September is National Voter Registration Month.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is joining the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in promoting the importance of voting on the heels of a historic year in Mississippi.
“The right to vote is one of the greatest liberties in our country,” said Secretary Michael Watson. “In 2020 alone, more than 113,000 Mississippians registered to vote. As of today, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported roughly 31,000 newly registered voters since January 1, 2021. As the state’s Chief Elections Officer, it’s my responsibility to ensure ALL eligible Mississippians exercise their right to vote. That’s why we are more than excited to participate in this national initiative to promote educational resources and build an informed voting population,” Watson said.
NASS members established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 as a non-partisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness about state requirements and deadlines for voting. This year, September 28, 2021, will be highlighted by NASS and other voter outreach groups as National Voter Registration Day.
In 2020, over 1.5 million people used National Voter Registration Day to register or update their registration, making it the largest NVRD in history!
U.S. Census data shows that 66.8% of eligible citizens over 18 voted in the 2020 presidential election, making last year’s turnout the highest of the 21st century. Mississippi’s voter turnout in 2020 also set a state record. For the 2018 midterm elections, 53.4% of eligible citizens over 18 voted—a historic high for a midterm year.
As a reminder, to register to vote in Mississippi, you must be:
- A resident of Mississippi and the county, city, or town for 30 days prior to the election;
- At least 18 years old (or will be 18 by the date of the next General Election);
- Not declared mentally incompetent by a court; and
- Not 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.
Learn more about registering to vote in Mississippi at yallvote.ms.
