Despite successfully administering the 2024 Presidential Election just a few months ago, Mississippi has shifted full steam ahead into the 2025 municipal elections. While the presidential election routinely garners tremendous attention, our local municipal elections are often drastically overlooked despite being just as important.
In reality, this year’s municipal election will have a bigger impact on the daily lives of Mississippians across the state. Except for a few special or private charter municipalities, almost all of the approximately 300 municipalities will select new officials.
Upon the completion of the June 3rd Municipal General Election, newly elected municipal officials will take office on July 1st and immediately begin making decisions and enacting regulations affecting municipal roads and bridges, law enforcement and fire protection, and health and sanitation services, just to name a few. These decisions will not only affect you and your family but your neighbors and community as well.
So, while electing the country’s next commander in chief is momentous, selecting the right leaders to govern Mississippi’s communities is paramount. The government closest to the people is vitally important. To maintain transparency, accessibility, and efficient and cost-effective local government, citizens must engage in the upcoming municipal elections.
To ensure your voice is heard, there are still numerous opportunities to get involved in the elections process. Although the voter registration deadline for participation in the April 1st Primary Election has passed, the registration deadline for the primary runoff is March 24th, and the general election voter registration deadline is not until May 5th.
However, registering to vote and keeping your voter registration updated are only the first steps in preparation for voting. Prior to hitting the polls on election day, all voters should ensure they are an informed voter and know the candidates and platforms for whom or what they are supporting.
I encourage each of you to take the time to educate yourself on all roles and responsibilities of each elected position in your municipality as well as each candidate on the ballot. More importantly, remember whomever is elected works for you and the citizens in your municipality. Good government comes from holding our elected officials accountable.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office or your municipal clerk.
Let’s get ready to vote, Mississippi!
