Pike County continues to lead Southwest Mississippi counties in absentee voting.
The Mississippi Secretary of State office said that as of Sunday, Oct. 11, there were 1,136 absentee ballots cast in Pike County, an increase of 419 from the week before.
That’s more than double the 519 ballots cast since Oct. 11 in similarly populated Lincoln County.
As of Sunday across the state, voters had requested a total of 91,474 absentee ballots, election officials had sent out 86,609 and 58,796 had been returned to circuit clerks.
By law, absentee ballots must remain sealed until Election Day, when they are counted.
Absentee voting is open to anyone over 65; the disabled; people serving in the military; students away at college; people who have to work on Election Day; and people who will be out of the county, state or country on Election Day.
Those who will be quarantined due to COVID-19 on Election Day also can vote absentee on the basis of temporary disability.
Of the 1,136 votes cast in Pike County so far, 682 were from people 65 or older, 160 were from those claiming temporary disability, 217 were from people who said they would be out of town, 21 were from college students, 49 were from people who cited work conflicts, and seven were from members of the military.
Lincoln County more than doubled its own count of absebtee ballots over the past week, increasing from a total of 254 to 519.
The total number of absentee ballots had been received from the following counties as of Sunday:
Pike, 1,136; Amite, 283; Walthall, 239; Lincoln, 519; Franklin, 180; Lawrence, 149; Wilkinson, 65.
The deadline to vote absentee is 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and circuit clerks’ offices will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for absentee voting, as well as 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
Mailed-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3.
