The days are ticking down to the much anticipated Nov. 6 elections, and the ballots are stacking up in the circuit clerk’s office.

     “It’s been wild,” said interim Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Sherry Jordan.

     As of late Monday afternoon, approximately 883 absentee ballots had either been sent by mail or cast at the circuit clerk’s office.

     However, Jordan said many of the absentee ballots sent out by mail have not returned yet, so the actual number of cast ballots at the clerk’s office is somewhat lower right now.

     Jordan said the numbers so far are consistent with past experience. She estimated approximately 1,000 absentee ballots were cast in the last presidential election.

     Voters will see a variety of federal, state and county races on the Nov. 6 ballot, including the presidential contest, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state Supreme Court, county election commissioners and select county school board seats.

     In Lincoln County, there will be a special election for circuit clerk on the ballot, a race that will probably require a runoff.

     Jordan recommended voters not wait until the last minute if they know they won’t be able to cast a ballot on Nov. 6.

     “I always think it’s better to prepare ahead of time,” she said.

     Nov. 1, the Thursday before Election Day, is the last day ballots will be sent out by mail, Jordan said. If the clerk’s office sends ballots out any later than that, it’s likely they won’t be received back in time.

     Residents may call the circuit clerk’s office at 601-835-3435 to request an absentee ballot. Ballots sent out by mail must be returned by mail.

     Returned mail ballots must be in the circuit clerk’s Post Office box by 5 p.m. Nov. 5, the Monday before the election. Any ballots received after that deadline will not be counted.

     Jordan said if residents bring ballots to the Post Office on the Monday deadline, postal employees will usually put the ballot directly in the circuit clerk’s box.

     Saturday, Nov. 3, will be the last day to vote absentee in person at the circuit clerk’s office. That’s a Saturday and the clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon.

     The clerk’s office will also be open the Saturday before, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. until noon to allow absentee voting.