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NATCHEZ — As of the end of the day Thursday, more than 200 Adams County residents had cast absentee ballots in the general election, which is Nov. 5.

Some have remarked about the change in this year’s ballot and how the candidates in the race for president are listed on the ballot, said Adams County Circuit Clerk Eva Givens.

“We were just discussing that. We have never seen the presidential candidates listed on the ballot like that,” she said. “I don’t know why that change was made. That’s a question for the Secretary of State’s office.”

Instead of simply listing the candidates’ names, the ballot in the general election asks voters to cast ballots for the presidential electors for each candidate running for the position.

Tracy Gaude, a member of the Adams County Elections Commission, said after the 2020 election, the Mississippi legislature passed a law to change the wording to reflect the election of electors, not candidates.

“They also put them in alphabetical order by name of the presidential candidate,” Gaude said. “Previously, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party candidates were listed first.” (See sample ballot.)

Register to vote by Monday at 5 p.m.

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election is Monday at 5 p.m.

Givens said her office will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon to accommodate those people who want to register to vote but cannot make it to her office in the Adams County Courthouse Monday through Friday.

“People need to make sure to register by Monday at 5 p.m. If you don’t, you won’t be able to vote in the general election Nov. 5,” she said.

Those who want to register to vote should bring a picture ID or a Mississippi driver’s license. Mississippi does not offer online voter registration, only mail-in or in-person registration. Mail-in voter registration forms must be received by Oct. 15.

You can check to make certain you are registered to vote at https://www.msegov.com/sos/voter_registration/amiregistered/Search

You can get more information about registering to vote at https://www.sos.ms.gov/yall-vote.

Absentee voting

The last day to vote in-person absentee is Nov. 2, while mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5 (Election Day).

Mississippians currently registered to vote, or those who submit voter registration applications by Oct. 7 (in-person or postmarked) are entitled to cast a ballot in the General Election.

Mississippians may utilize the Secretary of State’s Y’all Vote website, which includes an Absentee Voting FAQ and Step-by-Step Guide to Absentee Voting, or contact the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office to verify eligibility. If eligible, ballots will be provided upon request.   The Circuit Clerk’s Office is located in the Adams County Courthouse. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The main phone number is 601-446-6324.  Mississippians who cast an absentee ballot may track their ballot through My Election Day on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.  For those who cannot visit their Circuit Clerk’s Office during the work week, Saturday in-person absentee voting dates are Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. from 8 a.m. to noon.

“Absentee voting is going very well statewide, I’m told,” Gaude said.

The Secretary of State’s Office is your primary source for election information. For questions, email ElectionAnswers@sos.ms.gov, call the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786, or visit YallVote.ms.