Those who are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the Nov. 3 general election can do so starting Monday, Sept. 21, Tallahatchie County Circuit Clerk Daphane Neal said this week.
She noted that eligible persons may call her office in Charleston (647-8758) or Sumner (375-8515) to request an absentee ballot by mail, or cast an absentee ballot in person at the circuit clerk’s offices.
Neal said COVID-19 precautions will continue to be in place.
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“We’re still going to practice social distancing,” she noted. “We would appreciate everyone wearing a mask, but we will provide one to any who do not have one. We will also have hand sanitizer available. We’re going to make sure we keep everybody safe.”
This year’s absentee balloting dates of note include:
» Sept. 21: Absentee ballots are first available.
» Oct. 24: The county circuit clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon for in-person absentee voting.
» Oct. 31: On the in-person absentee voting deadline, circuit clerk’s offices around the state will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to accommodate last-minute in-person absentee balloting.
» Nov. 3: General election and mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before this date to be valid.
» Nov. 10: Mail-in absentee ballots that were postmarked on or before Nov. 3 must be received by the circuit clerk’s office.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about several changes to state election laws, including:
» The absentee voting exemption for those with a temporary or permanent physical disability, which is an eligible excuse for mail-in absentee voting, now includes, but is not limited to, those who are under a physician-imposed quarantine, or those who are caring for a dependent who is under a physician-imposed quarantine, due to COVID-19.
» Mail-in absentee ballots may be received up to five business days after the election if the envelope is postmarked on or before the date of the election.
» Absentee ballots will now be the final vote, which means that anyone who votes by absentee ballot may not appear on Election Day and cast a regular ballot.
Under Mississippi law, the following categories of people are entitled to vote by mail-in absentee ballot:
» Any person who is temporarily residing outside of their county of residence, and the ballot must be mailed to an address outside the county
» A person who has a temporary or permanent physical disability and who, because of that disability, is unable to vote in person without substantial hardship to himself, herself or others, or whose attendance at the voting place could reasonably cause danger to himself, herself or others
» A parent, spouse or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical ability who is hospitalized outside of his or her county of residence or more than 50 miles distant from his or her residence, if the parent, spouse or dependent will be with that person on Election Day
» Any person who is 65 years of age or older
Among the electors entitled to vote by in-person absentee ballot are:
» Any qualified elector who is away from his or her county of residence on Election Day for any reason
» Any qualified elector who will be unable to vote in person because he or she is required to be at work on Election Day during the time the polls will be open
» Any person who is 65 years of age or older
» Students, teachers or administrators at any college or university, whose studies or employment necessitates their absence from the county of residence on Election Day
To learn more about absentee voting in Mississippi, read the secretary of state's step-by-step guide to absentee voting, below.
