As special primary elections loom in recently approved legislative districts, voter registration deadlines are on the horizon.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson said Thursday that applicants who register in-person at their local circuit clerk’s office and those who mail registration applications postmarked no later than Monday, July 7, are eligible to vote in the special primary election on Aug. 5.
Three years after a lawsuit from the NAACP alleged that the 2022 legislative redistricting by the state legislature diluted Black voting power in the state, a federal judge panel officially approved redrawn lines for both Mississippi House and Senate seats in the Hattiesburg area, Chickasaw County, and DeSoto County.
The districts in Hattiesburg and Chickasaw County were quickly approved, while additional effort had to be put forth in drawing lines in DeSoto County that ultimately satisfied the federal judges.
For those living in the newly drawn districts, Watson’s office is urging residents to view the My Election Day portal to receive election information tailored to their specific address, including a sample ballot. Aside from the July 7 registration deadline, other important special election-related dates include:
- Aug. 2: In-person absentee voting deadline for the special primary election
- Aug. 5: Special primary Election Day and deadline for the postmark of mail-in absentee ballots
Mississippians are encouraged to take advantage of the YallVote.ms tool to download a mail-in voter registration application, verify voter registration status, or update voter registration information.
