This Saturday is the last day to vote absentee in person in the Lincoln County circuit clerk’s office for the June 3 primary election, and the office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon to accommodate voters, said circuit clerk Dustin Bairfield.

Mailed ballots must be received by the circuit clerk by 5 p.m. Monday, June 2, Bairfield said.

The office is located on the second floor of the Lincoln County-Brookhaven Government Complex and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office phone number is (601) 835-3435.

 

Absentee Voting

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.

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.

Voters also should bring an acceptable photo identification card (see list below) with them when they come to the clerk’s office to cast their absentee ballot.

 

June 3 Ballot

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 MacArthur “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.

 

Election Day

On Tuesday, June 3, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Following the election, Bairfield’s office will post live election results on his office’s website, www.lincolncircuitcourt.com. After accessing the site, visitors will need to select the “Elections” tab in the menu on the right side of the page to view voting results.

The Daily Leader also will have a direct link to the voting results available from the main page of www.dailyleader.com on election night.

 

Voter ID

Bairfield also reminded voters that the June 3 Democratic primary and Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and Third Congressional District will be the first election in the state to operate under the new voter ID law.

According the secretary of state’s office, the following photo identification cards are acceptable for voters to present at the polls on election day:

• A driver’s license

• A photo ID card issued by a branch, department or entity of the state of Mississippi

• A United States passport

• A government employee ID card

• A firearms license

• A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community/junior college

• A United States military ID

• A tribal photo ID

• Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any state government

• A Mississippi voter ID card

Anyone who does not have a photo ID can obtain a Mississippi voter ID card through the circuit clerk’s office at no charge.

To get a voter ID card at the circuit clerk’s office, a voter will need to present one of the following types of documents:

• Any expired, but valid, document having the voter’s name and photograph issued by the U.S. government or any U.S. state.

• A birth certificate or any other document with the voter’s full legal name, date and place of birth.

• A Social Security card.

• A Medicare card.

• A Medicaid card.

• A Mississippi Voter Registration card.

• Documentation with a voter’s name and current address issued within the preceding six months.

Bairfield said that even if registered voters get to the polls June 3 and do not have a photo ID, they will still be allowed to vote an affidavit ballot June 3 and then contact the circuit clerk’s office within five business days to verify their identity.

For more information or assistance, voters may call the Lincoln County circuit clerk’s office at or they may call 1-855-868-3745 or visit the Mississippi Voter ID website at www.MSVoterID.ms.gov.