How to vote in Mississippi
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): N/A
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 30 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 3 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): You cannot hand-deliver your mail-in ballot in Mississippi. You must put your voted ballot in the mailbox.
Mississippi voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
- 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 site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
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 does not have online 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 by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Mississippi driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Mississippi address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Missisippi doesn't automatically restore voting rights to anyone with a felony conviction. It is very, very difficult to have your rights restored in Mississippi. Options include a pardon directly from the Governor, or a pardon from the state legislature (which requires them to draft and then pass a bill in favor of your pardon). However if you have specific felony convictions you are permantly banned from voting.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You cannot vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Mississippi absentee and mail ballot guide
- 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.
- Earliest day to apply: 60 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 3 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked 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.
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 does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Mississippi has made it illegal for third party groups to provide or distribute absentee ballot applications. The fastest way for you to get your absentee ballot application is to call your Local Election Official and ask them to send you one.
You might also want to call your Secretary of State’s office and ask them to post the absentee ballot application online as a downloadable PDF. This is common practice in 48 other states and the District of Columbia.
- Mississippi Secretary of State: (601) 359-6360
- 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 3 days before Election Day.
- 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 Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- 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 does not have a statewide ballot tracker. Contact your local election office.
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the state records.
- You must make corrections by 12:00 pm on the 10th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
Mississippi law has no reference to emergency ballots.
Dates & Deadlines
Mississippi does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
Mississippi early voting guide
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Early voting ends: N/A
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
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.
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.
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 does not have online voter registration.
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