Skip to Main Content
Mississippi State University

Library update: Recent database changes

Learn more

Mississippi Votes 2024

Voter information for MS residents including absentee voting for Mississippians in and out of state. Includes links for absentee voting for college students, military, and others needing to vote absentee for another state.

College Student Voting Quick Links

Registration Form And County Election Information And Street Addresses

Under Mississippi law, a person must register to vote at the place of their permanent residence. For college students, this is generally one of two places: a parents’ or guardian’s home or one's campus dormitory or apartment. It is important to know that one can only legally register in one county and how this choice will affect the voting process.

Choose Where To Register:

OPTION 1:  Register At A Parents’ Or Guardian’s Home

If a parent or guardian's home is your permanent residence, and school residence is only temporary while one is attending college, you can keep your voter registration at your parents’ or guardian’s home. Bear in mind,

  • You will vote in your parents’ or guardian’s home county’s local elections, such as county sheriff and any representatives that represent all or portions of your home county.
  • Because most elections are held during the school semester, you may not be able to vote in person at your home county on Election Day, so you will need to contact your home county circuit clerk to discuss voting absentee.
  • Vote Absentee In Mississippi
  • Register & Vote Absentee In Another State:
    • Choose your state.
    • To Register: Click the Voter Registration section.
    • Absentee: Click the Casting A Ballot section.
      • Click the Absentee Voting tab.
      • Pay close attention to deadlines, especially deadlines for postmarks (the date the post office stamped your mail during operating hours) when mailing absentee applications and ballots. Remember, not all states have online submission of these materials. Look for info on how to track your application or ballot. You can also call the agency listed for absentee voting to confirm or to ask questions.

OPTION 2: Register Or Move Your Registration To Vote At Your School Residence

If you consider your school residence as your permanent residence while you are attending college, you can register to vote at that location. Those who register at their school residence will:

  • Register to vote in the county where your school is and vote in that county’s elections. Example: for Mississippi State University, students would vote for Oktibbeha County sheriff and for the representatives who represent Oktibbeha County..
  • When an election is held and you aren’t at your campus residence, such as for elections held during summer break, you will need to contact the County Circuit Clerk about voting absentee.

To find out more information about voting absentee, visit the Mississippi Secretary of State’s step-by-step absentee voting guide.

From Voting As A College Student

Registration Form and County election Information and Street addresses

October 7, 2024: Voter Registration Deadline

MSU ID's are not acceptable for REGISTRATION, but can be used to VOTE.

Mississippi does NOT have early voting or Election Day registration.

Be certain to follow all registration and absentee voting deadlines.

Election Day is November 5, 2024.

October 7, 2024: Voter Registration Deadline for in-person voting on Nov. 5th and registration by-mail postmark.

October 26, 2024: UOCAVA Voter Registration Deadline, Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S.

Check to see if you are already registered.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ID Requirements To Register: If registering for the first time in Mississippi without a Mississippi driver’s license or a social security number, send with this application a copy of a current and valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address in this county.

Mail-in registration form--eligibility criteria are on form.

MSU students living in Oktibbeha County click here for election Information and Street addresses for on-site registration.

Statewide in-person registration is available at: County Clerk’s Offices, Municipal Clerk’s Offices, or at a Public Service Agency (such as DPS).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Update Registration Online.

Update In-Person Or By Mail by printing and submitting a registration form.

Cancel Registration By Mail by printing and mailing a cancellation form.

Mississippi does NOT have early voting or Election Day registration.

Be certain to follow all registration and absentee voting deadlines.

You can use your MSU ID to VOTE, but not to register.

Track your absentee ballot.

Who is eligible to use an absentee ballot?

Please check with your County Clerk to determine if you can vote by absentee ballot and to learn the procedures for doing so.

Deadlines:

September 6, 2024: Absentee Ballot Applications available at County Clerks’ Offices.

September 23, 2024: Absentee Ballots are available and this is the earliest day to vote by absentee ballot at County Clerks' Offices.

November 2, 2024: In-Person Absentee Voting Deadline is 12:00 p.m and County Clerks’ Offices will be OPEN from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  Track your absentee ballot here.

November 5, 2024: Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before November 5, 2024. Track your absentee ballot here.

Military voters and voters who reside outside the U.S. [UOCAVA]:

Election Day is November 5, 2024

MSU students AND employees can use their MSU ID to VOTE in any election in Mississippi.

ID's and Documents for Voting on on Election Day

How to get an ID, including a free nondriver ID and free transportation to acquire a nondriver ID

Check to see if you are already registered.

Update Registration Online.

Update In-person Or By Mail by printing and submitting registration form.

Polling locations can be found at MyElectionDay.

ACLU Mississippi Trans Voters: scroll down to find PDFs aimed at poll workers and a printable PDF for voters (click the arrow at the top right of the pink PDF,and click print). Print any documents you may need ahead of time in case wireless is down or your phone doesn't work.

Click And Choose Your State Of Permanent Residence:

  • To Register: Click the Voter Registration section.
  • Vote Absentee: Click the Casting A Ballot section:
    • Click the Absentee Voting tab.
    • Pay close attention to deadlines, especially deadlines for postmarks (the date the post office stamped your mail during operating hours) when mailing absentee applications and ballots. Remember, not all states have online submission of these materials. Look for information on how to track your application or ballot. You can also call the agency listed for absentee voting to ask questions.