City of Amory Election News and FAQ

All City of Amory elections are held in one place. They are held at the National Guard Old Armory from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Qualified Candidates for 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have a photo ID to vote (including absentee)?

YES!

Beginning with the Primary Election on June 3, 2014, individuals voting at the polls or in person absentee voting will be required to show a photo ID.

Please visit this website for more information:

MS Secretary of State Voter ID Information – http://msvoterid.ms.gov/

Any one of the following types of photo IDs may be used on Election Day:

1. A driver’s license
2. A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
3. A United States passport
4. A government employee ID card
5. A firearms license
6. A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college, or community/junior college
7. A United States military ID
8. A tribal photo ID
9. Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government
10. A Mississippi Voter Identification Card

What if I do not have a valid id?

If a registered voter does not have any of these acceptable forms of photo ID, a Mississippi
Voter Identification Card will be provided at no cost to the voter at any Circuit Clerk’s office
in Mississippi.

Beginning in January 2014, a FREE Mississippi Voter Identification Card is
available at any Circuit Clerk’s office in Mississippi.

Circuit Clerk’s Office (662-369-8695) P.O. Box 843, Aberdeen, MS 39730

Application for a card may be made
during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Call 1-855-868-3745 for information.

How and where do you register to vote?

A voter must be an active voter in the City of Amory to vote in this election. Only those registered in a ward may vote for that ward. In other words, if you live in Ward 1, you may not vote for Ward 2 Alderman.  If a voter has a question about where he or she is registered, please have him or her call me to verify in the SEMS and AS400 system where he or she is registered and whether he or she is active.

You can register to vote in a variety of ways:

• In the Circuit Clerk’s office at the Monroe County Courthouse in Aberdeen, MS.
• In the City of Amory City Hall behind Frisco Park in Amory, MS.
• By mail – you can request an application be mailed to you from the Circuit Clerk’s Office (662-369-8695) P.O. Box 843, Aberdeen, MS 39730
• or print one offline at the City of Amory or Circuit Clerk’s websites. Click Here: Voter_Registration 2016 Fill out online, print, and mail to : MONROE COUNTY P.O. Box 843 Aberdeen, MS 39730
  • www.cityofamoryms.com
  • www.monroems.com
  • The form is listed in Adobe format below and may be mailed to the Monroe County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
• When you renew your driver’s license.
• High Schools – Every year the Circuit Clerk visits the county high schools and distributes the Voter Registration Applications.

What is the deadline for registration in order to vote?

• The voter registration application must be delivered to your registrar or postmarked if mailed at least 30 days prior to an election –
  • The cutoff date for the party primary election is March 8 by 5:00 p.m. with the City Clerk’s office.
  • The cutoff date for the party primary runoff election is March 29 by 5:00 p.m. with the City Clerk’s office.
  • The cutoff date for the general election is May 10, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. with the City Clerk’s office

Where do I vote?

• • • In county and National elections, you may view the table below to find your voting location. If you are not sure of your voting precinct number, call the Monroe County Circuit Clerk’s office at 662-369-8695.
    • In City of Amory elections, please go to the Old Armory building located 101 9th Street South, Amory, MS. Here is a location map: http://mapq.st/ZlI0mj or http://mapq.st/VTR3TC

Who can take advantage of absentee voting:

Absentee applications are available sixty (60) days before the election, and ballots forty-five (45) days before the election.

Who is eligible to absentee vote in person:

• Members of the United States Armed Forces (including spouses and dependents).
• Members of the Merchant Marines or American Red Cross (including spouses and dependents).
• Disabled war veterans who are patients in any hospital (including spouses and dependents).
• Civilians attached to any branch of the Armed Forces (including spouses and dependents).
• Members of the MS Congressional delegation.
• Any trained/certified emergency response provider deployed on Election Day for a state of emergency declared by the President or Governor.
• Voters temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the US or DOA.
• Students, teachers, administrators whose employment or studies necessitate their absence from their county of voting residence.
• Voters who will be outside their municipalities of residence on Election Day.
• Voters required to be at work on election day during times in which the polls are open.
• Voters temporarily or permanently physically disabled.
• Voters sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
• Parents, spouses, dependents of person having a temporary or permanent disability who are hospitalized more than fifty miles from their residences on election day.

Who is eligible to absentee vote by mail:

• Voters who are temporarily residing outside of the municipality.
• Voters who are temporarily or permanently physically disabled.
• Parents, spouse, dependents of person having a temporary or permanent disability who are hospitalized more than fifty miles from their residences on election day.

• An absentee ballot for those who are temporarily residing outside of the municipality (example – college students) may NEVER be mailed to a residence in the city for delivery by a parent.
• It is illegal to hand deliver absentee ballots.
• A person who is a candidate for public office may NOT be an attesting witness for any absentee ballot upon which that person’s name appears.
• Special rules and deadlines apply to military and overseas voters and their family members located with them.
  

  Voter and Absentee Voter Information

• An application may be requested by telephone or by written communication from the voter who seeks to vote by absentee ballot.
• An application may be requested, should elector/voter not be able to request himself or herself, orally by the parent, child, spouse, sibling, legal guardian, those empowered with power of attorney for the elector’s affairs or agent of the elector only.**
• All absentee applications must be notarized by an official authorized to administer oaths for absentee balloting. Applications of persons disabled need not be notarized but must be witnessed by a person 18 years of age or older.
• SEE ABSENTEE RULES ABOVE for further explanation of who is allowed to vote absentee and who is allowed to vote by mail absentee.

**MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972**

As Amended

SEC. 23-15-627. Distribution of absentee ballot application by registrar; form of application.
The registrar shall be responsible for furnishing an absentee ballot application form to any elector authorized to receive an absentee ballot. Absentee ballot applications shall be furnished to a person only upon the oral or written request of the elector who seeks to vote by absentee ballot; however, the parent, child, spouse, sibling, legal guardian, those empowered with a power of attorney for that elector’s affairs or agent of the elector may orally request an absentee ballot application on behalf of the elector. An absentee ballot application must have the seal of the circuit or municipal clerk affixed to it and be initialed by the registrar or his deputy in order to be utilized to obtain an absentee ballot. A reproduction of an absentee ballot application shall not be valid unless it is a reproduction provided by the office of the registrar of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held and which contains the seal and initials required by this section.

Applications and Dates

• Applications for Absentee Ballots will be available at the City Clerk’s Office in Amory.

The City Clerk’s Office is open 8:00 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday excluding holidays. Here are Saturday’s that the City Clerk’s office will be open for registration and absentee voting in person:

• March 6, 2021 from 8:00-12
• March 27, 2021 from 8-12
• April 3, 2021 from 8-12 (final date to absentee vote in person for Primary)
• April 17 & 24^th if there is a runoff (if so 24^th at noon is the last date to absentee vote in person for runoff)
• May 8, 2021 from 8-12
• May 29, 2021 from 8-12
• June 5, 2021 from 8-12 (last date to absentee vote in person for General)

• Qualified voters in the City of Amory may come by the City Clerk’s Office to vote their absentee ballot in person or request absentee ballots be mailed.     
• If an application and absentee ballot need to be mailed, please have the individual contact the City Clerk’s Office. Applications and absentee ballots mailed to an individual must be returned by mail not later than 5:00 p.m. five (5) business days after the scheduled election date. These may NEVER be returned in person. At no time may someone leave with an application and ballot to bring back.

City Clerk’s Office – Voter Registration
PO Drawer 457
Amory, MS 38821
Call 662-256-5721 OPTION 8 for more information

• Voter Registration Form

Military and Overseas Voters

Military and Overseas Voters use the following email address to request Absentee Voter Applications and to send your applications, Federal Postcard Application (FPCA), ballots, and/or FWAB to:

voteamory@cityofamoryms.com

Fax Number: 662-256-6337

City Clerk’s Office – Voter Registration
PO Drawer 457
Amory, MS 38821

• May register up until 10 days prior to any election and will be eligible to vote in the election – applies to spouses and dependents if also absent.

Military and Overseas voters should visit:
http://www.sos.ms.gov/elections_voter_info_center2.aspx or http://www.fvap.gov/

For more information on elections, please visit the Mississippi Secretary of State Website.

Information for Candidates and running for office:

Here are some things that you need to be aware of including dates:

• January 1, 2021-February 5, 2021 is qualifying time for any municipal office.
• Before you may qualify as a Democrat or Republican, a Democratic and/or Republican Executive Committee must be in place. The City Clerk’s office cannot accept your qualifying paperwork and fee if there is no committee to give it to.
• April 6, 2021 is the party primary election
• April 27, 2021 is the party primary runoff election (if needed)
• June 8, 2021 is the general election

To be qualified to be a candidate in an Amory election you must meet the following requirements:

• Submit your qualifying documents in a timely manner.
• Be an active registered voter in the City of Amory, MS.
• Be a resident (proven) of Amory, MS for two years or more before the date of the General Election.
• Be an active registered voter in his or her ward in which he or she seeks election.
• Not be convicted of a disenfranchising crime (see attached page).
• Pay a filing fee of $10 if choosing to run democratic or republican (party affiliated).
• Meet the qualifications of the office sought (see attached).
• File a Statement of Economic Interest within fifteen (15) days of qualifying deadline. Incumbents must file on or before May 1 each year. www.ethics.state.ms.us
• If you do not file financial forms, you may not advance in the election. This is State of Mississippi law and can be verified with the MS Secretary of State’s office.
• You may not take office before filing a campaign finance report(s). This is punishable by a misdemeanor fine not to exceed $3,000 or imprisonment for up to six (6) months. You will not be certified as nominated or, if elected, receive a salary.

Other Requirements if elected –

• To be an alderman or mayor you must be bonded. The City of Amory will have their insurance company bond you upon election. This involves a credit search.

Candidates pursuing a Municipal Office must pay a filing fee by check only made out to the appropriate party Municipal Executive Committee (Democratic or Republic) with the City Clerk and fill out a statement of intent at the City Clerk’s office in Amory City Hall. For more information visit: http://www.sos.ms.gov/elections_candidates_lobbyists_center.aspx or click the links below.

Candidate Qualifications as set forth by the Mississippi Secretary of State (http://www.sos.ms.gov/page.aspx?s=7&s1=1&s2=116) see the links below as well:

All candidates must meet the following additional requirements to qualify for office: Qualified elector (registered voter) of the State of Mississippi in the municipality of the office for which the candidate seeks election; Never have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, being defined as a crime punishable by confinement in the penitentiary (unless the candidate received a full pardon); Never have been convicted of a felony in federal court after December 8, 1992, nor of a crime in the court of another state which is a felony in this state, after December 8, 1992, as provided in Section 44 of the Mississippi Constitution.

A political party candidate must submit two items to the Municipal Clerk’s office: (1) a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) by 5:00 p.m. at least sixty (60) days prior to the primary election by check only made out to the appropriate party Municipal Executive Committee (Democratic or Republic) and, (2) a written Statement of Intent containing the name and address of the candidate, the name of the party with which the candidate is affiliated, and the office the candidate is seeking (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-309 (1972)). The Municipal Clerk must forward the Statement of Intent and the filing fee to the Secretary of the proper Executive Committee. The forms are available at your Municipal Clerk’s Office, Municipal Party headquarters, and the Secretary of State’s Office.

Independent candidates do not pay a qualifying fee. To qualify as an independent candidate in a municipal general election, a candidate must file a petition with the Municipal Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the same day that candidates in Primary Elections must qualify, i.e., at least sixty (60) days prior to the first primary election (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 23-15-361 and 23-15-309 (1972)). The petition must be signed by at least fifty (50) qualified voters of a municipality or ward, if the municipality or ward has a population of one thousand (1,000) residents or more. The petition must be signed by at least fifteen (15) qualified voters of a municipality or ward, if the municipality or ward, has a population of fewer than one thousand (1,000) residents (Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-361 (1972)). The Municipal Clerk must certify that the signatures are those of registered voters in the municipality. Petitions are available at the Municipal Clerk’s Office, the Secretary of State’s Office.

Report Deadlines:

• January 29, 21 – 2020 Annual Report (did you spend or receive anything in 2020?)
• March 30, 21 – Primary Pre-Election Report Due
• April 21, 21 – Primary Pre-Runoff Report Due
• June 1, 21 – Pre-Election Report
• January 31, 22 – 2021 Annual Report

All contributions in excess of $200 aggregate must be itemized and contributor identified by name, mailing address, employer or occupation, date, and amount.

All expenditures in excess of $200 in the aggregate must be itemized by name, mailing address, purpose of the disbursement, date, and amount.

This means that if someone gives you $100 then later $50 then another $50, you must report it. That is the same for expenditures.

Please note all candidates seeking office in the 2021 Primary and/or General Elections are required to file a Statement of Economic Interest with the Mississippi Ethics Commission within fifteen (15) days of qualifying.

Additional information and forms may be obtained from the Mississippi Ethics Commission: Mississippi Ethics Commission Burroughs Building 146 East Amite Street, Room 103 Jackson, Mississippi 39201

http://www.ethics.state.ms.us

What form of government is Amory?

Amory is a Mayor-Alderman form of municipal government. This is known as a Code Charter (MCA 21-3-1)

• Mayor-Alderman (Commonly known as Code Charter MCA Section 21-3-1)
  1. This is known as the Weak Mayor form of Government. The Mayor is given the responsibility of superintending all municipal officers and affairs and for seeing that the laws and ordinances are executed but is not given sufficient power to do so.
  2. Authorized by MCA of 1892.
  3. The majority of MS municipalities operate under this form of government (approximately 85%). Any municipality using an alternate form of government may acquire the mayor-aldermen form by a majority vote of the municipal electors in either a special or general election held for that purpose. If the proposal is defeated, another election on the question cannot be held for four (4) years.
  4. The Mayor and members of the board of aldermen must be qualified electors of the municipality and must be chosen by election. The Mayor is elected at large and the aldermen can be by ward or a combination of by ward and at large. The number of members of the board are determined by the population of the municipality. Five if fewer than 10,000 and seven if 10,000 or more.
• The City of Amory is a Mayor-Alderman form of government with 5 wards and 1 at large alderman.
• Aldermen are required to post bond as well as the Mayor, Police Chief, and City Clerk for the City of Amory. All must be bondable and a bond company chosen by the City of Amory will do a credit history search to verify that the person is bondable.  The Mayor carries a $100,000 bond as well as the aldermen.
• The City Clerk is appointed by state law since 2017.
• The City Clerk/City Tax Collector and City Judge are appointed positions in the City of Amory. The Police Chief is the only other elected position.
• The Mayor has:
  1. No authority in hiring and firing of personnel.
  2. No power to suspend with no pay. Only the Board of Aldermen may, by vote, suspend with no pay.
  3. Has veto power. MCA 21-3-15 except in a failed or negative motion.
  4. Exercises superintending control over municipal departments.
  5. Supervises employees and departments. Individual aldermen have no authority to become involved in day-to-day affairs of any municipal departments. You cannot have legislative and executive (Mayor) power at the same time.
  6. Heads and presides over all City of Amory board meetings.

• The Aldermen are:
  1. Required to elect from its members a mayor pro tempore (aka vice mayor) to preside over its meetings and serve in the place of the Mayor in cases of temporary absence or disability. The City of Amory Aldermen usually vote for the Alderman at Large to be the Vice Mayor as the Mayor is at large as well.
  2. The legislative form/branch.
  3. Are required to submit all of its ordinances, resolutions, and orders to the mayor for approval or veto.
  4. In the event of a mayoral veto, the board may override the veto by a vote of 2/3 of its members.
  5. Empowered to create a Chief Administrative Officer by Ordinance and adopted by a 2/3 vote specifying duties and functions who must be a full time employee of the municipality to serve at will and pleasure of the mayor and board and may hold one ore more other appointive offices within the municipality.

What is the difference between our form of government and others?

• Private Charter (aka Special Charter)
  • Only form of municipal government prior to 1892. Most are municipalities formed before 1890 who chose not to convert to code charter form.
  • Powers flow directly from the charter not statute.
  • If still operating under this form, charter will control over conflicting general law, except to the extent that the law specifies that it shall control. If charter is silent, general law applies. The Mayor has veto power. Examples: Port Gibson, Indianola, Greenville, Columbus, Okolona
  • Procedures for amendment are provided in statute. Requires review by Attorney General (MCA Sections 21-17-9 and 21-17-11).
•  Mayor-Council (MCA 21-8-1)
  • This is known as the strong mayor form in that clearly separates administrative and legislative duties and to concentrate responsibility for coordination of governmental activities in the mayor. Only available since 1976.
  • Adopted by the following 9 MS Municipalities: Jackson, Tupelo, Biloxi, Gulfport, Meridian, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Bay St. Louis, Greenwood (as of 2009).
  • Governed by an elected mayor and council. These are the only elected officials in the municipality. All others are appointed. The Mayor is elected at large, council is elected by ward, or a combination of wards and at large (no more than 2 members may be at large). Number of council members can be 5, 7, or 9 based on population.
  • Council powers and duties:
    1. Exercises the legislative powers of the municipality.
    2. Appoints the clerk of council.
    3. Elects a president from among its members to preside over all meetings.
    4. Required to post bond.

• • Mayor powers and duties:
  • Exercises executive powers of the municipality (administrative authority over municipal affairs).
  • Charged with enforcing the charter and ordinances of the municipality along with general laws.
  • Possesses hiring and firing authority in that he appoints department heads, subject to confirmation by the council, except for the clerk of the council.
  • The mayor does not vote except in the case of a tie on the sole issue of a vote to fill a vacancy on the council.
  • Mayor has the power to veto measures adopted by the board, but veto may be overridden by 2/3 of council.
  • There is no Vice Mayor or mayor pro tempore.
  • Mayor appoints department heads with approval of council. The department heads serve during the term of the appointing mayor.

• • May create a position of Chief Administrative Officer by ordinance and simple majority vote. Must be appointed by Mayor. CAO is to coordinate and direct the operations of the various departments and answers solely to the Mayor and is subject to dismissal by the Mayor.
• Council Manager (MCA 21-9-1)
  • Made available in 1956. Does not provide for a separation between executive and legislative branches of government between mayor and council. Does recognize them as separate but coordinates functions of politics and administration. Elected council is responsible for making policy while administration is assigned to appointed professional known as the city manager.
  • Six member council consisting of Mayor and 5 aldermen.
  • Currently as of 2009 used in 6 cities: Pascagoula, D’Iberville, Gautier, Grenada, Moorhead, and Picayune.
  • Council exercises all legislative power and mayor serves as titular head of the city for ceremonial purposes and for all processes of law. Neither the mayor nor the councilmen may exercise any administrative power.
  • The Mayor presides over the meetings and is a voting member of the council but has no veto power and no administrative duties.
  • The appointed city manager is the chief administrative officer. The CM is selected by a majority vote of the members of council. The CM must attend all meetings and participate in discussions but has no voting power.
• Commission (MCA 21-5-1)
  • Approved by the MS Legislature in 1908. Unites the legislative and executive functions of government and provides no separation between the two.
  • Very much like the council-manager form of government but with no city manager. The commission performs that work.
  • Only Clarksdale and Vicksburg have this form but modified.
  • Made of the Mayor and two commissioners, known collectively as the commission, according to the code. The code provides for all to be elected at large, but this practice has been found to violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This resulted in Clarksdale increasing the size of its commission from three to five including the mayor and Vicksburg commissioners are referred to as aldermen.
  • The commission is empowered to perform all of the corporate powers, duties, and obligations possessed by the municipality. Acting separate, the mayor and commissioners serve as department heads.
  • Each member of the commission, including the mayor, has the right to vote.
  • All are assigned various departments to supervise.
• Council (MCA 21-7-1)
  • Tupelo is the only municipality that meets the population requirements for this code. Tupelo abandoned the council form in favor of the mayor-council form.
  • Seven members one of which is the mayor.
  • Council has full and complete executive and legislative power of the municipality.