Contact: Betty Ann Lucey, 240-777-8520
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2002

ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE NEARS
FOR NOVEMBER 5 GENERAL ELECTION

Montgomery County's Board of Elections reminds voters that the deadline for receipt of an absentee ballot application for the November 5 gubernatorial general election is Tuesday, October 29. Written requests must reach the elections office by Tuesday, October 29 at 4:30 p.m. or may be faxed to 240-777-8560 or 240-777-8590 no later than 11:59 p.m.

Requests for an absentee ballot must include the following information: name, date of birth, Montgomery County address, the address to which you want your ballot sent if other than your Montgomery County address, daytime telephone number, reason for requesting an absentee ballot, and your signature. The absence of any of these items could result in a delay in processing the application.

The absentee ballot application can be found online at the Board of Elections web site at www.777vote.org. Follow all instructions, and return the completed application by mail or fax. Ballots will be mailed within three business days.

Voters who wish to pick up an absentee ballot must do so in person. The elections office will be open for absentee voting weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on two Saturdays, October 26 and November 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The application form to request an absentee ballot may be picked up and returned by someone other than the applicant, however, the actual ballot will only be mailed to the applicant.

The elections office is located at 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, in the former Broome Middle School, which is about one-half mile north of Veirs Mill Road.

Voters qualify to vote by absentee ballot if one of the following applies: they may be absent from the county on election day; they have been in an accident, are ill, are physically disabled or confined to an institution; they are age 65 or older and their polling place is designated non-accessible; they have had a death or serious illness in their immediate family; or they are a full-time student at an institution of higher education located outside their precinct but within the county, and academic requirements prevent them from going to the polling place on election day. Certain federal government and armed forces personnel may also vote by absentee ballot.

For more information, call the Absentee Office at 240-777-8550 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or via e-mail at absentee@montgomerycountymd.gov.