Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office press release

JACKSON — The 2011 Party Primary Election’s are Tuesday and the Secretary of State’s Office wants to encourage all voters to head to the polls to cast their ballot in the election.

“Soldiers are risking their lives so you can cast a ballot,” says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. “A free and fair election system is what makes this country so great. If you want to honor a soldier, make sure you vote in the Primary Election.”

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, for the primary election.

Some tips for Election Day:

• Find your polling location prior to Election Day: This is especially important for first-time voters. Check your voter registration card for your proper polling location. The Secretary of State’s website also offers a polling locator at http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=58.

• Vote at “off-peak” times: To avoid potential long lines, and if your schedule permits, try to cast your ballot at “slower” voting times, such as mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

• Watch what you wear: It is against the law for any candidate or candidate’s representative to distribute campaign literature within 150 of any entrance of a polling location. It is the position of the Secretary of State’s Office that wearing a T-shirt with a candidate’s name and/or picture on it, or other campaign paraphernalia, within 150 feet of the entrance of a polling location constitutes the posting of campaign literature and is prohibited.

• Identification: If you are a first-time, mail-in registrant, and you did not provide identification with your application and you could not be verified through the Department of Public Safety, by federal law, you are required to show identification acceptable to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) standards. According to HAVA, the following are acceptable forms of identification: a copy of a current and valid photo ID, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows the name and address of the voter.

• Most importantly, BE PATIENT: Your vote is your voice in government—and your neighbor’s. Please allow ample time to cast your ballot, and be patient with your fellow voters and election staff.