The Polk County Board of Elections is now taking applications for absentee ballots for next month&squo;s election. Absentee ballots are for registered voters in the county who want to vote but who will not be in the county on election day or cannot make it to a polling place. Residents may obtain an application at the Polk County Board of Elections Office at the Womack Building in Columbus or they can mail the office a handwritten request for an application. The last day to request an absentee application is Oct. 28.

The applications can be returned to the board of elections, which will mail a ballot to the requested address.

Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the board of elections office by Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. The ballots can be hand delivered or mailed to the Polk County Board of Elections.