No absentee voting in New Albany, at least, so far

Absentee voting for municipal primary elections has been available this week, but so far in New Albany there have been no takers.

Municipal Clerk Frankie Roberts said no one had come in to cast an absentee ballot as of late Friday afternoon.

Voters will choose nominees for mayor, alderman and, in a few cases, police chief in the April 6 party primaries. If no candidate gets a simple majority in a primary, the top two vote-getters will be in a runoff April 27. The primary winners will complete, along with independent candidates, in the June 8 general election.

The most recent general election had a record number of absentee ballots, partly due to interest in races but mostly because people preferred to avoid the crowds and close contact involved in voting in person.

A properly registered voter can cast an absentee ballot early for reasons including:

• The voter’s being outside of his or her home county on Election Day.
• Being a student, teacher or administrator at a school whose studies or employment there necessitates absence from the voter’s home county on Election Day.
• Being the spouse or dependent of such voters above.
• Being disabled.
• Being the parent or spouse of a disabled person hospitalized outside the county and more than 50 miles away on Election Day.
• Being 65 years old or older.
• Being required to work Election Day throughout the polling hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A qualified voter can also cast an absentee vote by mail. He or she needs to request a ballot from the municipal clerk, who will send an application and ballot with instructions.

Absentee ballots can be cast until noon Saturday, April 3.

Because the April 6 vote will be for political party primaries, a voter must choose whether to participate in the Democratic or Republican races.