This Saturday is last day new voters can register and still vote in the June 3 primary election, and the Lincoln County circuit clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday to accommodate voter registration and absentee voting.

Voters who have already registered also can take care of any changes of address or other information on Saturday, Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield said. The clerk’s office also is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office phone number is (601) 835-3435.

Although voters can register throughout the year, there is a 30-day deadline to register prior to an election. Voters registering after Saturday will not be able to vote June 3.

Voters who wish to vote absentee are required to fill out and sign an application stating the reason they cannot vote on election day. Acceptable reasons for voting absentee include military service, having to work during voting hours on election day or having to care for a sick relative outside the county on election day.

Those qualifying can cast their 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 last day to vote absentee in person in the clerk’s office is Saturday, May 31, at noon, and mailed ballots must be received by the circuit clerk by 5 p.m. Monday, June 2, Bairfield said.

In addition to this Saturday morning, the circuit clerk’s office will also be open two additional Saturdays, May 24 and May 31, from 8 a.m. until noon. The office is located on the second floor of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Government Complex.

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.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 3.