For voters in House District 10 who won’t be able to make next Tuesday’s special election, there is a last-minute chance for apply in person for an absentee ballot.
The deadline to apply for the absentee ballot is Thursday; the special election is March 26. Registered voters can request and cast their ballot at the Madison County Services center at 1918 North Memorial Parkway in Huntsville. An absentee ballot returned by mail must be received by the Absentee Office by noon Election Day.
Republican Teddy Powell and Democrat Marilyn Lands are facing off over the open seat in the March 26 special election.
The vacancy was created when former Rep. David Cole (R-Madison) resigned after he was prosecuted for committing election fraud, by voting in a district where he did not reside. Cole narrowly beat Lands 51.6% to 45% in 2022. Libertarian Elijah Boyd had 3.4%.
Powell is serving in his second term on the Madison City Council. He has more than 12 years of federal civilian experience as a budget analyst with the Department of Defense. He has also worked in the banking industry and as a city employee for the Hueytown Revenue Department.
On his website, Powell said healthcare in the state can be improved by fostering a competitive and market-driven system that encourages innovation, efficiency, and options.
Powell believes that by addressing the root causes of crime, fostering community engagement, and ensuring adequate resources for law enforcement, “we can create an environment where citizens feel safe, leading to a more vibrant and prosperous society.”
Powell promises to work with local education leaders, community advocates, parents, teachers, and school administrators to ensure our children are receiving the best education.
A licensed professional counselor, Lands has lived in Huntsville since she was two years old when her father moved there for his work with NASA. She has worked in banking and aerospace.
Lands promises to fight to repeal Alabama’s ban on abortion. She also pledged to focus on improving the state’s healthcare system. Lands supports Medicaid expansion and spending more money on mental health clinics.
Lands also said she supports eliminating the state tax on groceries; the construction of affordable housing; cutting red tape for small businesses; building a school-to-work pipeline, combatting the current labor shortage by working to improve the state’s image to bring more people here to fill jobs, and investing in roads and other infrastructure to support growth.
Qualified voters may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person, if they apply in writing and meet one of the following requirements:
- Expects to be out of the county on election day.
- Is physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day.
- Is physically incapacitated and not able to vote in person on election day and unable to access the assigned polling place due to a neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, or other life-altering disorder that affects my ability to perform manual tasks, stand for any length of time, walk unassisted, see, hear, or speak and either an elderly voter aged 65 or older; or is a voter with a disability.
- Works a shift, 10 hours or more, that coincides with polling hours.
- Is a student at an educational institution located outside the county of permanent residence.
- Is a member of, or a spouse or dependent of, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a U.S. citizen living outside the United States qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20302.
- Is an election officer at a polling place which is not their regular polling place.
- Is a caregiver for a family member to the second degree of kinship by affinity or consanguinity and the family member is confined to his or her home.
- Is currently incarcerated in prison or jail and has not been convicted of a felon involving moral turpitude.
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