How to Vote in Mississippi's 2023 Election

En español | Mississippi allows any voter 65 and over to cast an absentee ballot by mail or vote early in person, but other voters will need an acceptable reason.

Mississippians will vote for governor, state legislature and other statewide offices in 2023. The primary was Tuesday, Aug. 8, and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7

• Mail-in absentee voting: Mail-in absentee ballots are only available to some voters, including people who are permanently or temporarily disabled, who are temporarily living outside their county or who are 65 or older.  
  
• Early in-person absentee voting: This option is available only to people who qualify, including voters who need to work on Election Day, those who will be away from their county of residence and anyone 65 or older.  
  
• Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. Voters must show an acceptable photo ID.
  

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A federal judge temporarily blocked a 2023 law that places limits on who can help voters cast their ballots by mail, so it will not be enforced for the Nov. 7, 2023 election. Litigation is ongoing. Check back for updates.

Also, voters can now track absentee ballots, check polling places and view sample ballots online through the state’s My Election Day tool, which launched in July 2023.

The state’s 2021 redistricting plan changed certain boundaries of some legislative and U.S. congressional districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot.

• By mail: Download the voter registration application from the secretary of state’s website, and send the completed form to your county circuit clerk’s office. Or pick up an application at your circuit clerk’s office, your municipal clerk’s office or a public library. You can also contact your circuit clerk’s office to request a mailed copy of the registration form. Circuit clerk office contact details are included in the county election information provided by the secretary of state or on yallvote.ms. Postage is required.  

• In person: Visit your county circuit clerk’s office or municipal clerk’s office, or register when you get your driver’s license through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. 

Register by Tuesday, Oct. 10, to vote in the general election. Applications must be postmarked by the deadline. Go to yallvote.ms to check your voter registration status.

Only certain people qualify to vote absentee using a mail-in ballot. They include: 

• Voters temporarily living outside their county of residence  
• Voters who, due to a temporary or permanent physical disability, are unable to vote in person  
• The parent, spouse or dependent of anyone hospitalized more than 50 miles away from his or her home, if that voter is with the hospitalized person on Election Day  
• Anyone 65 or older  

Absentee ballot applications will be available starting Wednesday, Sept. 6, for the general election.

Contact your county circuit clerk’s office to see if you qualify. If you do, request that an application be mailed to you. You must indicate on the application the reason you need an absentee mail-in ballot.

Mail-in absentee ballot applications should be notarized, but there’s an exception: If you are temporarily or permanently disabled, you instead need a witness 18 or older to sign. Mail the application to your county circuit clerk’s office.

Your county circuit clerk's office will mail your absentee ballot to you within one day of receiving your application.

Completed ballots must be returned by mail to your county circuit clerk’s office Tuesday, Nov. 7, for the general election. Mail-in absentee ballots require a witness signature and will come with instructions about who qualifies. Postage is required. Ballots must be received no later than five business days after the election. 

A federal judge temporarily blocked a 2023 law that places restrictions on who can assist you if you need help returning an absentee ballot. The law will not be enforced for Nov. 7, 2023, election but litigation is ongoing. Check back for updates.

For more information on absentee voting, read the secretary of state’s step-by-step absentee guide or visit yallvote.ms. 

Yes, by logging into the Secretary of State’s My Election Day tool.

Mississippi offers in-person absentee voting, but only to those who qualify. Some of those who are eligible include: 

• College students who are outside their county of residence 
• Voters who are required to be away for work on Election Day 
• People who are physically disabled 
• Anyone 65 or older 
• Those who need to be at work during Election Day poll hours 

Early voting will begin as soon as absentee ballots are available and run through Saturday, Nov. 4, for the general election.

You may cast your ballot during regular business hours at your county circuit clerk’s office. Saturday voting will be available on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 for the general election.

Check with your county circuit clerk’s office for more details about when and where to vote.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. If you’re in line before the polls close, you’ll be allowed to vote.

Use the polling place locator, available through yallvote.ms, to find your polling place. Or, if you have questions, contact your county circuit clerk’s office, email the secretary of state's office at ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov or call the elections hotline at 800-829-6786. 

Yes, Mississippi law requires voters to present a current photo ID card before casting a ballot. 

Acceptable forms of identification, as outlined on the yallvote.ms site, include: 

• A driver’s license 
• A photo ID card issued by a Mississippi state branch or department 
• A United States passport 
• A government employee ID card 
• A firearms license 
•  A student photo ID from an accredited Mississippi school, including universities, colleges and community/junior colleges 
• A U.S. military ID card 
• A tribal photo ID card 
• Any other photo ID card issued by the U.S. or state government 
• A Mississippi voter ID card, which can easily be acquired for free 

If you have questions about getting a voter ID card, email MSVoterID@sos.ms.gov or call 844-678-6837. 

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Aug. 11, 2023, with information about how to vote in the 2023 election. The guide was first published on Aug. 3, 2020.

Also of Interest: 

• Follow AARP’s political coverage at aarp.org/elections 
• Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at aarp.org/ms