Get Ready to Vote: Important Details for Lafayette County General Election on Tuesday, November 7 October 5, 2023

The upcoming general election is just around the corner for Lafayette County. On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 voters will head to the polls to cast their vote for the next sheriff, coroner, tax assessor and more. To keep the voting process running smoothly, here’s what you need to know before heading out.

Know where and when you’re going to vote.

You can find your designated voting location and precinct by clicking here. Polling locations will open promptly at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. It’s often helpful to plan a time into your schedule to cast your vote, so that you know when to leave. 

Lafayette County Circuit Clerk Jeff Busby says peak voting times are usually at 8:00 a.m., noon and 5:00 p.m., so if you want to beat the crowds, try visiting the polls at a different time. 

“If you’re over 65 or are working on election day and can’t make it to the polls,” said Busby, “come by our office through November 4 at noon to vote absentee.”

Make sure you bring a photo ID.

You’ll want to make sure you have everything in order before you arrive at the polls. Remember to bring a valid government-issued photo identification to the polls. You can find a list of the acceptable forms of identification here.

If you don’t have any of the acceptable forms of photo identification, the Circuit Clerk’s office can provide you with a Voter Identification Card free of charge, which will enable you to vote. For obtaining a Voter Identification Card or questions regarding voting procedures, please contact the Circuit Clerk’s office at 662-234-4951.

Check that your information is active and up-to-date.

“I encourage people, if they haven’t voted in a couple of years, to call our office,” said Busby, “to make sure they’re still active, or if they’ve moved from one location of town to another.”

If you have moved across town, you need to update your registration form to reflect your new address. You may be in a different district for voting. 

“We need to make sure that you’re voting in the right precinct in the right district,” said Busby.

Be sure to vote, even if you’re busy.

When you have a busy schedule, it can feel difficult to take the time to vote, but participating in elections directly impacts local communities, from decisions on public services and infrastructure to education and law enforcement.

“In my opinion, the primary election should be one of the most important elections that we have,” said Busby, “because it’s people that you see everyday that run your local government and that run your state government. We need a big turnout. 

“We generally have around 50-55% that vote in our statewide local elections. I’d love for it to be 100%, but it really needs to be 75-80% for us to consider it a really good turnout,” said Busby.

For more information, including what the ballot will look like, visit the Voting page of our website. Please remember to mark your calendars, know your polling location and bring your photo identification to vote. We hope to see you Tuesday, November 7th!