Voter Guide

Is it too late to vote absentee in Mississippi? Here’s how and when you may vote

Absentee voting on the MS Coast lasts until the day before Election Day.
Absentee voting on the MS Coast lasts until the day before Election Day. jboucher@thestate.com

If you’d rather vote from the comfort of your own home, it’s not too late to request an absentee ballot in Mississippi.

The county clerk’s office started accepting applications for absentee ballots in September and will continue to fulfill requests until Monday, Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.

Eligibility

In order to vote absentee in Mississippi, you must be eligible to do so.

You may vote absentee for any of the following reasons:

You are 65 years of age or older

You have a disability that prevents you from voting in person

You are a student or teacher at a school outside your county of residence

You have a loved one hospitalized outside of your county and you will be with that person on Election Day

You are required to work during poll hours

You are a disabled war veteran in a hospital

You or your spouse are member of the Merchant Marine or Red Cross

You can request an application for absentee voting in person or by mail. Requests are not accepted online.

If you apply in person, you can vote that same day. The circuit clerk or deputy circuit clerk will verify you are registered to vote, check your photo ID and provide a private place for you to vote. Completed ballots will be sealed in an envelope and placed in a sealed ballot box.

Once you have applied and proven eligibility, a ballot will be sent to you. Absentee ballots may be returned by mail or in person at your local county clerk’s office.

Voting instructions are included with the mailed ballots. Follow the instructions, sign and date the ballot, and return it by mail before the deadline.

To return your completed ballot to the clerk’s office, your envelope must be postmarked by Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, and must be received within five business days of the election. This year, that cutoff date is Thursday, Nov. 14.

Important dates to remember

Absentee voting period: Monday, Sept. 23, to Saturday, Nov. 2

In-person absentee voting period: Eligible voters may vote at the county clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 2. In-person absentee voting started in September and will continue until Saturday, Nov. 2.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5

For other important election dates please visit our 2024 Elections Calendar

Mona Moore
Sun Herald
Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.
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