The municipal election is just around the corner, Tuesday, to be exact. However, for those who anticipate not being available to get to the polls Tuesday, absentee voting began Sept. 22.

In Homer, city residents and Kenai Peninsula Borough residents living inside the city can cast absentee ballots in person at Homer City Hall from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Oct. 6.

“They’re trickling in. Probably less this election. There’s not much interest,” said Homer City Clerk Jo Johnson of the 50 city absentee ballots were cast by Tuesday morning.

It’s a different scene at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex, 206 E. Pioneer Ave., where Tammaron Baxter is accepting absentee ballots for borough residents from Ninilchik south between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Oct. 6 and also on Election Day from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

“I’m seeing a surprising amount, actually,” Baxter said of borough residents taking advantage of absentee voting. “I think there are a lot of people who are leaving for winter.”

Johni Blankenship, the borough clerk, also is reporting large numbers of absentee voters, especially at the borough office in Soldotna.

“Within this building, it’s been very busy,” said Blankenship. “They’ve had days where there have been in excess of 90 voters a day. It’s been nuts.”

Individuals wanting to vote absentee, but unable to make it to the polls due to physical disability or illness may apply for a special needs ballot by calling the borough clerk.

In the Oct. 7 municipal election, ballots for the southern peninsula include:

• Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, three candidates for one opening;

• KPB Assembly, seven candidates including one for District 8-Homer;

• KPB Board of Education, four candidates including two for District 7-Central encompassing Ninilchik; 

• Three KPB propositions, including two that are advisory;

• Homer City mayor, two candidates for one opening;

• Homer City Council, four candidates for two openings;

• One City of Homer proposition;

• Homer Charter Commission, seven candidates for seven openings;

• Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Service Area Board, two candidates for two openings;

• Seldovia Recreational Service Area, no candidates for two openings;

• Kachemak Emergency Service Area, three candidates for three openings;

• South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board, four candidates for four openings.

Voters in Kenai, Seward and Soldotna also will vote on city council members, with a mayor and one proposition to be decided for the city of Seward.

On Election Day, Oct. 7, polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at the following locations on the southern peninsula:

• Anchor Point: Anchor Point Senior Center, mile .25 Milo Fritz Road;

• Diamond Ridge: Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 201 Sterling Highway;

• Fox River: Absentee by-mail precinct;

• Homer No. 1: Homer City Hall, council chambers, 491 E. Pioneer Ave.;

• Homer No. 2: Homer Senior Center, 3935 Svedlund St.;

• Kachemak-Fritz Creek: Kachemak Community Center, 59906 Bear Creek Drive;

• Ninilchik: Ninilchik Senior Center, 66265 Aspen Ave.;

• Seldovia-Kachemak Bay: Absentee by-mail precinct.