Absentee ballots now available
Anyone wishing to vote in the Nov. 3 general election must be registered to vote by Monday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m.
Newton County Circuit Clerk Mike Butler said there has been a lot of confusion about voter registration and how it is done.
“The only way to register to vote in Newton County is to come to our office and fill out an application,” Butler said. “We can also mail you an application. However, the application must either be returned to our office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 5, or it must be postmarked by Oct. 5. That’s the only way to register.”
Butler said his office has fielded a number of questions about messages and emails that local residents have received. Butler himself has even received messages about voter registration.
“I was even sent a text message telling that I might not be registered to vote,” Butler said. “I called them up and said, ‘I had a conversation with our local circuit clerk, and he said I was registered to vote.’ They came back and said that I might be, but they said to call if I needed help.
“That just gives you a good indication of how much misinformation is going on with the election. In Mississippi, the only way to make sure you’re registered to vote is to contact the county circuit clerk’s office. We’d be happy to answer anyone’s questions about voting and help them make sure they are ready for the election.”
Butler said his office will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each weekday from now until Election Day. They will also be open on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon for voter registration and absentee ballot applications only.
The will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, the date of that registration ends for the general election voting.
Butler said absentee voting is underway and will continue until Oct. 31. He said absentee voting has changed considerably from previous years.
Absentee voting regulations have been changed to allow more people the opportunity to vote either in-person or by mail. Those changes are outlined on the Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting/ or at http://www.yallvote.sos.ms.gov/.
One thing Butler wanted to assure local residents is that they have provisions to allow those who are on active military duty to opportunity to vote. They can go online to under the link listed above and click on the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). That application could be mailed or submitted electronically to the Circuit Clerk’s office.
Then, the serviceman or servicewoman would receive a ballot to complete and return, either by mail or via secure encrypted electronic ballot.
The Circuit Clerk’s office will be open on Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to noon and Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
For more information or to inquire about your registration status, contact Butler’s office at 601-635-2368.
