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Mississippi · How-To Guide

How do I register to vote or check my registration?

Circuit Clerk (county level - each of Mississippi's 82 counties) / Mississippi Secretary of State (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Confirm eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, Mississippi resident, at least 18 years old, not convicted of one of Mississippi's 23 disqualifying crimes (see State Notes), not declared mentally incompetent by a court, and a resident of your county, city, or town for at least 30 days
  2. Choose your registration method:
  3. IN PERSON: Circuit Clerk's office (primary registration location) - must register at least 30 days before Election Day; also available at Municipal Clerk's office, Department of Public Safety (when getting driver's license), and some other government offices
  4. BY MAIL: Download voter registration form from sos.ms.gov; complete and sign; mail to your Circuit Clerk - must be POSTMARKED 30 days before Election Day; if 30th day falls on Sunday or legal holiday, deadline extends to next business day
  5. ONLINE: Mississippi does NOT offer online voter registration
  6. Submit registration at least 30 days before Election Day
  7. Receive voter registration confirmation; verify accuracy
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid Mississippi driver's license number, state ID number, or last 4 digits of Social Security number
  • Current Mississippi address with 30-day residency
Fee
Free REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 30 days before Election Day (mail postmarked; in-person at Circuit Clerk) NO ONLINE REGISTRATION: Mississippi does NOT offer online voter registration as of 2025/2026 NO SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: Mississippi does NOT offer same-day voter registration CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: sos.ms.gov or contact your County Circuit Clerk ABSENTEE/EARLY VOTING: Mississippi offers limited absentee voting requiring a qualifying excuse: - Absence from county on Election Day - Physical disability or illness - 65 years of age or older - Temporary/permanent physical disability - Caregiving responsibilities - Active military or spouse/dependent - Religious observance In-person absentee: starts 45 days before election; ends noon the Saturday before Election Day By mail: applications must be requested and returned within specific deadlines; contact Circuit Clerk ONLINE OPTION: No - Mississippi does not offer online voter registration or online absentee applications WHERE TO GO: Circuit Clerk's office; Municipal Clerk; Department of Public Safety (with license transaction)
Online Option
No - Mississippi does not offer online voter registration or online absentee applications
Where to Go
Circuit Clerk's office; Municipal Clerk; Department of Public Safety (with license transaction)
County-specific variations apply

Voter registration administered by Circuit Clerks in each of Mississippi's 82 counties. Moving between Mississippi counties: re-register in new county. DeSoto County (Southaven/Hernando), Harrison County (Gulfport/Biloxi), Hinds County (Jackson), Rankin County, and Madison County are the largest systems. Contact your specific Circuit Clerk for local absentee voting and registration details.

Mississippi Notes

Important state-specific details

  • NO online voter registration and NO same-day registration - Mississippi has among the strictest access rules nationally.
  • 30-day advance registration deadline.
  • ABSENTEE VOTING REQUIRES EXCUSE - Mississippi does NOT have no-excuse absentee voting; one of the few remaining states requiring a reason.
  • PHOTO ID REQUIRED: Mississippi requires photo ID to vote; acceptable forms: Mississippi driver's license, Mississippi state-issued ID, U.S. passport, government employee ID (U.S. or Mississippi), Mississippi firearms license, student photo ID from accredited Mississippi college/university, U.S. military ID, tribal photo ID, Mississippi Voter Identification Card (free from Circuit Clerk), or any current/valid photo ID from U.S. or state government. Without one: cast affidavit ballot; must provide qualifying ID to Circuit Clerk within 5 days after election for the vote to count.
  • FREE VOTER ID CARD: Available from any Circuit Clerk's office at no cost.
  • FELONY VOTING RIGHTS - COMPLEX IN MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi's constitution (Section 241) permanently disqualifies 23 specific crimes from voting; those convicted of OTHER felonies (not on the list) automatically regain voting rights upon sentence completion; for the 23 disqualifying crimes, rights can only be restored by: (1) Governor's pardon, or (2) two-thirds vote of both chambers of state legislature. Federal convictions and out-of-state felony convictions do NOT disqualify Mississippi voters.
  • The 23 disqualifying crimes include: murder, rape, arson, armed robbery, bribery, theft, forgery, embezzlement, perjury, bigamy, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, larceny, robbery, statutory rape, carjacking, and others.
  • Polls open 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Mississippi Secretary of State, Elections - sos.ms.gov | (601) 576-2550; Circuit Clerk (varies by county)