Voters in Lauderdale County are being advised to check their registration cards to see if they are eligible to cast a ballot in the June 9 special election.

"Out of the 54 precincts in Lauderdale County, only 12 precincts will be open for this special election," said Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson.

Johnson said the catch is that, of the 12 precincts that will be open, not everyone registered to vote at those sites will be able to do so.
She says the reason is because four are "split precincts."

Maybe one of the best examples of a "split precinct" is Poplar Springs School. Of the more than 2,000 people registered to vote at this precinct, only 170 reside in District 82, and only those are eligible to vote Tuesday.

In eight precincts, all voters assigned to vote there are part of District 82.
Jaycees Building, Central Fire Station, Velma Young Community Center,
Lauderdale County Courthouse, Hamasa Temple Theatre Ballroom, Council of Organizations, Meridian Housing Authority, and New Hope Church.

Four of the polling places that will be open for voting Tuesday are split precincts: Poplar Springs Elementary School, Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church, Northwest Junior High School and Multi-County Community Service Agency.

As for finding out if you are eligible to vote or where you need to go to vote, Johnson is advising residents to refer to their voter registration card.

"And the county precinct location is the very first thing listed on a person's voter registration card," Johnson said.

With House District 82 encompassing only portions of Lauderdale County, Johnson is reminding voters that the last day to vote absentee in the upcoming special election is this Saturday when her office will be open until noon.

Johnson is advising eligible voters who still have questions about where to vote June 9 that they should go to the same precinct where they voted last November.