Supervisors approve pay increase

In-person absentee voting is underway in Marshall County ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, Circuit Clerk Monet Autry told the Board of Supervisors during its Oct. 5 meeting.

Autry reported that 84 voters had cast absentee ballots in person at the courthouse as of that morning. In addition, her office had mailed out roughly 70 absentee ballots to eligible voters across the county.

Voters planning to cast an absentee ballot in person have until noon on Saturday, Oct. 31, to do so. The circuit clerk’s office will be open to accommodate Saturday voters on that final weekend, as well as Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. To noon.

For those voting by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by the circuit clerk’s office within five business days to be officially counted.

During her report, Autry also requested a pay adjustment for the county’s five election commissioners.

Under Senate Bill 2657 passed by the Mississippi Legislature, boards of supervisors are authorized to increase election commissioner per diem pay by $35, moving their daily rate from $165 to $200 for election-related duties. The increase brings commissioner pay in line with the $200 per diem already paid to poll managers on Election Day.

Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the raise.

The board and Autry also briefly addressed logistics for the election commissioners, discussing future office and workspace needs so the five-member commission has adequate space to prepare for county elections without overcrowding current courthouse operations.