The 2024 general election is about a week and a half away on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls for the election will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Any voter in line at 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. Local ballots include offices of School Board, president, U.S. Senate, U.S. representative, Supreme Court justice and election commissioner. Webster County residents in District 3 and District 4 will vote in nonpartisan School Board elections, both of which are contested. District 3 candidates are Caleb Alford, Jonathan E. Hodges and Connor B. Hood. Incumbent Jimmy Hood is not seeking another six-year term. District 4 candidates are incumbent Marilynn Brown and Josh Palmer. Former Republican President Donald Trump is running with U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his vice presidential nominee. Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice president, has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Seven minor candidates for president are also on the ballot. They include Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out after ballots were printed. Democrat Ty Pinkins is running against Republican incumbent Roger F. Wicker for the U.S. Senate. Republican incumbent Trent Kelly has a challenger in the U.S. House of Representatives race for the 1st Congressional District. He will face off against Democratic candidate Dianne Dodson Black of Olive Branch. Unopposed for reelection on the Mississippi Supreme Court are District 3 (Northern) Justices Robert P. ìBobbyî Chamberlin for Position 1 and Jimmy Maxwell for Position 2. The term of office for these nonpartisan judicial seats is eight years. Pauline Quinn (District 1) Cathy F. Chandler (District 3), Annie Heard (District 4) and Dianne Denney Wright (District 5) are all running unopposed for county election commissioner in other nonpartisan races. This is a special election in District 4 because a vacancy was declared after no one qualified for the position when it was scheduled to be on the ballot last year. The Board of Supervisors appointed Heard as District 4 commissioner a year ago and she has been serving in that capacity since Jan. 1. Chandler had been the District 4 commissioner but has been serving as District 3ís appointed commissioner since Jan. 1 because of redistricting. In-person absentee voting is available for voters who may not be in town or might have a work obligation during voting hours. One may vote absentee during normal business hours at the Circuit Clerkís Office in Walthall. The office will also be open for absentee voting from 8 a.m.-noon both Saturdays before the election, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, which is the deadline. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5 (Election Day). Also, the Circuit Clerksí Office will conduct Logic and Accuracy testing of voting equipment next week in preparation for the election. The testing will be conducted Monday-Wednesday in the main courtroom at the Courthouse and is open to the public. Anyone with questions about voting in the election may contact the office at 662- 258-6287. Election information is also available through the Mississippi Secretary of Stateís Office by contacting the Elections Division at ElectionAnswers@sos. ms.gov, calling the Elections Hotline at 1- 800-829-6786 or visiting YallVote.ms. ìI encourage each of you, regardless of the races on the ballot, to cast your vote in the general election to ensure your voice is heard,î Secretary of State Michael Watson said. ìEvery election directly affects our daily lives. Mississippians should do their research and ensure they are informed voters prior to heading to the polls on Nov. 5. Make your plans now for Election Day, or cast your absentee ballot today, if eligible.î
