Lincoln County residents who will be unable to vote in the Nov.7 general election can now vote absentee through the circuitclerk’s office.

As Saturday marked the last day for voter registration, circuitclerk officials are now preparing absentee ballots, which can bepicked up or received by mail, said Lincoln County Circuit ClerkTerry Lynn Case.

“They can stop by here and vote or they can write in for aballot if they are not able to come in and we’ll mail them one,”she said.

Absentee voting applies to registered voters who have alegitimate reason for not being able to vote Nov. 7. There are 12qualifications, and in order to vote absentee, residents must meetat least one of those criteria.

Case said the most common qualification is when people must beout of the area on election day.

Registered voters must first fill out an application forabsentee voting, then it must be approved, said Case. The processmay last only a matter of minutes if the reason fits under the 12qualifications.

Registered voters in Lincoln County may cast their ballots forUnited States President, a U.S. Senate seat, Fourth District U.S.representative, state Supreme Court (Southern district), fivecounty election commissioner and two county school board seats.