Jackson Free Press

Before you can cast an absentee ballot, you first need to call your county registrar's office to verify your registration.

In order to vote absentee, you must meet one of the following criteria: you will be outside the county on Election Day, you're disabled, you're required to be at work on Election Day, you're over the age of 65, you're an enlisted member of the military or you're married to an enlisted member of the military.

You need to request the ballot from the registrar's office. You can request this through a phone call or in person. If you are disabled, over 65, or the spouse or dependent of a person hospitalized 50 miles away from his residence, the circuit clerk will mail you a ballot. Otherwise, you must go to the circuit clerk's office in person to pick up your ballot.

The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is the Saturday before Election Day (this year Nov. 3), and you must submit the ballot by 5 p.m. the day before the election. This year, you must turn it in by the close of business on Monday, Nov. 5. Bear in mind that if you mail it, it must arrive by that time.

Unless you are disabled, you must have your absentee ballot notarized. Mississippi law allows any notary public, United States postmaster, assistant United States postmaster, United States postal supervisor, clerk in charge of a contract postal station or any officer having authority to administer an oath to serve as the witness for the marking of an absentee ballot.

If you are disabled, you may have any person 18 years or older witness you marking your ballot. If you are not disabled, not over 65, and not residing outside your county of residence, you must have the Circuit Clerk witness you marking your absentee ballot.

See jfp.ms/absenteefor information.