager’s office, or mail-in absentee voting, where registered voters can cast their absentee ballot by mail. But again, you must have an excuse, making it difficult for some voters.

Like most other states, early voting with no restrictions is a tool to provide easier access to free and fair elections. Not providing this opportunity is an apparent attempt to silence our voices. Unfortunately, we live in a state that wants to silence the truth by silencing our voices, especially when the truth is something they don’t like. Nevertheless, get out and early absentee vote if you can. You have until October 31, 2024.

You can find the contact information of your county’s Absentee Election Manager here: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/city-county-lookup/alabama-absentee-election-manager-directory.