Meridian residents who will be out of town, in the hospital or otherwise unable to make it to the polls on April 1 can stop by the city clerk’s office to cast their vote as absentee voting in the 2025 municipal primary elections is underway.

 

On the ballot are five seats on the Meridian City Council — one for each ward — and the race for mayor.

 

In primary elections, voters will need to choose whether they want to participate in the Democrat or Republican race, which will affect which candidates appear on their ballots.

 

On the Democratic side, residents will have a four-way race for Meridian’s mayor, with current Mayor Jimmie Smith, former Mayor Percy Bland, former Meridian Police Officer Rita Jack and current City Councilwoman for Ward 5 Ty Bell Lindsey all running for the party’s nomination.

 

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two candidates on April 22. The winner of the election will go on to face Republican Stephen Derik Boler and Independent Jimmie Copeland in the June 3 general election.

 

In Ward 1, Tyrone Johnson and Cassandra Amerson are competing for the Democratic party’s nomination while Elliot Brewer and Elton Reed do the same on the Republican ticket. The winning Democrat and winning Republican will go on to face each other in June.

 

Incumbent City Councilman Dwayne Davis faces an uncontested primary on the Democratic ballot as he runs for reelection in the Ward 2 seat. He will face off against Independent challenger Kyle L. Waller in the June general election.

 

Voters in Ward 3 will see another crowded Democratic ticket as five candidates look to secure the party’s nomination. Incumbent Joe Norwood Jr. is running for a second term on the City Council with LeQuincy Kimbrough, Sandra Faye Moore, Joy L. Finley and Tracy V. Tims looking to unseat him. Ward 3 voters could also see a runoff election on April 22 if no candidate breaches the 50% plus one vote threshold to win outright.

 

The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Beverly Henson, a Republican, in June.

 

Ward 4 voters will have two proven councilwomen to choose from on the Democratic ticket, with incumbent Romande Gail Walker running against former Councilwoman Kim Houston in the April 1 primary. The winner will coast to victory with no Republican or Independent challengers running to oppose them in the general election.

 

With Lindsey opting to run in the mayoral race, residents in Ward 5 are guaranteed to have new representation on the City Council in July. The only question is who it will be.

 

Brandon Rue, Jatara Smith and Shirley Bolden Goodwin are running in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination, while Dustin Hill and Chad Acton face off to be the Republican choice. The winners will be joined by Independent candidate Ricky Spells in the general election in June.

 

Elected officials in Marion are also up for reelection this year, with the mayor and five Board of Aldermen seats up for grabs. Unlike Meridian candidates, those seeking office in Marion run nonpartisan races, meaning they do not declare affiliation with a political party and do not participate in primary elections. Mayor Larry Gill is running unopposed for a second term in office, while incumbents Stacy McInnis Blalock, Lou Ann Baylor, Norman Coleman and Tammy Young will be joined by Shanta Michelle Hegemony, Koredé S. Stennis and former Alderwoman Rita S. Rawson on the June general election ballot.

 

Marion also does not have wards or districts, and town voters are able to weigh in on all five alderman seats.

 

While Mississippi does not allow for early voting or no-excuse absentee voting, absentee ballots are available for those with a valid reason. Common reasons include being out of town for work, school or vacation on Election Day, working during polling hours — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — and scheduled medical procedures that prevent a person from getting to their voting location. Mississippi also allows for absentee voting by anyone over 65 years of age.

 

House District 82

 

Ahead of this year’s municipal elections, Meridian and Lauderdale County voters will have a special election to fill an empty seat in the state House of Representatives. District 82, which includes Meridian and part of Lauderdale County, was previously represented by Rep. Charles Young Jr., who died Dec. 19.

 

Gov. Tate Reeves in January called for a special election on March 25 to fill the vacancy, with a runoff date of April 22 if needed.

 

Running for the seat are Joe Norwood Sr., who currently represents District 4 on the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Gregory Elliot, who currently sits on Meridian’s Civil Service board, and local attorney Joseph A. Denson, who also serves as a public defender for the city.