Absentee ballots are now available at the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Circuit Clerk Baretta Mosley said residents who won’t be available to vote on Nov. 8 can come fill out an absentee ballot if they meet one of the several qualifications to be an absentee voter.

The last day to register to vote – either absentee or at the polls – is Oct. 8.

“If you qualify for an absentee vote, you can do so right now,” said Circuit Clerk Baretta Mosley.

Anyone casting an absentee ballot must have a photo ID. Only military and citizens outside of the country can receive their ballot by email, fax or U.S. Mail.

A voter must request their own ballot unless they are disabled and cannot call or email the clerk’s office.

Mosley said there were 2,499 absentee voters in the 2012 presidential elections.

“We are expecting the same or more this year,” she said.

Qualifications to vote absentee, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office are:

• you are a student, teacher or administrator at a school whose studies or employment necessitates your absence from your county on Election Day; or you are the spouse or dependent thereof;

• you have a temporary or permanent physical disability that renders you unable to vote in person without substantial hardship;

• you are the parent, spouse or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside of their county of residence or more than 50 miles away, and you (the parent, spouse or dependent) will be with that person on Election Day;

• you are 65 years of age or older;

• you will be unable to vote in person because you are required to be at work on Election Day during the times at which the polls will be open.

Address and name changes can be done by coming to the clerk’s office and filling out a change form, downloading a mail-in application and mailing it in or online at the Secretary of State website.

The Lafayette County Clerk’s Office will is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and will open 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 8 for last minute voter registration.

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 East 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.

A sample ballot is posted on the county’s website, www.lafayettems.com.

Managing editor Rob Sigler contributed to this report.