Jackson Free Press

Now is the time to double-check your registration, or, for procrastinators, it's time to register to vote. The deadline for the presidential election is Saturday, Oct. 4, if your county has an office open on Saturday. Otherwise, it's Friday, Oct. 3.

It's possible that legitimate voter registrations are being dropped and purged from the state voter rolls, sometimes illegally.

"States are comparing their state-wide databases, using, in many cases, very limited amounts of data," and making assumptions to drop or "purge" eligible voters, said Estelle Rogers, an attorney for the non-partisan, non-profit Project Vote. "It is illegal under federal law to drop someone from a database that way without many other safeguards. … Registration information is being compared to driver's licenses or social security databases, and people are being dropped if information … doesn't match exactly."

Although you can vote using an affidavit ballot if there's a problem, those ballots are often not counted, Rogers said.

In this hotly contested voting environment, voters need to ensure their ability to cast a vote. Voters should expect understaffed polling places in November, according to Project Vote, and staff that is under- or untrained, or misinformed when it comes to voter irregularities.

If you're registered, go to http://www.voteforchange.com to double-check. If you've moved since you last voted or the information the site displays is incorrect, update your voter record by Oct. 4.

To register or update your records, go the one of the designated locations in the city or county where you live with identification. Take your driver's license, Social Security number, a copy of a current and valid photo identification, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing your name and address.

For a list of locations to register or update your records, visit http://www.jackpedia.com. If you have questions, go to the Mississippi Secretary of State's Web site (http://www.sos.state.ms.us/Elections/voterinfoguide.asp) or the Mississippi League of Women Voters Web site (http://www.lwv-ms.org/elections).