Municipal Absentee Voting

City of Gulf Shores Absentee Voting Information

Eligibility Requirements

You may vote by absentee ballot if:

  • You are a registered Alabama voter who is temporarily living outside of the country (such as a member of the Armed Forces, employed outside of USA, a college student, or a spouse or child of such person)
  • You are an appointed election officer or poll watcher at a polling location other than your regular polling location
  • You are concerned about the possible exposure to Coronavirus.
  • You are ill or have a physical disability that prevents a trip to the polling location
  • You will be absent from the county on Election Day
  • You work a required shift – 10 hours or more – that coincides with polling hours


How to Vote via Absentee Ballot

Step 1: Apply for Your Absentee Ballot

Download and complete the Alabama Absentee Ballot Application form. Absentee ballot applications must be received in the office of the City Clerk no later than the 5th day prior to the election. 

Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to:

Wanda Parris, City Clerk
PO Box 299
203 Clubhouse Drive, Suite B
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36547

  • An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the City Clerk no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election.
  •  Absentee ballots for elections more than 42 days apart must be requested on separate applications. This restriction does not apply if you are a member of the armed forces or you are a United States citizen residing overseas, or you are a spouse or dependent of such person.
  • The City Clerk may not accept multiple applications, which are mailed in one envelope. AGO 1982-551 (to Hon. Don Siegelman, September 10, 1982).

Step 2: Receive Absentee Ballot

If the absentee ballot application is approved, the City Clerk will forward the absentee ballot by U.S. Mail, or personally hand the absentee ballot to the voter (or to a designee in the case of medical emergency absentee voting).
 

Step 3: Vote by Absentee Ballot

An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election and received by the City Clerk no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election.

The absentee ballot comes with three envelopes - one plain (the secrecy envelope), one with an affidavit, or oath, printed on the outside, and one plain envelope, pre-addressed (the outer envelope). Once the voter casts the ballot, the procedure is as follows:

  1. Seal the ballot in the plain envelope
  2. Place the plain envelope inside the accompanying affidavit envelope
  3. Seal the affidavit envelope and complete the affidavit that is on the outside of the envelope
  4. Sign the affidavit and have the signature witnessed by either a notary public or two witnesses 18 years of age or older
  5. Place the affidavit envelope and a copy of your identification (not the original) inside the outer envelope

Absentee ballots for elections more than 42 days apart must be requested on separate applications. This restriction does not apply if you are a member of the armed forces or you are a United States citizen residing overseas, or you are a spouse or dependent of such person.

The absentee election manager may not accept multiple applications, which are mailed in one envelope. AGO 1982-551 (to Hon. Don Siegelman, September 10, 1982).

Hand deliver or mail your ballot back to:
Wanda Parris, City Clerk
PO Box 299
203 Clubhouse Drive, Suite B
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36547


Important 2022 Absentee Voting Information

Important absentee voting deadlines: 

  • November 1, 2022: The last day that absentee ballot applications can be returned by mail.
  • November 3, 2022: The last day that absentee ballot applications can be returned by hand.
  • November 7, 2022: The last day to return absentee ballots by hand to the Absentee Election Manager.
  • November 8, 2022: Absentee ballots must be returned by mail to the absentee election manager no later than noon.

Absentee ballot applications can be downloaded online or requested by visiting or calling the local Absentee Election Manager's office. Voters may also contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at 334-242-7210 tp request an absentee ballot application. 

Voters who are eligible to vote pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) will have until November 8, 2022 to postmark an absentee ballot.