ballotbymail.org · nonpartisan
Voting by mail in Mississippi
Only with a qualifying reason. You need an approved reason, such as travel, illness or disability, age, or work. Check your state's list. If you don't qualify, early in-person voting is usually an option. Mail-in ballots are available from Sept. 19. No fixed request deadline, but the ballot must be back within 5 business days after the election.
Key dates
| Register to vote by | Mon, Oct 5 |
| Request your ballot by | Tue, Oct 27 (recommended) |
| Early in-person voting | Mon, Sep 21 – Sat, Oct 31 (excuse required) |
| Mail your ballot by | Tue, Oct 27 (USPS: allow 7 days) |
| Election Day | Tue, Nov 3 |
| ID at the polls | Photo ID required. Without one: Vote by affidavit ballot; must show acceptable photo ID or apply for a Mississippi Voter ID Card at the Circuit Clerk's office within 5 business days or the ballot does not count. Religious objectors may vote affidavit and sign an affidavit within 5 days. |
| Return rule | Postmarked by Election Day and received within 5 business days after (Nov. 10). |
| Fix a flagged ballot by | Fri, Nov 13 |
| Who can return it for you | You must return it yourself, with narrow exceptions. Mail-in absentee ballots go back by mail to the Circuit Clerk; the SOS handbook says hand delivery is illegal. No drop boxes. The voter FAQ doesn't say whether someone else may put it in the mail for you. |
Steps
- Check the excuse list on your state's site. Common ones: away on Election Day, illness or disability, 65 or older, work hours.
- If you qualify, request now and include the reason exactly as the form asks.
- If you don't qualify, look up early in-person voting. It's available in most excuse states.
- When your ballot arrives, fill it out in blue or black ink and sign the envelope.
- Return it the way your state requires and track it until it shows received.
Don't get rejected
- Extra step in your state: a notary must sign the envelope (a witness 18+ is allowed if you're temporarily or permanently disabled). This is the #1 reason ballots get tossed where it applies.
- Sign the envelope the way you signed your voter registration or driver's license. Your state compares them.
- Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
- Your state goes by the postmark. Automated postmarks can lag a day, so hand it to a clerk at the post office counter and ask for a manual postmark (free).
https://www.sos.ms.gov/yall-vote/absentee-voting-information
https://myelectionday.sos.state.ms.us/voteroutreach/pages/VoterRegistrationCheck.aspx
https://myelectionday.sos.state.ms.us/voteroutreach/pages/VoterRegistrationCheck.aspx
ballotbymail.org/state/ms
Trouble voting? 866-OUR-VOTE (English) · 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Español) · 888-API-VOTE (Asian languages) · 844-YALLA-US (العربية)
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Rules checked 2026-09-09; deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Sources: NCSL, Vote.org, CEIR, state election offices. The official site wins if anything differs. Free to copy and post.