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Mississippi
Mississippi
Voter
Information
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Mississippi voter registration guide
Mississippi voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by October 5, 2020
- Register to vote (in person): Received by October 5, 2020
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
Register to vote by mail in Mississippi
- 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 by October 5, 2020
Register to vote in person in Mississippi
- Contact your Local Election Office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Mississippi driver's license number or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring an official document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Mississippi vote by mail guide
Your Local Election Office will compare your signature on your voted ballot to the one on your driver’s license. If the signatures don't match, your ballot might be rejected. Please sign carefully.
Mississippi vote by mail deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: September 4, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (online): N/A
- Request your mail-in ballot (by mail): Received by November 2, 2020
- Request your mail-in ballot (in person): Received by November 2, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (by mail): Postmarked by November 3, 2020
- Return your mail-in ballot (in person): N/A
Mississippi vote by mail overview
Voting by mail is not as complicated as you might think. There are only a handful of steps:
- Request your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
- Receive your mail-in ballot via USPS.
- Return your mail-in ballot by the deadline.
Mississippi vote by mail 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 vote by mail ID requirements (request)
You must have your absentee ballot application notarized unless you are physically disabled. If you are disabled, your absentee ballot application must be signed by a witness who is at least 18 years old.
Mississippi vote by mail ID requirements (return)
Your voted ballot must be notarized. If you are temporarily or permanently disabled, you can have your ballot signed by a witness instead of having it notarized.
Mississippi vote by mail directions
- 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.
- You can apply anytime during the calendar year, as long as your application is received before the deadline. We recommend applying at least 30 days before Election Day if possible.
Request your mail-in ballot via USPS
- Download the Mississippi vote by mail 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 by November 2, 2020.
Request your mail-in ballot in person
- 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: received by November 2, 2020.
Receive and return your mail-in 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 postmarked by November 3, 2020.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Additional Mississippi voter information
Mississippi early voting
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Early voting ends: N/A
- What to bring: You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by any US state or the federal government. You can show a student ID as long as it was issued by an accredited Mississippi college or university.
Mississippi voter id
- ID requirements for voting in person: You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by any US state or the federal government. You can show a student ID as long as it was issued by an accredited Mississippi college or university.
- ID requirements for vote by mail request: You must have your absentee ballot application notarized unless you are physically disabled. If you are disabled, your absentee ballot application must be signed by a witness who is at least 18 years old.
- ID requirements for vote by mail return: Your voted ballot must be notarized. If you are temporarily or permanently disabled, you can have your ballot signed by a witness instead of having it notarized.
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
Offsite links
- Check your voter registration directly with Mississippi.
- You have the right to vote. If anyone tries to stop you, call or text the National Election Protection Hotline. Their number is 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).