Voter Info: Who can vote April 1

By Jennifer Jacob

March 19, 2008 12:46 am

— With a GOP run-off election between 3rd Congressional District Candidates Gregg Harper and Charlie Ross coming April 1, the questions about who's eligible to vote in that election have been pouring in to the Lauderdale County circuit clerk's office, according to Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson.

Who can't vote April 1:
That list of citizens who cannot vote is a lot shorter than the list of those who can. People who voted on a Democratic ballot in the March 11 primary cannot vote in the run-off, which is between two Republicans. People who were not registered to vote by the Feb. 9, 2008 deadline are also not allowed to vote in the run-off. There's still time to register to vote in the Nov. 4 general election, though. And of course anyone who is not eligible to vote in a regular election, such as a non-resident of Lauderdale County or a convicted felon, will not be able to vote in Lauderdale County April 1 either.

Absentee ballots:
For voters who will be out of town April 1, but will be here sometime between now and the Saturday before the election, March 29, there's still plenty of time to get your absentee ballot. Simply visit the circuit clerk's office at the Lauderdale County courthouse, and the staff will give you the necessary forms and instructions. Truck drivers and railroad workers, who have unpredictable schedules, often vote in this way.
Lauderdale County residents who wish to vote by absentee ballot but who will not be in the county between now and March 29 don't have much time left to navigate the red tape needed to vote. But there's still time, Johnson said, if you e-mail the circuit clerk's office now. Residents, such as college students and military, who will not make it home before March 29 have to submit a written request to the circuit clerk's office, who will then send them an application, which then has to be notarized. If you are a Lauderdale County resident who wishes to vote by absentee ballot April 1 and cannot come to the courthouse in person, e-mail your written request to the circuit clerk's office at circuitclerk@lauderdalecounty.org right away.
If you were registered to vote on Feb. 9, but have moved to another address within Lauderdale County since then, you will have to vote by affidavit on April 1. You can go ahead and change your address with the circuit clerk's office, and they will give you a letter to carry to the polls, making the affidavit voting process run more smoothly.

Common Misconceptions:
There are a few widespread misconceptions about who can and cannot vote in 2008. One is that people who did not vote March 11 cannot vote April 1. This is not the case — anyone who registered to vote before Feb. 9, 2008 and did not vote Democrat in the March 11 primary is eligible to vote in the April 1 run-off, including those who didn't make it to the polls on March 11.
Another misconception is that once you vote for a candidate in the primary or run-off, you have to vote for that same candidate again in the general election Nov. 4. This couldn't be further from the truth. Although the way you vote in a primary election can affect your eligibility to vote in a run-off that is the result of that primary, primary election votes do not dictate general election votes. If you voted for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the March 11 Democratic primary, you are still completely free to vote for Republican John McCain in November. If you vote for Republicans Charlie Ross or Gregg Harper in the April 1 run-off, you are still free to vote for Democrat Joel Gill in November. In a general election, all eligible voters can choose any candidate on the ballot.
Additionally, voting along party lines, though required in a primary election, is certainly not required in a general election. If you want to vote for a Democrat in the senatorial race, a Republican in the congressional race, and an independent in the presidential race, go right ahead. The ability to vote across party lines is what makes it a general election.
Voting along party lines is required in primary elections because they are nominating contests. The only thing about a general election that is determined by the primary is which members of each party appear on the general election ballot. Once the ballot it determined, voters can choose whichever candidate they like best, regardless of party.

More questions about voting?

Call the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk's office at (601) 482-9731 or e-mail circuitclerk@lauderdalecounty.org. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and will also be open until noon Saturday March 22 and March 29. Johnson said there are usually long lines on Saturday, and urges people who can to visit the office on weekdays instead, when their wait time will be much shorter.