Registered voters in McClain County who want to vote by mail absentee ballot in next Tuesday's Purcell Municipal Special Election have missed the application deadline, County Election Board Secretary Marilyn McReynolds said Monday.

"They aren't out of luck, however," McReynolds said.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots still can do so at the County Election Board office on Friday and Monday. A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 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," McReynolds said. "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 McReynolds, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter's registration information, then issues the voter's ballots. The voter marks the ballots in a voting booth and then puts them in the voting device.

Contact the County Election Board at the McClain County Courthouse, 121 N. 2nd Avenue, Room 101, for more information. The telephone number is 527-3121.