An indication of the strong interest in Tuesday’s primary election comes one day ahead of Election Day in the number of absentee ballots cast.
Saturday, Aug. 5 at 12 noon was the deadline for absentee ballots to be cast in person at the DeSoto County Courthouse. Absentee ballots that were requested by mail are still eligible to be counted if postmarked by Election Day, Aug. 8. Absentee ballots by mail must be received on or within five business days of the election, Aug. 15, for it to count.
DeSoto County Circuit Clerk Dale Thompson Monday morning reported the numbers of absentee ballots that have been cast as of the Saturday deadline for in-person balloting.
According to Thompson, 2,074 Republicans cast absentee ballots, while 139 Democrats used the absentee option.
Those figures are compared to 807 Republican absentee ballots and 96 Democrats voting that way in 2019.
Polls are open at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 8 and will remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. Voters standing in line to vote at 7 p.m. are allowed to mark their ballots after 7 p.m. Primary elections are functions of the respective Republican and Democratic parties.
The state will have observers at the polls and anyone with problems at the polls can report that to the Secretary of State’s Election Hotline at 800-829-6786. Intimidation occurrences can be reported to the Judicial Department’s Civil Rights Division at 800-253-3931.
With redistricting, changes in districts and polling locations may have changed. Voters are reminded to check their registration cards to learn where they need to go.
CLICK HERE for polling location and sample ballots. Type your address in the upper left corner where the website states, “Type address here.” The results will show the polling precinct, location, and directions, along with a sample ballot for the election.
