Misssissippi

Help for Voting in Mississippi

If you have any issues where someone is trying to make it hard for you to vote, you are having trouble with registering or voting, or you have a question about voting, please call the Mississippi Voter Protection Hotline at: 855-443-3020, which is open from 8-5 pm 7 days a week. Please make sure you only call if you cannot find the help you need here, but ALWAYS have this number saved in your phone, AND CALL this number if anything may mean that your right to vote is at stake or you have an unanswered question. Thanks!

 

Answers to FAQs:

 Registering to Vote:
  • Am I Registered to Vote? You can check here: Am I Registered to Vote?
  • How Do I Register to Vote? Go to this website, fill out the form, print it out, and mail it to your county clerk's office: https://www.ms.gov/sos/voter_registration/Documents/Voter_Registration_Application.pdf.  
  • Do I Need an ID to Register to Vote? Not necessarily. To register, you will need to provide either your driver's license or state ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you don't provide those, you must send one of the following with your application: (1). a copy of a current and valid photo ID (see the list of acceptable IDs below); (2). a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or government document that shows your name and address; or (3). a paycheck.
  • What is the Deadline to Register if I Want to Vote in the November Election? You must be registered by October 5 of this year. 
  • Does Mississippi Have Same-Day Voter Registration?  No.

 

Questions About Voting
  • What are the Ways that I Can Vote in Mississippi? There are 3 ways: (1). vote absentee in person at your circuit clerk's office, (2). vote absentee by mail, or (3). vote in person on election day (November 3, 2020).
  • Who Can Vote in Mississippi? Anyone who will be: (1). 18 or older by 11/3/2020, (2). a US citizen, and (3). has not been declared "mentally incompetent" by a court or committed a disenfranchising felony in Mississippi. 
  • What Are the Disenfranchising Felonies Prevent People from Being Able to Vote? Mississippi has 22 disenfranchising felonies, which are listed here. However, if you committed one of these crimes in a state that is NOT Mississippi, you can still vote! I
  • Do I Need an ID to Vote? Yes. However, there are some situations where you DO NOT NEED ID--if you have a religious objection, you can vote without a photo ID. What you will need to do if you are voting based on religious objections is cast what is called an "affidavit ballot" at the polls. Then, in order for your ballot to count, you will need to visit your local circuit clerk within 5 business days of the election (by November 10), and sign a paper (called an affidavit) that says you have a religious objection to having your picture taken, and then your vote WILL count.
  • What Kinds of ID are Accepted to Vote? Mississippi accepts the following forms of ID: a Mississippi driver’s license, a photo ID issued by a branch, department or entity of the State of Mississippi, a US passport, a government employee ID card, a firearms license, a student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community/junior college, a US military ID, a tribal photo ID, any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government, a Mississippi Voter ID Card (which is free and the link is above). Remember that you do not need an ID if you have a religious objection, and that you can get a free ID if you don't have the money for one. 
  • What If I Don't Have Money for an ID? You can Get A Free Voting ID in Mississippi here. You can get your free ID at your local county circuit clerk's office. 
  • What If I Forget to Bring My ID? You can still vote--what you will need to do is ask for an affidavit ballot, and then you have to bring an acceptable form of photo to your local circuit clerk within 5 business days of the election (November 10).
  • What is An Affidavit Ballot? An affidavit ballot is a provisional ballot. It can be issued for the following reasons: (1). You didn't bring an acceptable photo ID to the polls, (2). The election officials do not believe your photo is you (in this case, there is a way to fix this--go to your local circuit clerk by November 10, and they will take another picture of you. This will make sure your ballot is counted, so don't forget!), (3). An election official decides your name doesn't match your ID (for example, your ID says "Bob," but your voter registration is listed under "Robert." In this case, be sure to ask what you need to do, if anything, to follow up. You will probably need to go to your circuit clerk's office and bring some form of ID that has the name you are registered under or perhaps sign an affidavit that you are the voter, but make sure you do this by November 10).
  • What if I Am Disabled And Need Help Voting? It's a good idea to call your circuit clerk ahead of time to make arrangements, but legally, the polling places are required to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that disabled people are able to vote. 
  • What if I'm in the Hospital & Want to Vote? We can help! Please have the patient or someone they know visit this website: https://www.patientvoting.com/mississippi. 
  • What if I've Moved? If you moved less than 30 days before the Election, you can vote--but it's a little tricky. If you moved to another county, you will need to go to your former county's polling place, and you will ONLY be able to vote for President. However, if you moved and are in the same county, but you are in a new precinct, you CAN vote--you will just need to go vote at the polling location that is the one for your former address. Make sure you vote--even if you're only able to vote for President! Every vote will matter!
  • What if My Name or Address has Changed & is Different What's on My Voter Registration Card? You can go here to: Update Your Name or Address Online. 
  • Can I Vote if I've Changed My Name But Didn't Update My Registration? No. You must update your voter registration in order to vote. 

 

Absentee Voting:What It Is, Who Can Do It, & How to Do It:
  • What Is Absentee Voting in Mississippi? Absentee voting is a little different in Misssisippi than in other states. There is technically no such thing as early voting in Mississippi, BUT there are two ways you can vote without going to the polls on Election Day (vote absentee): (1). Absentee In-Person Voting: This is basically the same thing as what other states call early voting. You will vote during a period before the election at your local circuit clerk's office. To find who that person is and where they are located, visit: Find My Circuit Clerk. (2). Absentee Voting By Mail: You will need to have applied for an absentee ballot, and it needs to be postmarked by November 3, but it must be RECEIVED no later than November 10, so mail it back early!
  • Who Is Eligible to Vote Absentee? Teachers or students who will not be in their county due to studies or employment or a spouse or dependent of the above, members of the Mississippi congressional delegation and spouse and dependent of such member; any voter who will be outside the county on Election Day, voters with a temporary or permanent disability, voters who are 65 years-old or older, the parent, spouse, or dependent of someone with a disability who is hospitalized in a different county more than 50 miles away (as long as the voter will be with that person on Election Day), and voters who are required to be at work on Election Day during the time when the polls will be open.

    Additionally, a voter and his/her spouse or dependent who is out of his county of residence may cast an absentee ballot if he or she is:

    • An enlisted or commissioned member of the U.S. armed forces;
    • A member of the Merchant Marine and the American Red Cross who is a citizen of Mississippi;
    • A disabled war veteran currently in the hospital;
    • A civilian serving with the U.S. armed forces outside of the country or a spouse or dependent of the above;
    • A trained or certified emergency response provider who is deployed during the time period authorized by law for absentee voting, on election day, or during any state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or any Governor of any state within the United States;
    • A citizen of Mississippi temporarily residing outside of the U.S.; and
    • A citizen of Mississippi enrolled as a student at the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Air Force Academy or the United States Military Academy.
  • What If I Get My Ballot in the Mail But Decide I'd Rather Vote on Election Day in Person? You have this option. However, you CANNOT vote twice, so if you get your ballot in the mail and plan to vote on Election Day instead, DO NOT RETURN your absentee ballot in the mail. Instead, you will need to cast an affidavit ballot at the polls. When the ballots are counted, your ballot will count as long as everything was properly done. If you mail a ballot in AND go to the polls, the will count only ONE of them, and it will be up to the elections commissioners which one, if either one, they choose to count. DO NOT DO THIS--you are risking your right to vote, and it could also be considered a crime.
  • What If I Applied to Vote Absentee In Person But Want to Vote on Election Day?  If you only applied, you will be able to fill out an affidavit ballot at the polls on Election Day, and that ballot will count if you've done everything correctly. However, IF YOU ALREADY RETURNED your absentee ballot, THAT ballot is final--you cannot change your mind, and you cannot vote twice. DO NOT GET IN THIS SITUATION. Make your voting plan, vote once, vote properly, and stick to it to make sure your vote counts.
  • What Are Some Reasons My Absentee Ballot Could Be Rejected? There are many. Make sure you sign the certification envelope and fill it out completely, with the correct information on the right line(s). Make absolutely sure you seal the envelope. You don't have to lick it--you can use a glue stick or a web sponge, but MAKE ABSOLUTELY sure your envelope is sealed, signed, and otherwise filled out correctly. For information on how your ballot will not count if you don't do everything right, visit this page.

 

Know Your Voting Rights

  • Every qualified Mississippi elector is entitled to vote regardless of race, creed, color, or disability.
  • No one may refuse a person the right to vote if that person is legally entitled to vote. If this happens, call the voter protection hotline IMMEDIATELY.
  • No voter shall be threatened, intimidated, or paid to vote by any person.
  • Voters whose names do not appear on the poll book or who do not have an acceptable form of photo ID are entitled to vote by affidavit ballot.
  •  Voters who cast an affidavit ballot are entitled to receive written information at the time of voting on how to determine if the vote was counted and, if not, why not.
  • Voters who require assistance in marking the ballot because of disability, blindness, or an inability to read or write are entitled to receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, excluding, a candidate whose name is on the ballot, or the spouse, parent, sibling or child of a candidate whose name is on the ballot, or by a poll watcher who is observing in the polling place on Election Day, or the voter’s employer or agent of that employer, or officer or agent of the voter’s union; unless, however, a candidate for office or the spouse, parent or child of a candidate is related within the first degree to the voter requesting assistance.