FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (https://www.cityofmobile.org/government/voting-and-elections/)
Lisa C. Lambert, Chief Election Officer, City Clerk & (251-208-7411)
Q When is the City election? A The municipal election is August 24, 2021; and a run off, if necessary, will be held on October 5, 2021. Q What exactly will we be voting on? A Election of Mayor and City Council Members. Q What determines whether someone will be in a run off? A Of the votes cast in each race, if one candidate receives 50% plus one vote, there is no run off. If no candidate receives at least 50% plus one vote, then a run off is held between the two candidates who received the most votes in that race. Q How long will the polls be open on August 24? A The hours of voting are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Q When will the new Mayor and City Council Members take office? They will take office on the first Monday in November which is November 1, 2021. Q How many polling places will be used on election day? A We will be using 35 voting places. Q Is campaigning allowed on election day? A Yes, as long as it is done at least 30 feet from the door of the polling place. Q Will my voting place be the same as in county, state, and federal elections? A It may not be. City ward lines don’t always coincide with regularly used county ward lines, so some voters will be voting at a different location for this election only. Q Can I write in a name for an office in the City election? A. No. Alabama law prohibits write-in voting in municipal elections. Q Will I have to declare myself to be a Democrat or Republican in order to vote? A No, you will not be asked your party preference. Every qualified elector of your polling place will have the same ballot on which to vote. Municipal elections are non-partisan, which means no political party designations are listed on the ballot. Q Under what circumstances can someone vote an absentee ballot? A Under the following circumstances, a qualified elector can vote an absentee ballot: 1) those who expect to be out of the city on election day; 2) those who have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls; 3) those who expect to work a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open; 4) those who are enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence; 5) those who are a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the Armed Forces of the United States; 6) those who are named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place; 7) those who are a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship and the family member is confined to his or her home; 8) those who are incarcerated in prison or jail and have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude; 9) those who require emergency treatment by a licensed physician within five days of an election may apply for an emergency absentee ballot and may vote by returning the absentee ballot no later than noon on the day the election is held. The attendant physician shall describe and certify the circumstances as constituting an emergency on a special Q What is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot? A Absentee applications returned by mail must be received no later than seven days prior to the election (August 17). Absentee applications returned by hand must be received no later than five days prior to the election (August 19). Q Can someone else pick up an absentee application for me or do I have to do it myself? A You can have someone else pick up your application; however,you must return the completed application yourself or place it in the mail. Applications can also be mailed out to those who request one by telephone. The Absentee Office cannot accept a ballot unless it is mailed to them or hand delivered to them in person by the voter.
