Absentee balloting is under way in Cape Girardeau County for the Nov. 5 election now that election officials have received the necessary ballot materials from the printer.

The ballot information, which lists the candidates and issues, arrived at the county clerk's office in Jackson on Wednesday.

The list of candidates and issues is mailed out with each blank ballot sent to those who applied to vote absentee. The list also accompanies the ballots that voters cast in person at the county clerk's offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, election officials said.

The election materials had been delayed by the addition of a statewide cigarette and tobacco tax measure to the ballot, County Clerk Rodney Miller said.