Upcoming election means busy days at circuit clerk's offices - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

The sound of a ringing phone is heard round the clock these days at the circuit clerk's office. Questions have to answered, envelopes need to be stuffed, and ballots need to be sorted. All in preparation an election that's less than six weeks away. 

It's a beehive of activity for Joe Martin and his staff.  

"We have a lot of voter registration going on," Martin explained. "New voter registrations, as well as people moving their precincts from one district or precinct to another because they have moved within the county." 

For the employees, like Vivian Marceaux, it's a non-stop race to beat the election clock. 

"Eight to five we're constantly having the phones ring and we're constantly mailing out absentees, taking applications and mailing them out to students, to people out of town working," Marceaux said. 

One of the new voters is Domonic Hardy, who recently moved to Pascagoula. He has a special reason for exercising his right at the ballot box.  

"My mother, she was involved in the civil rights movement and my great grandmother, as well. And we have family members that went through a lot to do that, so I think it's my obligation to come down here and vote," Hardy said. 

At this point in time, on one knows if this will be a record turnout, but it will be heavy, no doubt about that.

"The presidential election draws people out, Doug. Period," Martin said. "It doesn't matter what presidential race we have. We have people that vote in the presidential election only and won't vote another time for years."

While no one knows who will win, there is one thing we do know: This office will remain busy for the next several weeks.

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