With municipal elections approaching June 3, voters in Starkville and Columbus must register to vote by 5 p.m. Monday to cast their ballot.
In Starkville, voter registration forms are available at City Hall on 110 W. Main St. Columbus voters can register at City Hall on 523 Main St. Registration forms are also available on the Secretary of State’s website. Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked by May 5 to be accepted.
Absentee voting is already underway ahead of the general election. In Columbus, interim registrar Brenda Williams said 39 voters have already cast their absentee ballots, and 104 ballots have been mailed out.
In Starkville, assistant city clerk Joanna McLaurin said 80 absentee ballots have already been sent to permanently disabled residents.
In addition, one ballot has been requested by mail and four have been requested in person. As of Friday, none had been cast.
Voters may cast an absentee ballot in person if they are unable to vote on election day due to work, school, age, disability, or other qualifying circumstances. Those temporarily living outside the municipality, incarcerated, 65 or older, disabled or dependents of hospitalized individuals more than 50 miles away may vote absentee by mail.
A full list of qualifications and instructions is available on the Secretary of State’s website.
Absentee ballot applications are required and can be filled out at City Hall in both Starkville and Columbus or requested from the city clerk or registrar. In-person absentee voting ends May 31. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by June 3 and received by June 10 to be counted.
In Starkville, voters will choose between incumbent Democratic Mayor Lynn Spruill and Republican challenger Roger Basset.
Ward 3 voters will decide between Republican James Kyle Skinner and Democrat Laurel Lynn Rowse. Other aldermen running unopposed on the ballot are Kim Moreland (Ward 1), Sandra Sistrunk (Ward 2), Mike Brooks (Ward 3), William D. Pochop (Ward 5), Roy A’. Perkins (Ward 6) and Henry N. Vaughn (Ward 7).
Columbus voters will cast their mayoral votes for independents Darren Leach, Bill Strauss or Democratic candidate Stephen Jones.
In council races, Ward 1 voters will choose between independent Keith Gaskin and Democrat Ethel Taylor Stewart. Ward 4 candidates are independent Pierre Beard, Democrat Lavonne Harris and Republican Robert Johnson. Ward 5 voters will decide between Democrat Gregory “Gary” Jefferson and Republican Mary Beth Jeter. In Ward 6, the race is between independent Donald Pope and Republican Jason Spears.
Roderick D. Smith won the runoff election for Ward 2 and is unopposed in the general election. Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene is unopposed.
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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 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
