Ellington

The Clarion-Ledger reports:

Voters can register at the City Clerk's office today and Saturday during extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In preparation for the final push, City Clerk Cedric Morgan has stacks of registration forms standing by.

"It's a painless process that takes maybe five minutes," Morgan said.

The Hinds County circuit clerk also is taking registration forms today until 5 p.m. in the basement of the Hinds County Courthouse.

To register for the primary and the June 7 general election, a person must be a Jackson resident, 18 on or before the election and not have been convicted of any disenfranchising crimes, Morgan said.

As of a week ago, 94,918 people had registered, Circuit Clerk's office personnel said. The 2000 Census said Jackson had 131,713 residents over 18.

If voter turnout stays the same as four years ago, fewer than half of the those registered actually will pull the lever.