As towns and cities across Mississippi prepare to hold municipal primary elections, the voter registration deadline is just days away with the final chance to do so being Monday, March 3.
Secretary of State Michael Watson is encouraging everyone to take time to register to vote in what he believes are “some of the most important elections.” Citizens can go to their local circuit or municipal clerk’s office to register in person or can print out the registration form and mail it to their local circuit clerk.
“In all actuality, these municipal elections are ones that can impact your life much more quickly on the local level,” Watson said. “We just encourage people folks to remember that you’ve got mayoral, city council, school board elections, and more. It’s important to get out and vote and to make sure you have good leaders in your town.”
Those who register in person must do it by the time clerks’ offices close at 5 p.m. on March 3. Mailed-in registration applications must be postmarked by no later than March 3 to be counted as eligible.
Republican and Democratic primaries in municipalities statewide will be held on Tuesday, April 1. If runoffs are needed, those will be held on Tuesday, April 22. The general election will take place Tuesday, June 3.
Absentee voting for the primaries began last week. If eligible to vote absentee – reasons include but are not limited to being out of town on Election Day, living with a disability, or being 65 years or older – ballots are available in person or through the postal service. Local municipal clerks facilitate the process, with the deadline for in-person absentee voting being Saturday, March 29. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before April 1.
