Lincoln County residents who will be unableto vote in the primaries on Aug. 2 still have an opportunity tocast an absentee ballot.

    Lincoln County voters can go to the circuit clerk’s office inperson to vote absentee or they can call the circuit clerk’s officeto request a ballot be mailed to them.

    The circuit clerk’s office will be open the following twoSaturdays, July 23 and 30, from 8 a.m. until noon in order tofacilitate absentee voting. July 30 will be the last day to voteabsentee in person.

    Mail-in ballots must be in the circuit clerk’s post office box by 5p.m. Aug. 1.

    Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins said so far heroffice has mailed 280 absentee ballots.

    “Not all of those have been received back yet, though,” Watkinssaid.

    The circuit clerk encouraged those with mail-in ballots to sendmail them back as quickly as possible. Ballots that arrive afterAug. 1 will not be counted.

    Absentee voters must fill out an application for an absentee ballotand state a reason they must so vote. The form lists such reasonsas working during voting hours, being outside the county duringvoting hours and caring for a sick relative.