Mississippi primary election: See sample ballots, find MS Coast polling places and more
From sample ballots to Congress candidates to polling places, here’s everything you need to know before voting in the Tuesday primary election in Mississippi.
What am I voting on?
The Aug. 8 ballot will include candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, commissioner of insurance, state auditor, public service commissioner, transportation commissioner and district attorney.
The ballot also includes a host of candidates for state senator and state house representatives.
County races
Harrison County and Hancock County republican voters will choose party candidates for the board of supervisors, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, coroner, county attorney, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, justice court judge and constable.
For a few of the county races, there were no qualifying Democratic candidates. The Democratic ballot in Hancock County will not include candidates for circuit clerk, coroner, county attorney, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, justice court judge and constable.
Harrison County’s Democratic ballot will include candidates for district four supervisor, district four constable and district four justice court judge, but no candidates for the other four districts. Harrison County also has no Democratic candidates for circuit clerk, coroner, county attorney, sheriff, tax assessor or tax collector.
Hancock County Democrats will have two county races on the primary ballot: chancery clerk and supervisor for district one.
Jackson County Democrats will have candidates for supervisor of district two, justice court for district two and constable for district two. The judge and constable candidates are uncontested for the primary. The Republican ballot has no district two candidates.
You will choose the candidates for U.S. House seats for either the Republican or Democratic party. The Mississippi Coast is part of the fourth congressional district. Winners of Tuesday’s primary will take part in the general election on November 7.
Who’s running?
In Hancock County
In Harrison County
In Jackson County
Is it too late to register to vote?
Short answer, yes.
The deadline to register to vote in the primary election was 5 p.m. on July 8.
There is one exception to the July 8 deadline. Uniformed and overseas absentee voters have until Saturday, July 29, to register. By Saturday, the circuit clerk’s office must have the completed Federal Postcard Application.
If you missed your deadline, you still have time to register for any primary runoff election. The deadline for primary runoffs is July 31. You can register in person at the circuit clerk’s office or register by mail. Be sure your mailed-in application is postmarked no later than July 31.
When should I vote?
Mississippi does not have early voting, but some voters may qualify for absentee voting. The deadline for in-person absentee voting is Saturday, August 5, at your county circuit clerk’s office, which should be open until noon.
The primary election is Tuesday, August 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7 p.m. the poll will stay open until you cast your ballot.
Uniformed and absentee voters have until 7 p.m., Aug. 8, to email or fax their ballots to the circuit clerk’s office. Other absentee ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 8 and received by the circuit clerk’s office within five business days.
If the race is too close to call, a primary runoff election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Do I qualify for absentee ballot voting?
You may vote by absentee ballot in Mississippi if:
you are out of the country
you have a disability that prevents you from voting in person
you are 65 year of age or older
you are a disabled war veteran
you are a member (or spouse or dependent of such a person) of the Merchant Marine or American Red Cross
When you receive your absentee ballot, you should:
read and follow the instructions
sign and date the ballot
mail your voted ballot back to the address on the return envelope.
double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your ballot on time.
Visit the step-by-step absentee ballot voting guide for more information.
Do I need identification to vote?
To vote in person, you must have a photo ID at the time of voting. According to VOTE.org, that ID can be:
A Mississippi driver’s license
A U.S. passport
A photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the State of Mississippi
An employee photo ID card issued by a branch, department, or entity of the US government
A photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the US government, the State of Mississippi, or any state government including, but not limited to, a driver’s license of another state
A student ID card containing a photograph issued by an accredited institution of higher education in Mississippi
A US military ID card containing a photograph
A tribal ID card containing a photograph
A Mississippi license to carry a gun containing a photograph
A Mississippi voter identification card containing a photograph
You may use an expired photo ID as long as it is an acceptable form of photo ID and is not more than 10 years old.
How do I find my polling place?
The Secretary of State website makes it easy to locate your polling place in Mississippi. Simply go to the Polling Place Locator website and type in your address. It’s that easy.
If you have trouble using the online locator or have questions about where to vote, contact your county circuit clerk’s office or reach out to the secretary of state’s elections hotline at 800-829-6786.
