NATCHEZ — Those who qualify and want to exercise their right to vote from home or before the Aug. 2 primary can do so via an absentee ballot until noon July 30.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker said his office has not yet received the absentee ballots from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office on the State Election Management (computer) System, but they should arrive soon.

The Secretary of State’s office could not be reached by press time for comment on when the ballots will be available in Adams County or why Walker’s office does not yet have access to them.

To qualify for absentee voting, residents must first request an application by stopping by the circuit clerk’s office or calling the office to request an application in the mail.

Voters qualify for absentee voting if they cannot be in town during Election Day, are older than 65 or if they are permanently or temporarily physically disabled.

Walker said permanently disabled people should ask their doctor to send a letter to the circuit clerk’s office. Once a doctor’s letter and absentee application is on file, the clerk’s office will mail a ballot to the disabled person for each subsequent election.

Residents in the military can vote absentee via e-mail, mail or fax.

Those who will be out of town Aug. 2 can cast a ballot at the circuit clerk’s office before the primary if they qualify.

When mailing an application and ballot to the clerk’s office, the application and ballot must be sent through the U.S. Post Office in the separate envelopes provided.

The circuit clerk’s office will be open 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 23 and July 30 for the purpose of handing voters to apply for and cast an absentee ballot.

Only those absentee ballots cast at the circuit clerk’s office or delivered by U.S. mail to the circuit clerk’s office by July 30 will be counted.

Saturday was the last day to register to vote in the August primaries.

Residents can still register on or before Oct. 8 before noon to vote in the Nov. 8 general election.

Further instructions and application requests for absentee voting can be answered by calling the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office at 601-446-6326.