Voter registration numbers continue to climb in Lauderdale County as the window closes Saturday for registration to vote in the Nov. 8 general election.

According to Donna Jill Johnson, the county circuit clerk, 258 new voters registered between Sept. 20 and Oct. 4. New voters, however, make up a small percentage of activity at the clerk’s office. 

“We have been bombarded by people coming in to change their addresses,” said Johnson, adding that address changes make up 97 percent of their work. 

“Every four years we get more interest, during the presidential election,” Johnson said. “In three years, during the federal cycle of congressmen, we won’t have near the interest we have now.”

Thus far the county has 43,658 voters registered voters, compared with the 44,944 registered in 2014 and 45,617 in 2012, according to Johnson.

In the last presidential election, Lauderdale County cast 30,213 votes. Of those votes, 17,322 voted in favor of Mitt Romney, the GOP candidate, versus the 12,642 in favor of Barack Obama. The remaining 249 voters chose third-party candidates, according to an analysis from Politico. 

“We always have high voter turnout at presidential elections,” said Awana Simmons, the Lauderdale County District 3 election commissioner. “If they don’t vote any other time they vote presidential.”

During this final week of registration, the clerk’s office concentrates on ensuring voters have registered under the correct address, Johnson said, noting that it is illegal to vote under an old address. 

The circuit clerk’s office at the Lauderdale Count Courthouse will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday to register voters.

Voters temporarily living in another area – whether pursuing their education or their service in the Armed Forces – may qualify for absentee voting. Voters with qualifying age, health or work demands should contact their local circuit clerk’s office to learn more.

The deadline for absentee voting by mail is Nov. 5. All absentee ballots must be turned in by Nov. 9, the day after the election. 

Circuit Clerk contact information for Lauderdale and surrounding counties: 

Lauderdale County – (601) 482-9731.

Clarke County – (601) 776-3111.

Kemper County – (601) 743-2224.

Newton County – (601) 635-2368.

Neshoba County – (601) 656-4781.