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2020 Election: Apply for, drop off ballots at drive-thru absentee assistance sites

These sites allow people in Madison County to drive up, get their ballot notarized, and safely drop them off.

MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, Ala. — Election officials in Madison County are helping people make sure their voices are heard in the general election.

Throughout the month of October, these drive-thru absentee voting assistance sites will be set up throughout the community. The first drive-thru site was Thursday at Alabama A&M University.

RELATED: Election officials offering drive-thru absentee voting assistance throughout October

Madison County Circuit Clerk Debra Kizer says they're doing this to make voting easier during the pandemic.

"I think it helps everybody vote," said Kizer. "It's difficult to find parking at the courthouse and you get in the courthouse and there's more people there maybe than you want them to be, so we're just reducing their risk of catching COVID."

For many people, it may be a challenge to get two witnesses to sign their absentee ballot. These sites allow people to drive up, get their ballot notarized, and safely drop them off.

RELATED: 2020 Election: How to request an absentee ballot in Alabama

"The people are very grateful that we're out here and then when they realize they don't even have to get out of their car, they're really grateful," said Kizer.

It's not a long process. If you've filled out your ballot and have your ID available, you can pull up, get your ballot notarized, and be out in five minutes.

Workers are also helping people apply for absentee ballots.

"If they're applying for a ballot, they can fill out their application and give it to us," said Kizer. "We'll give it back to the courthouse that evening. The next day, we should have a ballot in the mail to them so it should just take a couple of days to get from the post office to them." 

RELATED: 2020 Election: How to fill out an absentee ballot

Although you can apply for a ballot, they are not actually issuing them at the drive-thru assistance sites.

If you want to vote via "same-day" absentee ballot, you must do it on the first floor of the Madison County Courthouse on any business day from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Click here for a complete list of Absentee Voting Assistance Site dates and locations.

Click here to access our 2020 Election Guide.

WATCH: Drive-thru absentee voting assistance in Madison County

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