The Webster Progress-Times

Registered voters in Webster County are reminded of the importance of voting in the proper precinct as Tuesday's primary runoff election approaches.

"A registered voter may not cast a lawful ballot in a voting precinct other than the precinct where he or she resides," said Circuit Clerk Deborah Hood Neal. "If a voter moves within the county or out of state, the voter is responsible for contacting the circuit clerk's office or city clerk's office nearest them to let us know of any changes."

Neal provided this additional information concerning the need for voters to report any change of address and vote in the correct precinct, and the process of casting an affidavit ballot:

With TSX voting machines, paper ballots may be used at times. These optical mark scan ballots will be placed in the precinct ballot box and counted on the central OS scanner at election central (Courthouse courtroom). The types of paper ballots are affidavit (provisional) ballots and emergency ballots.

Only those electors whose names appear on the pollbook can cast regular election-day ballots on the TSX voting machine. However, a person whose name does not appear may cast an affidavit ballot. Affidavit voters will cast their votes on paper ballots. Each polling place will be issued paper ballots for this purpose (Mississippi Code 23-15-573).

The election officials - the party Executive Committee for primaries and the election commissioners for general and special elections - must examine the records when canvassing the returns and allow the affidavit ballot to be counted or not counted, as shall appear to be legal (Mississippi Code 97-13-35).

Poll Managers Affidavit Ballot Checklist

€ Voter appears at the polling place and poll managers determine that voter's name is not on the pollbooks.

€ The poll managers must then determine if the voter should be voting at another polling place. This is done by referring to a master list of all voters, or by contacting the circuit/municipal clerk, Election Commission or Executive Committee and by simply asking where the voter resides.

€ If the voter resides in another precinct, the poll manager must tell the voter he or she must go to that precinct's polling place. Reason: if the voter casts a ballot in a precinct where the voter does not reside, the entire ballot must be rejected by the Election Commission or Executive Committee. If a voter casts an affidavit ballot in the wrong precinct, it will not be counted.

€ If the poll mangers establish that the voter is in the correct precinct but his or her name is not in the pollbook, they should advise the voter that he or she may vote by affidavit ballot. The voter must then sign a separate sign-in sheet (receipt book). Do not have the voter sign the same receipt book that all non-affidavit voters sign. Instead, provide a separate sign-in sheet for this purpose labeled "Affidavit Voters."

Anyone with questions may call the Webster County circuit clerk's office at 258-6287.