How to vote in Mississippi
Mississippi voter registration guide
Mississippi voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
Check your Mississippi voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Mississippi registration using the Mississippi voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Mississippi voter registration rules
To register in Mississippi you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- have lived in Mississippi and in your county (and city, if applicable) for at least 30 days before Election Day
- be 18 years old by Election day (if you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- have not been convicted of voter fraud, murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, armed robbery, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, larceny, receiving stolen property, robbery, timber larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, statutory rape, carjacking, or larceny under lease or rental agreement, or have had your rights restored as required by law
- not have been declared mentally incompetent by a court.
Mississippi online voter registration
Mississippi does not have online voter registration.
Mississippi by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Mississippi driver's license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" here.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Mississippi does not have party registration. You do not need to register with a politcal party to vote in a primary election.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day
Mississippi in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- N/A
Mississippi same day registration
Mississippi does not have same day registration.
Registering to vote in Mississippi with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Mississippi absentee and mail ballot guide
Mississippi absentee ballot overview
- You will need to contact your local election office and ask for an absentee ballot application. These applications are not available online.
- It's fastest to call or send an email. You can also visit the local election office in person and ask for an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out the application completely and return it to your local election office by mail or in person.
Mississippi absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: 60 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Mississippi. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.
Mississippi absentee ballot rules
You can vote by absentee ballot in Mississippi if:
- you will be away from your county on Election Day for any reason
- you have a temporary or permanent physical disability that renders you unable to vote in person without substantial hardship
- you are the caretaker for a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability
- you will be away at school, either as a student, teacher, or administrator and will be unable to vote in person on Election Day
- you are 65 years of age or older
- you will be unable to vote in person because you are required to be at work on Election Day during the times at which the polls will be open
- you are hospitalized, or you are a caring for someone who has been hospitalized
- you are a member (or spouse or dependent of such a person) of the military, the Merchant Marine, or American Red Cross.
- you are quarantining due to COVID-19
Mississippi online ballot request
Mississippi does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Mississippi by-mail ballot request
- Download the Mississippi absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 1 day before Election Day.
Mississippi in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: 1 day before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Mississippi absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must have your absentee ballot application notarized or signed by a witness unless you are physically disabled or over the age of 65. If you are disabled or over 65, your absentee ballot application must be signed by a witness who is at least 18 years old.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: To return your by-mail ballot you must include your signature and the signature of a notary or court clerk. However, if you are over the age of 65, out of your county, or are disabled, then anyone over the age of 18 may sign as a witness. Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Mississippi early voting guide
Mississippi early voting dates
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Early voting ends: N/A
What to bring
You must show a photo ID issued by any US state, the Federal Government, or a tribal ID. You can also show a student ID as long as it was issued by an accredited Mississippi college or university. Your ID can be expired as long as it is not more than 10 years old and was issued by the federal or state government.
Mississippi voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a photo ID issued by any US state, the Federal Government, or a tribal ID. You can also show a student ID as long as it was issued by an accredited Mississippi college or university. Your ID can be expired as long as it is not more than 10 years old and was issued by the federal or state government.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
You must have your absentee ballot application notarized or signed by a witness unless you are physically disabled or over the age of 65. If you are disabled or over 65, your absentee ballot application must be signed by a witness who is at least 18 years old.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
To return your by-mail ballot you must include your signature and the signature of a notary or court clerk. However, if you are over the age of 65, out of your county, or are disabled, then anyone over the age of 18 may sign as a witness. Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements to register to vote online
MS does not have OVR
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Mississippi elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State P.O. Box 136 Jackson, MS 39205‐0136