The 2016 general election is six weeks away and officials are hoping for a big turnout, encouraging those eligible to register to vote and cast a ballot.

September has been designated “National Voter Registration Month,” and election officials are getting the word out as well as making it easier with the use of technology.

Mississippi and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann recently launched the website “Y’all Vote,” to allow citizens who are already registered to vote, to change their voter roll information online. The website also acts as a voter information center designed to prepare voters prior to casting their ballot on Election Day.

There are more than 1.8 million registered voters in Mississippi. Voters are also reminded to bring their photo ID to cast a ballot on Nov. 8.

In Lafayette County, voters are welcome to register at the Circuit Clerk’s office or go online to download a voter registration application by visiting www.lafayettems.com and mailing in the application or taking it to the Circuit Clerk’s office located in the Lafayette County courthouse. The deadline to register to vote is 30 days prior to the election, or Oct. 8.

Absentee voting begins this week, according to Lafayette County Circuit Clerk Baretta Mosley.

“We expect to get our (absentee) ballots Monday or Tuesday,” Mosley said. “We will be open on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to noon.”

Local races

Besides the presidential election on Nov. 8, there are a few local seats up for grabs in Lafayette County. Two county school board positions will be on the ballot with Brent Larson, Johnny Parker and Bryan White running as Independents in District 1, while Bob Colston and Kimberly Harwell West facing each other at Independents in District 2.

Also on the ballot is a contested state race for Supreme Court Justice District 3 with John Brady, Bobby Chamberlin, Steve Crampton and James T. “Jim” Kitchens Jr. in the running.

The other contested race on the ballot is the 1st Congressional U.S. House of Representatives seat with incumbent Trent Kelly meeting Democrat challenger Jacob Owens, Reform candidate Cathy L. Toole and Libertarian Chase Wilson.

 

The Details

Nov. 5: In-person absentee voting deadline. In-person absentee ballots must be cast in the Circuit Clerks’ offices by 12 p.m.

Nov. 7: Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the Circuit Clerks’ offices no later than 5 p.m.

Nov. 8: General Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Nov. 29: Runoff Election Day for Municipal and Consolidated School Districts, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judges and Special Elections. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.