Ever since the Democratic National Convention began on August 17 and concluded on August 20, there has apparently been quite a stir of confusion amongst local voters and the absentee ballot voting process for the upcoming Presidential Election. This uncertainty has led to numerous calls to Jasper County Circuit Clerk Billy Rayner’s office over the past week.
“Since the Democratic Convention appeared on television there have been a lot of questions about absentee voting and people wanting to vote absentee now. If there is confusion or people have questions we are glad to answer them,” he explained Monday. “But, we can’t do absentee voting right now.”
According to Rayner, many of the calls or questions he has received about the absentee process seem to have stemmed from the Convention and the spread of information by delegates through national television or other media outlets that voters need to begin the Presidential absentee voting process now.
This may can happen in some other states, but not in Mississippi. Absentee voting for the upcoming Presidential Election will begin on September 21 in Mississippi, and there is a very plausible explanation. There is no ballot yet.
According to Rayner, there could be a number of elections, state and local, that will appear on Mississippi voter ballots other than the presidential race that will take place on Tuesday, November 3. Some of those other election races are still in the qualifying period like a race that will be decided locally on the East Jasper and West Jasper District Five school board member. The qualifying period for that race will end on September 4.
Rayner went on to say the absentee process in the state will remain the same as in past elections other than a few changes.
“In Mississippi, the election process will stay the same, with the exception of two new reasons to receive or to vote by absentee ballot. Those reasons are that if you are quarantined due to the COVID-19 virus or you are a caregiver of a person with the COVID-19 virus,” he mentioned. “The first day to vote in Mississippi by absentee will be September 21, in both of our offices (Bay Springs and Paulding) in the county, and the last day will be the Saturday in both offices before the election at 5 p.m. It’s usually from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on that Saturday, but for this election, only, it will be from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.”
Another important timeline Rayner discussed is the voter registration deadline.
“The voter registration deadline is 30 days prior to the election. The deadline is Saturday, October 3, and we will be open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon on that day. That week before the third both offices will also be open for voter registration with extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on September 28-30 and on October 1-2.,” he said. “We can do updates after that on voter registration if any information has changed, but we cannot put any new registrations in.”
Rayner went on to say the upcoming Presidential Election is very important, just as all elections are, and he encourages voters to exercise their right to vote.