Many Birmingham residents have received their absentee ballots and are ready to cast their votes. In the November Election, voters have the following options when filling out their ballots:
“Straight Ticket” Voting: Voters may fill in one oval or box next to a party name at the top of the ballot to cast a vote for every candidate of that political party. No vote will be cast in individual races in which the selected party does not have a candidate. If the voter wishes to vote in any non-partisan races and proposals, the voter must make selections in these races separately.
“Split Ticket” Voting: Voters may vote in the straight party race and select the party of their choosing, but then vote directly in an individual race (or multiple individual races) by selecting a candidate from a different party, voting for a candidate with no party affiliation, or casting a write-in vote. This overrides the straight ticket vote in that individual race only. If the voter wishes to vote in any non-partisan races and proposals, the voter must make selections in these races separately.
“Mixed Ticket” Voting: Voters select candidates of their choice from any party (or no party affiliation and write-ins) up to the maximum allowed for each race. Voters must make a selection for each individual race in which they wish to cast a vote.
Other Notes: If a voter selects the “straight party” race but then votes for individual candidates of the same party, the vote for those individual candidates will still count, and will only count once. If a voter wishes to vote for a write-in candidate (whether or not they select the straight party option), the voter must fill out the oval for write-in candidate and write the name or it will be an invalid write-in and will not be counted.
Don’t forget to return your absentee ballot signed and sealed in the green envelope to the Clerk's Office, the drop box at City Hall or by mail.
