UPDATE: Absentee voting underway for primary election

Feb. 8—UPDATE: This article has been updated with the correct phone number for the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's office.

Absentee voting is underway for Lauderdale County residents unable to head to the polls on March 12 to cast their ballots in the 2024 primary elections.

Mississippians are able to cast their vote via an absentee ballot if they have a valid reason why they cannot cast their ballot in person on Election Day. Common reasons include being out of town for work or school, on vacation or having a scheduled medical procedure such as surgery.

Absentee ballots can be filled out in person at the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's office, which is located in the old courthouse at 500 Constitution Ave. Those already out of town can request a ballot be mailed to them by calling 601-482-9731.

This year's elections include candidates for one of Mississippi's two U.S. Senate seats, the state's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and President of the United States. On Election Day, residents will select either the Democrat or Republican ballot and cast their votes in that party's primary. The winners of the primary elections will go on to face each other in the general election in November.

On the Democrat ballot are President Joe Biden, who is running for his second term in the Oval Office, and Ty Pinkins, a native of Rolling Fork, who is running for Senate.

Voters on the Republican ticket will have a few more candidates to consider. In the presidential race, former President Donald J. Trump is joined by former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in seeking their party's nomination.

Candidates Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy have both dropped out of the presidential race, however they have not filed the paperwork with the Mississippi Secretary of State to have their names withdrawn and will appear with Trump and Haley on the March 12 ballot.

For Senate, incumbent Sen. Roger Wicker faces challengers Ghannon Burton, a retired Marine Corps Colonel, and state Rep. Dan Eubanks, who represents District 25, for the Republican nomination. The winner will go on to face Pinkins in November.

Also appearing on the Republican ballot will be incumbent Rep. Michael Guest, who represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District, which includes Lauderdale County. Guest, a former district attorney representing Rankin and Madison counties, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and is finishing his third term. He is running unopposed.

Voter Registration

Lauderdale County residents still have time to register to vote or to update their existing voter registration if needed. The deadline to register is Monday, Feb. 12, for those planning to vote on March 12.

Registration can be completed in person at the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's office or via mail. Mail in applications can be found at sos.ms.gov/yall-vote, and must be postmarked by the Feb. 12 deadline for residents to be eligible to vote in the primary election.

All 82 Circuit Clerks' offices across the state are open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday to assist residents unable to come in during regular work hours.

Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com