The Lincoln County Board of Elections and Registration is currently accepting applications for absentee ballots from those who will be unable to make it to the polls on Tuesday, July 15, to vote in the General Primary.

The local candidates appearing on the ballot are as follows:

Democratic Ticket

County Commission Chairman: Walker Norman (incumbent).

District 3 Commissioner: Maurice Cadden and Cooper Cliatt.

District 4 Commissioner: Allen Walker (incumbent).

Sheriff: Bruce Beggs.

Tax Commissioner: Brenda Danner (incumbent) and Kyle Reese.

Superior Court Clerk: Amanda Doss.

Probate/Magistrate Judge: Lee Moss (incumbent).

Coroner: Paul Reviere (incumbent).

County Surveyor: Robert "Chigger" Wilkes (incumbent)

Republican Ticket

County Commission Chairman: Wade Johnson.

District 4 Commissioner: Rob Robinson.

Sheriff: Gerald Lawson (incumbent).

Probate/Magistrate Judge: Joe Banks.

Other races on the July ballot include those for United States senator and United States congressman. Area voters will also be electing a state senator and a state representative.

Any registered voter, who will be unable to cast his ballot in person for any of the reasons listed below may vote absentee:

.. The voter is required to be absent from his precinct during the time of the election (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

.. The voter will perform any of the official acts or duties set forth in the Georgia Election Code in connection with the election in which the voter desires to vote.

.. The voter will be unable to be present at the polls on the day of the election because of physical disability or because of being required to give constant care to someone who is physically disabled.

.. The voter will not be able to be at the polls on the day of the election because the election date falls on a religious holiday observed by the voter.

.. The voter is required to remain on duty in his precinct for the pro- tection of the health, life, or safety of the public during the entire time the polls are open.

.. The voter is 75 years of age or older.

.. The voter is a member of the Armed Forces or the Merchant Marines of the United States or a spouse or dependent of the member, residing outside the county or municipality.

Requests for an application for an absentee ballot may be made by telephone (1-706-359-6126) or by written statement. The written statements may either be faxed to 1-706-359- 7396; mailed to the elections and registration office at P.O. Box 1419, Lincolnton, Georgia, 30817; or delivered by a relative or any other authorized person to the elections office located in The Lincoln Center at 160 May Avenue. Office hours are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Moreover, applications for absentee ballots must contain the address to which the ballot is to be mailed, the reason for voting by absentee ballot, and sufficient information such as a signature or date of birth to identify the individual as a registered voter.

The deadline for requesting that an absentee ballot be mailed to one's residence is Friday, July 11. All absentee ballots must be returned to the elections and registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information about absentee voting or the election process in general, contact the elections and registration office at the number listed above.