Absentee voting underway in alderman race

By editor3 | March 26, 2025 |

By Randy Bell

Voters in Clinton’s Ward 3 who qualify have until March 29 to cast absentee ballots in the Republican primary for alderman. Three candidates—Amanda Mills Jones, Lee Logan and Ronald C. Morton – are running to replace Robert Chapman, who’s seeking the alderman at large position. The Ward 3 race is the only contested primary in this year’s municipal election cycle and is scheduled for April 1 at the Traceway Park administration building at 200 Soccer Row.

City Clerk Jimmy Baldree says absentee ballots are available at his office at Brighton Park.

“We are open every day, Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. And then, March 22 and 29, those two Saturdays, we’ll be open from 8 till noon,” Baldree says.

According to Secretary of State’s website, any qualified voter “who is away from his or her residence within the municipality on election day for any reason” is eligible to vote absentee, as is any voter “who is unable to vote in person [on election day] because he or she is required to be at work on election day during the times at which the polls will be open, or on-call during the times the polls will be open.” In addition, those who are 65 years of age or older and people with a physical disability also qualify to vote absentee.

Baldree says curbside absentee voting assistance is available at the City Clerk’s office for those with limited mobility.

He also notes that voters who qualify can call his office (601-924-5474) to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them.

But he offers a word of caution: “Since mail-in absentee applications require they be notarized and a witness must also sign the envelope; we strongly recommend absentee voters make arrangements to come to our office. At our office, we will do all we can to ensure a smooth and easy process, and there is less opportunity for issues due to mail processing or other delays.”

Ballots mailed back to the City Clerk must be postmarked by the date of the election.

With three candidates in the race, a runoff is a possibility. If no one receives at least fifty per cent of the vote plus one vote, the two candidates getting the most votes would meet on April 22 to determine the outcome of the race. The Republican nominee faces no opposition in the general election on June 3.

SIDEBAR:

Alderman for Ward 3 Republican Primary (with a patriotic-themed graphic)

Ward 3 only

Absentee Voting

Monday through Friday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays, March 22 and March 29

8 a.m. to noon

March 29

Deadline for absentee ballots

April 1

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.