Primary Election Day approaching

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Election Day is one week away.

The Mississippi Secretary of State is sending out reminders for Election Day, which will begin at 7 a.m on August 6.  Polls close at 7 p.m.  Any voter in line at 7 p.m. on Tuesday will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Primary Elections are conducted by political parties in Mississippi.  The Secretary of State’s Office will have observers in precincts across the State.

Other important information for Election Day includes:

• Absentee Voting Deadline: The in-person absentee voting deadline is Saturday, August 3, 2019.  Circuit Clerk’s Offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The deadline to vote by mail is Monday, August 5, 2019, and Circuit Clerk’s Offices must be in actual receipt of the absentee ballot by 5 p.m.  UOCAVA voters, including servicemembers deployed outside their county of residence, must absentee vote by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, August 6, 2019.
• Polling Place Location: A polling place locator is available on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ms.gov/PollingPlace/Pages/default.aspx. A sample ballot specific to the voter’s polling place is located on the Polling Place Locator website.
• Voter Photo ID: Voters are required to show photo identification at the polls.  A voter without an acceptable form of photo identification is entitled to cast an affidavit ballot.  An affidavit ballot may be counted if the voter provides an acceptable form of photo identification to the Circuit Clerk’s Office within five business days after the election.  For more information, visit www.msvoterID.ms.gov.
• Campaigning: It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property.
• Loitering: The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all people except elections officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers.
• Camera Phones: Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot.

Problems at the polls observed by State observers or otherwise reported to the Elections Division will be referred to the authorities, including the Attorney General’s Office or appropriate District Attorney’s Office.  The Secretary of State’s Office has no enforcement authority to resolve problems.