Interest in the county’s municipal elections is credited with a recent surge in voter registration, according to Sammy Glover with the Covington County Board of Registrars’ office.

Glover said Thursday, while specific updated numbers weren’t available, the number of registered voters has increased primarily in Opp and Red Level.

“I attribute that to the interest in the municipal elections,” Glover said. “I don’t see the numbers increasing so much here in Andalusia, but it may pick up. It’s early yet. The election isn’t until Aug. 28, so we have a bit.”

Glover said four new registrants – all from Opp – were processed Thursday.

He reminded residents that the deadline to register is 10 days prior to the election, or Aug. 17, at 4:30 p.m.

“There are several ways you can register to vote,” he said. “You don’t have to come into the office, per se. You can pick up forms at the probate judge’s office, the public library, the department of human resources and the health department, and then mail them in.”

He said most new registrants come from the probate office as new residents update driver’s licenses and purchase tags.

“And, as the closer we come to the cut-off date, we advise residents to come into the office to register,” Glover said. “That ensures the application gets processed and it gets into the computer.”

Also, residents should know the process has changed for those needing to vote by absentee ballot.

Circuit Clerk Roger Powell said while his office traditionally handles absentee ballots, residents must file those in their respective city or town hall during a municipal election.

Andalusia City Clerk John Thompson said absentee ballot applications are available now at city hall.

“Once we receive an application, we will mail an absentee ballot, and it must be returned to city hall by the close of business on Aug. 27, 2012, by the voter,” Thompson said. “If an absentee ballot is mailed in, it must be postmarked no later than Aug. 27, and received by noon on Election Day.”

Thompson said the last day to vote absentee at city hall is Aug. 23. There is also a provision for emergency absentee voting on Aug. 27, the day before the election; however, one must be required to be out of the country on election day by his or her employer to qualify.

Other municipalities said while orders have been placed, the absentee ballots have not yet arrived.