Absentee voting numbers are holding steady as the days to the November General Election dwindle.

Covington County Circuit Clerk Roger Powell said an estimated 440 absentee ballots have been cast for the Nov. 6 election.

“That’s about where we were at this time four years ago,” Powell said. “We ended up over 900 in the 2008 election. We are still encouraging anyone who knows they will be out of town on that day to vote absentee – and do it early. That’s the best way to avoid a line.”

Applications are available at the Covington County Courthouse or online at alabamavotes.gov. The voters must hand-deliver the ballots or send them via U.S. mail. The deadline to apply is Thurs., Nov. 1. Powell said the voter must either walk in or submit an application by mail.

“The application must be physically in our office by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1, so the postmark does not come in to play,” he said.