Mississippians are now voting by absentee ballot in the U.S. senate runoff between Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy. But, some say the quick turnaround is difficult for those traveling during the holidays or living out-of-state. MPB's Ashley Norwood reports.
Zakiya Summers is a Hinds County Election Commissioner. She says voting by absentee ballot in-person or by mail is now available at precincts across the state.
"So the mail-in absentee must be recieved no later than November 26th. And for those individuals that are going into their local circuit clerks office to vote by absentee in-person they can go now until the 24th," said Summers.
Carcia Carson is a graduate student at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The Terry native says traveling home for the holiday will be a quick turnaround before school is back in session but voting by absentee ballot is important.
"I'll be in Mississippi the week for Thanksgiving to vote because I'll be coming back before the Tuesday election," said Carson.
Democratic State Senator David Blount, vice chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, says Mississippians voting by absentee ballot now should do so in-person instead of by mail.
"To vote absentee by mail when you consider the holidays involved, a notary public is required under current state law and that ballot has to be received by the Monday before the election it's virtually impossible. The process needs to be streamlined," said Blount.
Local circuit clerk offices are open Monday through Friday and also on Saturday.
Ashley Norwood, MPB News.
