Mississippi Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-in Deadlines

• Voter Registration: Postmarked at least 30 days before the election
• Absentee Ballot Application: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least two weeks before an election.
• Absentee Ballot Return: Received by 5pm on the day BEFORE the election

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Mississippi you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• have lived in Mississippi and in your county (and city, if applicable) 30 days before the election in which you want to vote
• be 18 years old by the time of the general election in which you want to vote
• have not been convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, armed robbery, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, larceny, receiving  stolen property, robbery, timber larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, statutory rape, carjacking, or bigamy, or have had your rights restored as required by law
• not have been declared mentally incompetent by a court

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  
• You can also download and fill out Mississippi's voter registration form.  Mail or hand deliver the completed form to your County Voter Registrar. 

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If you are registering for the first time in your county, and you register by mail, you must include your Mississippi driver's license number on your voter registration form. If you do not a driver's license number you must include a copy of your ID with your form.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absente ballot.  Acceptable ID includes: a copy of a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here. 

Absentee Voting

Some registered voters are eligible to vote absentee because of age, health or work demands, or their affiliation with the U.S. armed forces. For example, voters who will be outside their county of residence on election day are entitled to vote by absentee ballot. Please check with your County Voter Registrar to determine if you are entitled to vote absentee and to learn the procedures for doing so. 

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Mississippi's absentee ballot application is not available online, so you'll need to call to request one.  The Secretary of State's website isn't entirely clear as to who you should call, so we recommend calling your County Voter Registrar for more information.   

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to include ID if you've already voted in your county at least once.  If you're a first-time voter in your county, and you did not include your Mississippi driver's license or a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, you must include a copy with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable ID includes: a copy of a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.

Absentee ballot directions:

Fill out your ballot, sign where indicated, and have it notarized.  Unless you are physically disabled, your absentee ballot envelope must be signed by a notary.  If you are physically disabled, anyone over the age of 18 can sign as a witness.   Mail your completed ballot back by the deadline.  The mailing address will be on the ballot.  

Additional Information