The number of registered voters in Covington County is down by more than 600 from the 2008 general election.

Chief Probate Clerk Karen Lawson said as of Friday, 21,480 people were registered to vote in the upcoming Nov. 2 election.

In 2008, there were 22,114 people registered to vote. Two years earlier, that number was down to 19,861.

Multiple factors contributed to the fluctuations in numbers, Lawson said.

“Before the election, cards are sent out for people to update their voter registration information,” she said. “Sometimes people move in the county and forget to update; sometimes people move out of the county, and the number decreases.”

Those who have yet to update their voter registration must do so by Friday, and the deadline for an absentee ballot is Thurs., Oct. 28, at 5 p.m.

“Now is the time to come and register to vote if you haven’t done so already,” Lawson said. “There are applications here at the courthouse and at the Registrar’s Office.”

There are 26 seats on the Nov. 2 local ballot, four statewide amendments and one local amendment.

Sample ballots are available at the courthouse, Board of Registrar’s office and at any public library.