Ahead of November 6th’s elections, the Secretary of State’s Office wants to make sure you have all of the information you need.
Polls open across the state at 7 a.m. and they’ll close at 7 p.m. If you’re in line when the polls close, you will be able to cast your ballot. On election day, Mississippians will cast a ballot for races in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, judicial elections, among other races.
Related: Mississippians to vote in midterms next week
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is among many state leaders that are urging Mississippians to get out and exercise their right to vote.
“Governance begins at the ballot box. The most important way to have a voice in your community is to go vote on Election Day,” Hosemann said. “We hope all eligible voters will take a few minutes to visit their polling place on November 6. The only way for your vote not to count is if you do not cast it.”
The Secretary of State’s Office will have about 15 observers in precincts across the State. Problems at the polls observed by State observers or otherwise reported to the Elections Division will be referred to the proper authorities, including county Election Commissioners, the Attorney General’s Office, or the appropriate District Attorney’s Office. The Secretary of State’s Office has no enforcement authority to resolve problems.
Other important information for Election Day includes:
- Absentee Voting Deadline: The in-person absentee voting deadline is Saturday, November 3, 2018. Circuit Clerk’s Offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by the Circuit Clerks’ Offices no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2018. The deadline for UOCAVA voters, including service members deployed outside their county of residence, to return their absentee ballot is 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018. To date, 50,571 absentee ballots have been requested.
- Polling Place Location: A polling place locator and sample ballot are available on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ms.gov/PollingPlace/Pages/default.aspx.
- Voter Photo ID: Voters are required to show photo identification at the polls. A voter without an acceptable form of photo identification is entitled to cast an affidavit ballot. An affidavit ballot may be counted if the voter provides an acceptable form of photo identification to the Circuit Clerk’s Office within five business days after the election. For more information, visit www.msvoterID.ms.gov.
- Campaigning: It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property.
- Loitering: The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all people except elections officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers.
