The mid-term Congressional election will be held this year on Nov. 2 throughout the country. Mississippi State University students have two options to vote, either through absentee ballots or registering in Oktibbeha County.
Angie McGinnis, Oktibbeha County circuit clerk, said students in their home counties can obtain absentee ballots from their circuit clerk.
“I encourage this because it is a Congress election,” she said. “Mississippi State and Oktibbeha are in the 3rd district. I would think [students] would be more interested in your home circuit and chancery clerk.”
She said if a student considers Starkville home, he or she must be registered by noon on Oct. 2. Another option will be to obtain the voter registration from the Internet and mail it. The circuit clerk’s office must receive it by the deadline.
McGinnis said to register, a person must provide a physical address within the county, a  Mississippi driver’s license, the last four digits of the person’s social security number, a P.O. Box, if needed, and contact info, such as a telephone number.
“If you are 17 and will be 18 on or before Nov. 2, you can go on and register and will be able to vote on Nov. 2,” she said.
McGinnis said voting is very important because each vote does count.
“One vote can make a difference,” she said. “Amy Tuck lost an election by less than half a vote in every precinct for the secretary of state office.”
To find more information about the candidates, McGinnis said she recommended searching online, especially for the U.S. representative candidates.
She said a good source of information of the local circuit court judge election would be the local news media.
McGinnis said students should be informed about the candidates and exercise their right to vote.
“I just want to encourage all students to get involved in the election process and have the opportunity to vote,” she said.
Thomas Sellers, Student Association President, said he thinks it is very important to vote so students can let their voices be heard.
“Even if you don’t vote in Starkville get the absentee ballot and vote,” he said.
McGinnis said anyone who is registered to vote can be eligible for jury duty after a year in the system. She said registering to vote is one of the three steps to establish residency within Oktibbeha County. The other two requirements are to change license plates and driver’s license.