Voters head to polls Nov. 8, absentee ballot deadline looms

Franklin County voters are set to cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in a number of local, regional, state and national races.

Among the positions to be decided will be the U.S. House of Representatives Second District seat between incumbent Democrat Bennie G. Thompson and Republican challenger Brian Flowers.

Nonpartisan judicial races will be held for the Mississippi Court of Appeals District 4 Position 1 seat between incumbent Virginia Carlton and challenger Bruce W. Burton.

Two uncontested Chancery Court judicial races are on the local ticket with Debbra K. Halford from District 4 Place 1 and Wayne Smith from District 4 Place 2 seeking re-election.

Three candidates are seeking election to the District 6 Place 2 Circuit Court judgeship — including incumbent Debra W. Blackwell, Timothy David Blalock and Eileen M. Maher.

Additionally, two school board seats — held by GloriaStine C. Hayes from District 1 and Vanessa Walker representing District 2 — will be up for election, but the office holders did not face a challenge.

Hayes presently serves as school board president and Walker is the panel’s vice president.

For residents of Franklin County’s District 2, a special election will be held to fill the election commission seat previously held by Elizabeth Lazarus, who resigned from that post earlier this year.

Two candidates will seek the office — Mary Kay Holt and Hilda Peeler.

For those who wish to cast an absentee ballot prior to the general election, Franklin County Circuit Clerk Warren Walker noted his office will be open today (Thursday, Nov. 3) and Friday, Nov. 4 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., as well as Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m., to noon.

To cast an absentee ballot, Walker said voters must be able to select at least one of the reasons listed on the application.

The following is a list of some of those acceptable reasons:

• Voter will be outside the county on election day.

• Voter is 65 years of age or older.

• Voter is required to be at work on election day during the time which the polls are open;

• Voter is a student, teacher or administrator away at college.

• Voter has a temporary or permanent physical disability.

• Voter is an enlisted or a commissioned member of any component of the U.S. Armed Forces and a citizen of Mississippi or spouse or dependent of such member.

Residents can contact the Circuit Clerk’s office at 601-384-2320 for ballot questions or additional election information.