Absentee voting in person ends Saturday at noon—not on Election Day

Eligible Oktibbeha County voters who want to cast an absentee ballot in person have until noon Saturday, Oct. 31—not Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Mississippi's circuit clerks will be open from 8 a.m. to noon that Saturday, according to the Secretary of State's Oct. 22 notice.⁠[1]

The local destination is the Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk's Office at the Court Annex, 108 W. Main St. in Starkville. Weekday in-person absentee hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office's phone number is 662-323-1356.⁠[2][3]

Absentee voting is not open to every voter. Those eligible to vote absentee in person include voters 65 or older; voters who will be away from home on Election Day; people whose physical disability makes voting at the polls substantially difficult or dangerous; and voters whose required work or on-call duties prevent them from voting while polls are open. These are examples, not the full eligibility list.⁠[2]

For the in-person visit, bring photo ID and be prepared to explain your eligibility. The clerk will check your registration and address, review your reason for voting absentee and provide an application if you qualify.⁠[2]

Planning to vote by mail instead? The Secretary of State directs voters to contact their circuit clerk to check mail-voting eligibility and, if qualified, request an absentee-ballot application. Call the local office at 662-323-1356 rather than assuming that eligibility to vote absentee in person also qualifies you to vote by mail.⁠[2][3]

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10 to count, according to the state's guidance. The postmark deadline and arrival deadline are separate requirements.⁠[2]