Voters wanting to cast absentee ballots were waiting in line this morning at the Jackson County Election Board Office. A long line had formed by the time the office opened today, and election officials said they were expecting not only a big turn out for the absentee voting, but the general election as well.

In-person absentee voting is being held today until 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Monday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day to assist absentee voters.

“In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office. They are not required to give a reason for voting absentee,” said Jennifer Wilson Election Board secretary. “They are required to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling places on Election Day.”

According to Wilson, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter’s registration information, and then issues the voter’s ballots. The voter marks the ballots in a voting booth and then puts them in the voting device. “It is very much like voting at a precinct polling place,” said Wilson.

Contact the County Election Board, located at 101 N. Main St., Room 105 of the courthouse, for more information. The telephone number is 482-2370.