Deadline for requesting an absentee ballot application is July 29. The request must be made in writing to the Bradley County Election Commission, 155 Broad St. N.W., Cleveland, TN 37311. Questions about the process can be directed to the Election Commission Office at 728-7115. The Election Commission is located downtown in the Courthouse Annex.
Detailed information can also be found on the Election Commission’s website at www.bradleyelections.com.
Absentee voting by mail can be confusing to voters because it doesn’t just apply to those who will be out of town on election day or to members of the military who are stationed overseas or away from their home town.
It applies to many. The following list, which can also be found on the website or by contacting the Election Commission Office, includes all who are eligible to vote absentee by mail:
n The voter will be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on election day.
n The voter or the voter’s spouse is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county of registration.
n The voter’s licensed physician has filed a statement with the county Election Commission stating that, in the physician’s judgment, the voter is medically unable to vote in person. The statement must be filed not less than five days before the election and signed under the penalty of perjury. The statement must be notarized.
n The voter resides in a licensed facility providing relatively permanent domiciliary care, other than a penal institution, outside the voter’s county of residence.
n The voter will be unable to vote in person due to service as a juror for a federal or state court.
n The voter is 65 years of age or older.
n The voter has a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
n The voter is hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and because of such condition cannot vote in person.
n The voter is a caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill or disabled.
n The voter is a candidate for office in the election.
n The voter serves as an election-day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
n The voter’s observance of a religious holiday prevents him or her from voting in person during the early voting period and on election day.
n The voter possesses a valid commercial driver license (CDL) and certifies that he/she will be working outside the state or county of registration during the early voting period and all day on election day. The request should contain the CDL number.
n The voter is a member of the military or is an overseas citizen.
The voter’s written request for an application to vote absentee by mail actually serves as the application itself, Green explained.
Election Day, which includes county general and state primary races, is Thursday, Aug. 5. Deadline to register to vote in the election either in early voting or on the day of the election is Tuesday, July 6. Early voting will be held July 16-31.
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(Editor’s Note: The next two articles on absentee voting by mail will explore details on how to request an absentee ballot and additional information about military and overseas voting).
