Mississippi elections 2023: What you need to know before heading to the polls
Tuesday is an election day in Mississippi, and voters will head to the polls in general election races for each of the statewide offices and seats in the Legislature, along with a number of local county races.
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From online resources like sample ballots to reminders on the state's voter ID requirements, here's everything voters need to know before they go vote:
Where to find your voting precinct?
Along with providing access to other information, registered voters can use the secretary of state's newly launched My Election Day tool to locate their polling place. My Election Day also provides voters with a sample ballot, a list of current office holders and contact information for local election officials.
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Who is on the ballot?
This year's elections include all of the state's statewide offices, each seat in the state House and Senate and county-level races like commissioners and sheriffs.
The precise candidates that will appear on the ballot will differ by precinct and can be seen by accessing a sample ballot through the secretary of state's My Election Day tool.
When do polls open and close?
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. can vote so long as they stay in line.
What should you bring with you?
Mississippi voters are required to provide photo identification when voting, commonly known as Voter ID.
The acceptable forms of photo ID are:
A driver's license (including a Digital ID provided by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety)
A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
A United States passport
A government employee ID card
A firearms license
A student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college, or community/junior college
A United States military ID
A tribal photo ID
Any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government
A Mississippi Voter Identification Card
A voter who does not have photo ID on election day will be asked to vote via affidavit ballot. They will then have five business days to show an acceptable form of photo ID, or apply for a Mississippi Voter ID Card, at their local circuit clerk’s office.
Voters should also consider bringing water and a cell phone with them to the polls. Voters who have difficulty or questions can contact the secretary of state's elections division at 1-800-829-6786.
What if I voted absentee or affidavit?
Absentee and affidavit voters can track the status of their ballots through the My Election Day tool as well. There is a new tracker for both absentee and affidavit ballots. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day to be counted.
How can I follow the results?
Preliminary results will begin to be announced shortly after the polls close at 7 p.m. The secretary of state will not release official results on election night, but preliminary statewide figures will be posted live to the Clarion Ledger's Mississippi Election Results page.
Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or at 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What you need to know before heading to the polls
