Mississippi Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Mississippi Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Mississippi voting rules and options. It focuses on Mississippi-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Mississippi voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Mississippi voting tools. It's an all-in-one Mississippi voting resource.
Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines
Mississippi Federal and State Elections
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Mississippi Presidential Primary
Voter Registration Deadline
- In-Person, Received by
Sun Feb 11, 2024 - Postmarked by
Sun Feb 11, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
Tue Mar 12, 2024No deadline to request absentee ballot
Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received byTue Mar 19, 2024
Early Voting Available
In-person Absentee VotingFrom Sat Mar 2, 2024 to Sat Mar 9, 2024
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Mississippi State Primary
Voter Registration Deadline
- In-Person, Received by
Mon Feb 12, 2024 - Postmarked by
Mon Feb 12, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
Tue Mar 12, 2024No deadline to request absentee ballot
Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received bySun Mar 17, 2024
Early Voting Available
In-person Absentee VotingFrom Sat Jan 27, 2024 to Sat Mar 9, 2024
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- by mail
- in person at your County Circuit Clerk’s Office or Municipal Clerk's Office
- at Department of Public Safety when getting driver's license or ID
- at some public assistance offices
You may also update your registration information online at Y’allVote@sos.ms.gov
You must have resided in your precinct at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 7am to 7pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Absentee Voting
Registered voters can request an absentee ballot if they meet ONE of the following criteria:
- You will be outside the county on Election Day.
- You are an enlisted or commissioned member of any component of the United States Armed Forces, or spouse or dependent of such member.
- You are a Member of the Merchant Marine or the American Red Cross, or spouse or dependent of such member.
- You are a disabled war veteran who is a patient in any hospital, or the spouse or dependent of such veteran.
- You are a civilian attached to and serving outside of the United States with any branch of the Armed Forces or with the Merchant Marine or American Red Cross, or spouse or dependent of such civilian.
- You are a citizen of Mississippi temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia.
- You are a student, teacher or administrator at a college, university, junior or community college, high, junior high, elementary or grade school, whose studies or employment at such institution necessitates your absence from the county of your voting residence or spouse or dependent of such student, teacher or administrator.
- You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
- You are sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
- You are the parent, spouse or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside his or her county of residence or more than fifty (50) miles away from his or her residence, and you will be with such person on Election Day.
- You are a member of the congressional delegation, or spouse or dependent of a member of the congressional delegation.
- You are required to be at work on Election Day during the times which the polls will be open.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Mississippi if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of Mississippi
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in Mississippi if:
- A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.
- You have been convicted of a disenfranchising crime as defined by Section 241 of the Mississippi Constitution or by Attorney General Opinion, unless pardoned, rights of citizenship restored by the Governor or suffrage rights restored by the Legislature.
If you were convicted of any crime that's not one of the 23 barred crimes, whether it was a felony or misdemeanor, you never lost your right to vote and you may register to vote and cast a ballot.
Restorative Requirements
- If your sentence is completed, you should apply to the Governor for a pardon if necessary. After you have been pardoned (or both houses of the state legislature have passed a bill restoring your voting rights), then you may register to vote and cast a ballot, even while you are on parole or probation.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Mississippi if:
- You reside in Mississippi but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Mississippi
- You provide a student ID from an accredited school in this state
List of authorized academic degree-granting colleges and universities in MS: https://www.sos.ms.gov/sites/default/files/voter_id/Authorized_College_and_University_List.pdf
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Mississippi you should provide one of the following:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your Mississippi Driver's License Number
If you live at a non-traditional address, you must include a drawing or map of your location
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Utility Bill
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
Registered voters can receive a Mississippi Voter Identification Card at no cost to the voter at any Circuit Clerk’s Office in the state. An application for a card may be made during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Call 1-844-MSVOTER (1-844-678-6837) for information.
Voting In-Person
In Mississippi, you need to show a valid photo ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:
- Valid ID with photo issued by a Government Agency
- Valid Government Employee ID
- Valid Mississippi Driver's License
- Valid Mississippi Issued ID
- Valid US Passport
- License to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm
- Valid Student ID from State School
- Valid Military ID
- Valid Tribal ID
- Valid Mississippi Voter ID Card
You may use an expired photo ID as long as it is an acceptable form of photo ID and is not more than 10 years old. The expired ID must contain the name and photograph of the voter, and have been validly issued by the federal or a state government.
Witness / Notarization Requirements
An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE the following in order to be counted:
- The Signature of a Witness Who is an Official Authorized to Administer an Oath, Such as a Notary Public
Disabled voters may instead include a signature from a witness who is at least 18 years old.
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Am I Registered?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines
Mississippi Federal and State Elections
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Mississippi Presidential Primary
Voter Registration Deadline
Received bySat Mar 2, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
Mon Mar 11, 2024Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
- Email or Fax by
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Tue Mar 19, 2024
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Mississippi State Primary
Voter Registration Deadline
Received bySat Mar 2, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
Mon Mar 11, 2024Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
- Email or Fax by
Tue Mar 12, 2024 - Postmarked On or Before Election Day and Received by
Sun Mar 17, 2024
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |