A special election to fill the term of Jim Beckett in the House of Representatives will be held Tuesday, Jan. 10.
House District 23 became vacant when Beckett, R-Bruce, resigned last year to become director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff.
Three Calhoun Countians are competing in the special election to fill his vacant House seat: farmers Perry Van Bailey and Andy Clark, and pharmacist and University of Mississippi clinical instructor Andy Stepp.
District 23 comprises all of Calhoun County, and parts of Grenada, Lafayette and Webster counties. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday in the seven Webster County precincts voting in the special election: Bellefontaine, Walthall, Big Black, Maben, Clarkson, Cumberland and Mantee.
The last day for in-person absentee voting is Saturday, when the circuit clerk’s office at the Courthouse in Walthall will be open from 8 a.m.-noon. Anyone with questions may call 662-258-6287.
A runoff, if required, will be Jan. 31 for the top two vote-getters.
The special election takes place during the 2023 regular election cycle for state offices. The qualifying period for regular state offices ends on Feb. 1, meaning that if a runoff election is required in the special election, that winner will have less than 24 hours before the qualifying period closes for the regular election.
