You will be

absent from your precinct from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day.

You are 75

years of age or older.

You have a

physical disability which prevents you from voting in person or you are

a constant caregiver of a person with a disability.

You are an

election official.

You are observing

a religious holiday which prevents you from voting in person.

You are required

to remain on duty in your precinct for the protection of life, health,

or safety of the public.

Electors who

acquire and vote absentee ballots without meeting these requirements are

in violation of state law.

Secretary Cox

noted that there is also frequently confusion about the difference between

an absentee ballot application and the absentee ballot itself. Candidates,

campaigns, political activists, community groups and others may legally

distribute absentee ballot applications, provided that these forms list

the legally acceptable reasons for voting absentee.

Applications

must only be completed and returned, however, by the voter or by a close

family member as defined by law. It is not legally permissible for campaign

workers or others not permitted by law to collect and mail or deliver

completed applications.

Once received

then signed, sealed and mailed or personally delivered to the county board

of registrars or absentee ballot clerk. For physically disabled voters,

mailing or delivery may be performed by a close relative or by another

person residing in the household. It is a felony violation of state law

to possess, handle or deliver a voted absentee ballot of another if you

do not meet these strict legal requirements.

Those who seek

to commit election fraud by purchasing votes often target absentee balloting

as an effective means to commit this crime.

Secretary Cox

noted that it is a felony to buy OR sell a vote. Felony violations of

election law may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000 and imprisonment

of one to ten years.

As with every

election, Secretary of State investigators are monitoring election activities

in counties throughout the state. Anyone who believes they have witnessed

a violation of election law should contact the State Elections Division

at 404-656-2871.