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The Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk’s Office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday to accommodate voters who are unable to cast absentee ballots during regular business hours.

With the June 5 primary approaching, time is running out to submit absentee ballots.

“We are asking everyone to look at their calendar to see if they have a conflict on June 5,” Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson wrote in a news release.

While Mississippi does not allow early voting, absentee voting is allowed when there is a “legal reason,” Johnson said.

Johnson said some of these reasons include working during polling hours, a planned surgery or an out-of-town trip, such as a conference, convention or vacation.

Absentee voting is expected to continue next week, but no deadline date has been set. Voters should bring a picture ID when voting absentee. The circuit clerk’s office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

As for the election, six Democrats and one Republican are challenging Sen. Roger F. Wicker, the incumbent, in 2018.

In the June 5 primary, Richard Warren Boyanton will challenge Wicker, while David Baria, Jensen Bohren, Jerone Garland, Victor G. Maurice Jr., Omeria Scott and Howard Sherman each attempt to win the Democratic nomination.

In Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District, two Democrats and six Republicans are vying for the retiring Rep. Gregg Harper’s seat.

In the primary, Michael Aycox and Michael Ted Evans are running for the Democratic nomination, while Sally Doty, Morgan Dunn, Michael Guest, Whit Hughes, Perry Parker and Katherine “Bitzi” Tate are running for the Republican nomination. 

The winners of each primary will face off in November.

“We have received numerous calls about the judges races since so many signs have popped up, and that will be on the November General Election ballot,” Johnson wrote.