The deadline to vote absentee in person for municipal general elections is noon Saturday.
Columbus Registrar Brenda Williams said Tuesday that her office had already received 465 absentee ballots. Starkville City Clerk Lesa Hardin said Tuesday her office has already received 104 absentee ballots in advance of the election there.
Citizens are entitled to in-person absentee voting if they are away from their residence within the municipality on election day for any reason. Electors are also entitled to in-person absentee voting if they are required to be at work on election day during the times at which the polls will be open or on-call during the times when the polls will be open.
Citizens are also entitled to vote in-person absentee if they have a temporary or permanent disability or if they are over 65 years old. Other qualifying circumstances are available online on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.ms.gov.
To vote in-person absentee in Starkville, qualifying citizens can go to the Starkville city clerk’s office at 110 West Main Street during normal business hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday – or on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
In the mayoral race, incumbent Mayor Lynn Spruill, a Democrat, faces Republican Roger Bassett. In the Ward 3 alderman race, Democrat Laurel Lynn Rowse faces Republican James Kyle Skinner. All other races were decided in the April 1 primaries.
To vote in-person absentee in Columbus, qualifying citizens can go to the city registrar’s office at 1605 Main St., in the strip mall across from the Municipal Complex, during normal business hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday – or on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
In Columbus’ mayoral race, current Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones, a Democrat, faces independents Bill Strauss and Darren Leach. In the Ward 1 council race, incumbent Ethel Stewart, a Democrat, faces sitting Mayor Keith Gaskin, an independent. In Ward 4, Lavonne Harris, a Democrat, faces independent incumbent Pierre Beard and Republican Robert Johnson IV. In Ward 5, Democrat Gary Jefferson faces Republican Mary Beth Jeter. In Ward 6, Republican Jason Spears faces independent Donald Pope.
Voters may also vote via mail-in absentee ballot under qualifying circumstances. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and received within five days of the election to be counted, the release from the Secretary of State’s office said.
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