It’s statewide election season in Mississippi this year and the primary election will take place in August, meaning it’s time to go through the checklist so to make sure your vote counts.
Voter Registration
For those unregistered voters who want to participate in the August 8 primary, the deadline for voter registration is Monday, July 10, 2023. In-person voter registration must be received by 5 p.m. on that date, while mail-in registrations must be postmarked July 10.
Newton County Circuit Clerk Mike Butler said that those needing to register before the deadline can come by his office to register or pick up a registration form between the times of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The circuit clerk office will also be open Saturday, July 8, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. for those wishing to submit last-minute applications.
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Absentee Voting
Absentee voting is available to the following qualifiers:
-Any person who is over the age of 65.
-Any person who has a temporary or permanent physical disability
-Any qualified elector who is away from their county of residence on election day for any reason.
-Any qualified elector who is required to be away from their place of residence on election day due to their employment.
-Any qualified elector who is a student, teacher, or administrator at any college or university whose studies or employment necessitates their absence from the county or voting residence on election day.
-Military who will be deployed on election day
In-Person absentee voting began on June 24 and continues until Saturday, August 5 at 12 p.m.
Absentee voters in Newton County can come by the circuit clerk office between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The office will also be open the two Saturdays before the election, July 29 and August 5, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Mail-In absentee ballots can be requested by calling the circuit clerk office 601-635. According to Butler, there is a new law stating that mail-in ballots can be postmarked up to Election Day, August 8, adding that if there’s a close election, it could take several days after the election to get final results due to those late arriving ballots. “The law says that if the mail-in ballot is postmarked election day, then we have up to five business days to receive that ballot,” said Butler. “However, I encourage them not to wait until the last minute to start the absentee process. If you see that you will qualify for a mail-in absentee ballot, please call or come by the office.”
After the primary, a runoff election will occur on Aug. 29 if needed. Then the general election will take place on Nov. 7, with a runoff being held on Nov. 28, if needed.
