How to Vote in Mississippi's 2024 Elections

Posted on 03/18/24 by Natalie Missakian

En español

Important dates and election information:


Key dates

  • Primary: Tuesday, March 12
  • Primary runoff: Tuesday, April 2
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Voters In 14 States Head To The Polls On Super Tuesday
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Voting at a glance

  • Absentee voting: Mail-in absentee ballots are only available to some voters, including people who are disabled, temporarily living outside their county or are 65 or older. 
  • Early voting: Only people who qualify may vote early in-person, including voters who need to work or will be out of their county on Election Day, and voters 65 or older. 
  • Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. Bring an acceptable form of photo ID, such as your driver’s license or U.S. passport. 

Voting in Mississippi

What to know about recent changes


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

A federal judge temporarily blocked a 2023 law that placed limits on who could help voters cast their ballots by mail. Litigation is ongoing.

Redistricting in 2022 changed certain boundaries of some legislative and U.S. congressional districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot.

Voter registration 


The deadline to register to vote for the April 2 runoff was Monday, March 4. The deadline for the Nov. 5 general election is Monday, Oct. 7. Your application must be postmarked by the deadline if you’re registering by mail.

Registering to vote on Election Day

Mississippi does not allow same-day voter registration, so you cannot register to vote on Election Day.

How to vote in Mississippi's runoff

Mississippi voters do not affiliate with a party when they register to vote. During primary elections, you may choose the ballot for the political party you wish to vote for. You must continue to vote using that party’s ballot when the primary goes to a runoff.

Ways to vote

Requesting an absentee ballot


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  

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 your reason for voting absentee.

Mail-in absentee ballot applications should be notarized, unless you have a temporary or permanent disability. In that case, you’ll need a witness 18 or older to sign. Mail the application to your county circuit clerk’s office. 

Absentee voting for the runoff election begins Saturday, March 23. It begins Monday, Sept. 23, for the general election. Your county circuit clerk’s office will mail your ballot within one day of receiving your application.

Returning your absentee ballot

Completed ballots must be returned by mail to your county circuit clerk’s office and postmarked on or before Election Day, which is Tuesday, April 2, for the runoff, and Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the general election. Postage is required.

Mail-in absentee ballots require a witness signature and will come with instructions about who qualifies as a witness.

For the runoff, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (Tuesday, April 2) and received no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, for your vote to count. For the general election, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5) and must arrive by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

For more information on absentee voting, visit yallvote.ms. 

Track your absentee ballot by logging into the secretary of state’s My Election Day tool.


Voting in person before Election Day

Mississippi offers in-person absentee voting before Election Day, 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 with a physical disability
  • Anyone 65 or older 
  • Those who need to be at work during Election Day poll hours 

In-person absentee voting begins as soon as absentee ballots are available and runs through noon on Thursday, March 28, for the runoff. For the general election, in-person absentee voting ends Saturday, Nov. 2, at noon. You may cast your ballot during regular business hours at your county circuit clerk’s office. Check with your county circuit clerk’s office for more details about when and where to vote.

Voting at the polls on Election Day

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. Use the secretary of state's My Election Day tool to find your polling place. If you’re in line before the polls close, you’ll be allowed to vote.

If you have questions about where to vote, 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.

Voter ID requirements

Voters must show an acceptable photo ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport when casting a ballot in person. Visit yallvote.ms for a list of acceptable identification options. You may use an expired ID as long as it is no more than 10 years old.

If you don’t have a driver’s license or another photo ID, you can get a Mississippi voter ID card for free at any circuit clerk’s office.

If you don’t have a photo ID when you arrive at your polling place, you still may vote by affidavit ballot. For your vote to count, you must bring an acceptable photo ID to your circuit clerk’s office (or apply for a Mississippi Voter ID card) by Tuesday, April 9, for the runoff election and Wednesday, Nov. 13, for the general election.

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

Voting with a disability

If you have a disability, you’re eligible to vote absentee. You may sign up to be on the permanently disabled voter list to be sent an absentee ballot automatically. You must include a statement from your doctor or nurse practitioner with your application. Contact your county circuit clerk’s office for more information.

If you need help casting your ballot, you may choose someone to assist you, with a few exceptions, such as your employer or union official or a candidate or their poll watcher.

More information about candidates

Key races:

  • U.S. President
  • U.S. Senate: one seat
  • U.S. House: four seats
  • State Supreme Court: four seats

Use the secretary of state’s My Election Day tool to view sample ballots when they’re available.


Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Dec. 29, 2023. It has been updated to reflect new information about the 2024 elections.

Michelle Tuccitto Sullo contributed to this story.

Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARP’s Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. Her work has also appeared in the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.

Also of interest

This story is provided by AARP Mississippi. Visit the AARP Mississippi page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide

Upcoming AARP Events

View All AARP Events

image of two AARP membership cards
Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal
  • Immediate access to your member benefits
  • Discounts on travel and everyday savings
  • Subscription to AARP The Magazine
  • FREE second membership
Join AARP
Already a member? Renew or Print Card