Time running out for mail-in ballots

People who meet certain qualifications may choose to cast ballots by mail in the upcoming March 4 primary, according to Madison County elections Administrator Earl Parker.

In order to request and receive a ballot by mail, voters must meet the following criteria:

€ Be 65 years of age or older

€ Be disabled

€ Expect to be absent from the county on March 4, 2008. The ballot must be mailed to an out-of-county address.

Military overseas registered voters may request a ballot for the March primary by contacting their unit or the county elections administrator's office in care of Earl Parker, Elections Administrator, Madison County Courthouse, 101 W. Main St., Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Such persons must have a permanent Texas residence address in order to request a Texas ballot.

If a military-oversees voter has requested a ballot in either of the last two general election cycles, their request will still be on file.

“That does not automatically mean you will receive a ballot since your address may have changed,” noted Parker. “If you know of military-overseas voters who have changed addresses, please contact this office with their name, old and new addresses and their military-overseas status.

Persons must still be registered to vote by Feb. 4. They have until Feb. 26 to file a request to vote by mail. If a person receives a ballot to vote by mail and does not mail in a ballot, they may still vote, but should bring the mail ballot with them. “If you do not bring the ballot, you will have to go through the process of canceling the ballot or vote a provisional ballot, which may not count,” Parker added.

Those who do vote by mail must mail the voted ballot back in time for it to be received in the election administrator's office by March 4.

Parker also reminded people that early voting will take place from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the county courtroom from Feb. 19 until Feb. 29, excluding weekends.

To contact Parker's office, phone 936-349-0132.