Howard County Clerk Shelly Howell issued a reminder to all voters in the county of important dates leading up to the municipal and school board elections on Tuesday, April 4.

The last day to register to vote for the election is Wednesday, March 8.

Absentee voting began on February 21. The last to vote absentee will be on April 3 in the clerk’s office in the Howard County Courthouse. The last day for the clerk’s office to mail out absentee ballots is March 22. No-excuse absentee voting begins March 21 in the clerk’s office.

The clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon for voting on Saturday, April 1.

Absentee applications and other information can be found on the clerk’s website at www.howardcountyvotes.org.

All polls will be open for the April 4 election. In recent elections, some polling locations have been combined.

“You will vote at your normal poll,” Howell said. “The valid photo identification law is still in effect, the same as it was this past November. Please make sure you have your valid photo identification.”

A significant amount of write-in votes is expected due to several vacancies with no candidates on the ballot.

“Please be aware that if you are going to vote for a write-in, you have to fill in the circle and write in the candidate’s name,” Howell explained. “The election judges cannot tell you who the write-ins are or how to spell a name.”