Voting rights groups educate Mississippians on voting options ahead of election

Mississippi Voters will cast their ballots for all statewide offices this November, including governor, lieutenant governor and state lawmakers. The registration deadline for voting in the general election has passed, and voting rights organizations are now focusing their attention on the voting process.

Finding your polling place

Debbie Pantenburg, who volunteers with the League of Women Voters, says many voters don't know where their polling place is.

“There are a couple of places that you can find that out… the secretary of state offers a nice website called Y'all Vote.” she said. “The National League of Women Voters sponsors a website called Vote411.org and it is on that website that you can put in your address and find out your polling place.”

Absentee voting

While early voting is not legal in the state, residents are able to apply for an absentee ballot if they meet certain criteria, including: 

• Having a disability
• Being over 65
• Not being located in their home county

However, Pantenburg says that Mississippi does not make it easy to vote absentee.

“There is a long list of rules and regulations around that, and many people do qualify and as a matter of fact, tens of thousands of people in Mississippi do vote absentee,” she said. “But in order for that to be counted correctly, you do have to follow all the rules.”

Those that want an absentee ballot need to apply through their county clerk's office and it must be notarized. The general election is November 7.