Absentee ballots surpass 2016 totals in state

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office this week released its latest report on the number of absentee ballots requested, sent, and received in the state for the 2020 general election. 

Contrary to other states involved in early voting, Mississippi does not allow for that, but voters who have a reason they can’t be at the polls on Election Day can request and vote an absentee ballot ahead of Nov. 3.  

As of Sunday, Oct. 18, the Statewide Election Management System reported 120,253 absentee ballots had been requested, 115,848 sent, and 89,499 absentee ballots received.  

According to the state reports, through Sunday, DeSoto County had 6,610 ballots requested, 5,884 ballots sent, and 5,178 ballots received to the Circuit Clerk’s office in Hernando.  

CLICK HERE for complete county figures.

The number of absentee ballots sent and received in Mississippi already has surpassed the final totals for the 2016 general election. 

In that election, 110,812 absentee ballots were requested and 110,810 were sent.

CLICK HERE for the official 2016 general election results.

Saturday, Oct. 31 in the final day for absentee ballots to be accepted. The Circuit Clerk’s office in Hernando is open from 8 a.m.-12 noon this Saturday, Oct. 24. The office will also be open on Oct. 31 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the deadline for in-person absentee voting.  

All mail-in absentee ballots must have a Nov. 3 postmark to be counted in the voting.  They must also be received into the Circuit Clerk’s office within five business days of Election Day.  

In DeSoto County, 2,266 voters over the age of 65 had requested an absentee ballot as of Sunday, 2,185 of that number had been sent, and 2,081 had been received from voters over the age of 65.