In-person and mail-in absentee ballots for the March 10 state primary election are now available at each county’s respective circuit clerk’s office.
In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Scott Colom, Albert R. Littell and Priscilla W. Till are on the ballot. Republican voters will choose between Sarah Adlakha and incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith.
For the 1st Congressional District, which includes Lowndes County, Clay County and parts of western Oktibbeha County, Democrats Kelvin Buck and Cliff Johnson are on the ballot for U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Trent Kelly runs unopposed in the Republican primary.
In the race for the 3rd Congressional District, which includes part of Oktibbeha County, incumbent Michael Guest runs unopposed for U.S. House of Representatives while Michael A. Chiaradio is the lone Democratic on the primary ballot.
Winners in the March 7 primary will move on to be included on the ballot in the general election Nov. 3.
Absentee ballots can be cast in person at each county’s respective circuit clerk’s office. Lowndes County Circuit Clerk’s office is located at 505 Second Ave. N. in Columbus, Clay County Circuit Clerk at 26089 W. Main St. in West Point and Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk at 108 W. Main St. in Starkville.
In addition to normal business hours – from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays – circuit clerk’s offices in each county will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 28 and March 7 to provide voters another chance to cast their ballot.
Voters wishing to vote absentee by mail must contact their clerk’s office to request an application. Once the application is complete, notarized and returned to the clerk’s office for verification, an official absentee ballot will be mailed within one business day or as soon as the ballots are ready.
The ballot will come with specific instructions for voting by mail and a return envelope. Voters must complete the ballot and the affidavit on the back of the envelope before mailing it back to the clerk’s office.
Absentee voting by mail is available to any voter temporarily residing outside of their county of residence, voters who are disabled or who are the parent, spouse or dependent of a disabled person, voters who are hospitalized outside of their county and those age 65 or older. Any incarcerated individual who has not been convicted of a disenfranchising crime can also vote absentee by mail.
Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before election day and received by the circuit clerk’s office within five business days.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
