Today Marks Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Elections

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

Residents of Oxford’s Ward 4 cast their ballots on July 2 for their new alderman. Photo by Jackson Solari.

On August 6, U.S. residents will flock to polling stations in hopes to elect representatives for their respective counties and districts; however, in order to participate and exercise the right to vote, residents must register with their respected county clerk offices by today.

The Lafayette County Circuit Clerks’ office will be open until 5 p.m. to accept in-person applications and to receive applications sent by mail, which must have a postmark date of no later than July 8.

Currently, Baretta Mosley serves as Lafayette’s Circuit Clerk but is not running for re-election this year. The circuit clerk office is located inside the Lafayette County Courthouse located in the center of The Square.

For those who do not register to vote by the end of today, they will still have a chance to participate in the November General Election.

Voters in the state of Mississippi must present a photo I.D. on Election Day.

During last year’s midterm elections, officials from Mississippi’s Secretary of State office said many millennials (18-34-year-olds) opted out of participating in the election process.

The Mississippi Humanities Council hosted Ideas on Tap—a panel discussion featuring knowledgeable participants who present a wide spectrum of opinions on the topic—across the state.

Kim Turner, the assistant secretary of state who oversees the office’s elections division, said at the 2018 October panel that Mississippi is great at getting its residents registered to vote; however, the state falls short at turning those registered into actual votes during elections.

“This entire year our turnout for the primary [election] was dismal,” Turner said. “And that’s not a word I use lightly. It’s meant to be shocking to your conscience that we hover between 13 to 14 percent of that 1.8 million registered voters.”

Regarding young voter turnout, Turner said the problems varied across the board such as interest in politics, poor messaging, and perceptions of candidates and political parties.

“It comes from a generation that is so used to convenience and ease,” Turner said.

For a complete list of candidates running for state office, read “Final List of All Mississippi Candidates for State Offices.”

Hottytoddy.com will be providing a complete list of candidates running for local office in the coming days.