It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the home stretch of the 2008 South Carolina presidential primaries, but alas, ’tis true. And state officials are already taking requests for absentee ballots.

Elections officials won’t mail them out until after Thanksgiving, but voters should have plenty of time to fill out the ballots before the January primaries, said Stuart Bedenbaugh, the executive director of the Aiken Registration and Elections Office.

“We’ve already got a handful of requests,” he said.

The Republican presidential primary is set for Jan. 19, a Saturday. The Democratic primary has been set for the following Saturday, Jan. 26. [...]

Voters who wish to cast an absentee ballot must request one from his office by calling (803) 642-2028, or they can vote in person beginning in December.

When requesting an absentee ballot, voters must designate whether they wish to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary.

They also must say why they need an absentee ballot, Mr. Bedenbaugh said.

“In South Carolina, you have to have a reason,” he explained.

There are 17 acceptable excuses, but the most common are these:

- You’ve reached the age of 65

- You’re physically disabled

- You’ll be on military deployment

- You’ll be out of town for vacation, work reasons or attending school [SANDI MARTIN - Augusta Chronicle]