The June 3 primary election is still a month and a half away, but absentee voting will start Monday for those who will be unable to cast a ballot on election day.

Registered voters can cast an absentee ballot at the circuit clerk’s office in person or they can call the circuit clerk’s office and request a ballot be mailed to them.

The circuit clerk’s office, which is located on the second floor of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Government Complex, will be open three Saturdays, May 3, May 24 and May 31, from 8 a.m. until noon in to help facilitate absentee voting, said Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield.

Monday, June 2, is the last day to vote absentee in person, and mailed ballots must be received by the circuit clerk by 5 p.m. that day, Bairfield said.

Absentee voters will be required sign a statement noting the reason they will not be able to vote in person on election day. Acceptable reasons for voting absentee include military service, having to work during voting hours on election day, being outside the county on election day or having to care for a sick relative on election day.

Residents who have not yet registered to vote still have time to do so and still vote in the June 3 primary. That registration deadline is noon on Saturday, May 3.

The June 3 election will consist of a Democratic primary and a Republican primary. Voters will have to choose whether to cast a Democratic ballot or a Republican ballot.

Both the Democratic and Republican ballots consist of two races: U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives Third Congressional District.

Democrats running for the nomination for the U.S. Senate are Travis W. Childers, William Bond Compton Jr., Bill Marcy and Jonathan Rawl. Democrats seeking the nomination for the congressional post are Jim Liljeberg, Douglas McArthur “Doug” Magee and Dennis C. Quinn.

Republicans running for the nomination for the Senate are Thomas L. Carey, incumbent Thad Cochran and Chris McDaniel. The Republican candidates seeking the nomination in the congressional race are Hardy Caraway and incumbent Gregg Harper.