JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
With less than 24 hours to go before the voter registration deadline, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is urging folks to get registered for what he says is an important choice.
"The only way to make that choice is at the ballot box and if you're not registered to vote by noon on Saturday, you don't get a chance to make that choice," said Hosemann.
To get registered all you have to do is bring your driver's license or social security number and birthday to your circuit clerks office. If you ask Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn, depending on the crowd, you may want to bring something else as well.
"Patience," said Dunn.
Dunn says presidential elections typically have the most voter registration traffic and turnout at the polls. With just a month to go before those polls open, Dunn says many folks are getting serious about registering.
"It's been heavy all week," said Dunn. "At this point, they will not come in here and stand in line to register to vote if they weren't serious about it."
Circuit clerk offices across the state will open for four hours, from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. If you're unable to get to the courthouse, you can print out the registration application from the secretary of state's website.
"It's just one page. It doesn't take you but just a minute to fill it out. Just your name and address and drivers license, that's it," said Hosemann.
It must also be postmarked before the noon deadline. Hosemann says Mississippians need to understand the importance of not only getting registered but actually voting.
"People who say it's some kind of a conspiracy or I shouldn't do this, all they need to do is go look at that flag that's behind me. That's the 171st. They're in Afghanistan today from Mississippi. They fly in at night in mountains, unarmed in helicopters and bring out wounded soldiers. Now, if you won't go vote one way or the other for their commander in chief maybe you ought to find another country," said Hosemann.
Anyone turning 18 between now and the day of the election can also register to vote. If anyone is unsure of which voting precinct they belong to, they can simply check with their circuit clerk's office.
You can print out the voter registration application form here:
@http://www.sos.ms.gov/elections_voter_info_center.aspx
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