Clarksdale, Coahoma County and the United States of America are ready to vote.
Polls for the 2024 General Election will open in Clarksdale and Coahoma County at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters looking for a list of candidates who will be on the ballot can go to the Clarksdale Press Register website and search for absentee voting for national, state and local candidates.
Election officials also predict a large turnout on Tuesday and are asking local voters to be patient and budget a little extra time to cast their ballot.
There are many rules for conducting fair and fast elections and all Coahoma County voters should follow directions of poll workers and ask for assistance at any point in the process.
Voters are reminded that poll workers have been trained in the rules for lawful and efficient voting. Anyone who creates a disturbance or violates protocol will be approached by an Election Bailiff who can have a person arrested and removed from the polls for disturbing the peace.
Questions or concerns about voting issues, policy and procedure for any election should be directed to the Secretary of State’s office at (601) 359-1350.
Questions or concerns about candidate qualifications, ethics and conduct while in office should be directed to the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division at (601) 359-4258.
State law says anyone who seeks to influence the vote of any person by absentee ballot or offers anything of value for a vote, or destroys absentee ballots can be charged with voter fraud and upon conviction be fined not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 and be sentenced from one to five years in the state penitentiary, or both. The statute also includes those who offer to submit a ballot for something of value.
ELECTION DAY RULES
• In-Person Absentee Voting Deadline: The last day to vote absentee in-person was Saturday, Nov. 2.
• Mail-In Absentee Voting Deadline: All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5, 2024 and received by the Coahoma County Circuit Clerk's Offices by Nov. 13, 2024.
• 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.
• Voter ID Affidavit Ballot Deadline: Voters who cast an affidavit ballot because they forgot their voter ID and must present an acceptable form of photo ID to their Circuit Clerk's office at the Coahoma County Courthouse by Nov. 13, 2024.
• Polling Place Location: Those wishing to vote can contact the Coahoma County Circuit Clerk’s office to verify your polling place.
• 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 election officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers.
• Camera Phones: Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot.
Qualifications vary from office to office but the main requirements are to be a resident and qualified voter from the district or county they plan to represent.
Candidates may not have been convicted of a federal crime or certain Mississippi crimes defined as felonies punishable by incarceration in a state penitentiary, unless they have received a full pardon. They also may not be convicted of a crime in another state that is considered a felony under Mississippi law.
Candidates cannot have been legally declared mentally incompetent.
