Madison County absentee ballots open for requests

The Madison County Courthouse has provided an absentee ballot for mail-in voters in the county who will be unable to make it to the Municipal General Election in April.

Madison County Clerk Don Firebaugh said registered voters who are not able to make it in April may request an envelope to be mailed to them or to take home to fill out and mail back to the courthouse by April 7. He said they can take mail-in ballots until 5 p.m. on election day.

The process works by calling Madison County throughout the weeks leading up to the election day on April 7. The clerk will send out a request letter, which is then returned. If the requestee qualifies, they will be mailed a brown envelope with the ballot measures. There is also a “permanent list” of voters who will automatically receive a request letter.

Some of the reasons for absence listed are:

• Absence from the jurisdiction;

• Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day or care of someone who is;

• Religious belief or practice;

• Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than my own polling place; or as a health care worker, first responder, or member of law enforcement;

• Incarceration, though, with necessary voting qualifications;

• Certified under the confidentiality program.

Firebaugh said the official count doesn’t end until Friday, three days after the election, when they count overseas or military voters.

This year’s ballot will include elections of city aldermen and school board members, and issues such as the property tax relief from Senate Bill 3 and a senior citizen tax levy to pay for services such as the Senior Center. Members of the Clearwater school district may vote on a $3.25 million bond. The ballot will also include a vote for board members on the Arcadia Valley school districts and for board members for the city of Cobalt Village.

In cases where candidates are uncontested and match the number of available seats, they will not be on the ballot.

For more information, call the Madison County Courthouse may at (573) 783-2176